“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” –Psalm 46:1-3

Psalm 46 describes a terrible cataclysm. Mountains collapse into the ravenous ocean; “the earth melts” (Psalm 46:6). Our world is ending, but we need not fear, for “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:7).

Our guests have faced tremendous, world-shaking challenges. At points in life, they believed that they were at its end. Their lives were falling apart, and everything they knew and took for granted had disappeared.

But God led them to Bethesda Mission. Our Men’s Mission has been a refuge for thousands upon thousands of hurting individuals in over a century of service to the Harrisburg homeless community.

We have sheltered them, developed their life skills through our programs, and, most importantly, urged each guest to seek a personal relationship with the source of true and lasting refuge: their Creator.

Beyond Pomp & Circumstance

On August 1, we held a graduation ceremony at our Men’s Shelter. Voices of Bethesda, the Men’s Mission choir led by Antoine Cameron, performed as the graduates came in and sat down.

What followed was a celebration of over a dozen men (including some who were unable to attend), who had completed either the New Beginnings program or the Discipleship program.

Our Life Coaches offered anecdotes and encouragement for each of their respective graduates.

Certain words and phrases came up time and time again: “diligent; early to arrive; his past is no longer a burden, it’s a blessing; changed.”

Men’s Mission Director Bill Christian said he has the best job in the world, getting “to watch God work firsthand.”

I concluded the ceremony by urging the other men to examine their own path toward graduation, encouraging them to “keep taking steps toward God.”

We are incredibly proud of the men who graduated. Their time of refuge at Bethesda has led them to understand the source of peace and strength that has helped repair their lives and will provide lasting refuge, even after they move.

Thank you, faithful donor, for making this life change possible by funding our shelters and programs. Because of your generosity, we can offer refuge to the hurting and homeless and direct them to its true source.

If you are interested in celebrating God’s accomplishments through our organization and seeing this life change firsthand, please consider coming to our annual celebration banquet!

The banquet will be held on October 1 at the Penn Harris Hotel. Doors open at 5:30 PM, and dinner and the program begin at 6:30 PM. The theme for this year’s banquet is Look What You’ve Done!

You can register on our website or by calling us at (717) 257-4442. We look forward to seeing you there.

May God richly bless you!

Scott Dunwoody
Executive Director