The mission of Bethesda Mission is to reach out a helping hand to the men and women of the streets for the purpose of "Introducing them to the Gospel of Jesus Christ," and providing them with food, shelter, clothing, fellowship and Christian counseling. It is our prayer that in time, Bethseda Mission's guests will emerge as productive, capable, and mature adults.
Volunteer Information
Bethesda Mission's soup kitchen provides for men living in the missions and on the streets. Volunteers help serve food as well as clean up after meals. They also talk with the men and share their love and faith in Jesus Christ. Trips go out the fiurth Wednesady of each month from 3:15-6:00pm.
Women and Children's Shelter
Founded in 1983 and growing to be Harrisburg's largest women's shelter facility, the Women and Children's Shelter provides lodging for single women as well as mother's and their children. Their atmosphere is that of a large, caring, loving, family -- prociding stability and time for healing. Lodging, nutritious meals, hot showers, laundry facilities, and clothing, as needed, are provided. Additionally, comprehensive programming includes: Evangelism programs based on the Word of God, nutrition classes, parenting classes, budgeting classes, arts/ crafts classes, stress management classes, stress management classes, specialized children 's programs, and support groups.
History of Bethesda Mission
In 1914, James Barker founded Bethesda Mission, taking the Biblical word for "mercy" as a name for his mission. He called it a "Christian workshop and workingman's hotel." "Uncle Jim" Barker was the mission's first president. In 1934 the mission purchased the old Pennsylvania Railroad YMCA at 611 Reilly Street for $10,000. In 1975, an over-optomistic investment in what was to be a state-aided and funded alcoholism pilot program put Bethesda Mission in a financial hole. Some resigned, but Rev Donald Javert and others on the board could not give up on the homeless. They wrote, "The easiest route for most of us would be able to resign from the board and get ourselves out of this embarassing predicament. Even more embarassing woul be to leave forgotten persons in the streets of Hariisburg unattended and without shelter. The Mission is a friend to those who are genuinely without friends." Four years later the debt was paid off. Today the mission has no permanent guests but sleep over 100 men on most night, provides over 100, 000 meals per year, separately houses 40 women and children, and operates a full-time after-school youth program for neighborhood children that involves 50 or more boys and girls each afternoon.
