Mission and Community Outreach

Ghana mission, a partnership with First Lutheran Church in Lorain, Ohio.

Bethesda partners with First Lutheran in Lorain to support the work of Pastor Ben Wilson, a missionary working to provide education and food assistance to the people of Akrampa, Ghana.

Click HERE to learn more about Ghana Mission.

Redeemer Crisis Center

Redeemer Crisis Center is located at 2970 W 30th St. Cleveland, OH (216) 651-0236. Several Bethesda members gather and deliver items to the center. Bargain purchases and member donations are offered at no cost to clients of the center.

Click HERE to learn more about Redeemer Crisis Center.

Lorain Cooperative Ministry

In a neighboring county from Bethesda, Lorain Cooperative Ministry serves the lower income populations of Lorain Co. through a partnership of churches. Bethesda supports the ministry with financial gifts and various hands-on programs, such as serving meals, helping with neighborhood clean-up, and women’s hygiene collections, etc.

Click HERE to learn more about Lorain Cooperative Ministry.

St. Barnabas Community Cupboard

Housed at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Bay Village, the mission of the Community Cupboard, is “to provide free, supplemental food for our neighbors in need, honoring their dignity through anonymity and quality choices.” Fresh, dry, refrigerated, and frozen foods, as well as pet food and hygiene products, are available from 7 am to 7 pm daily. Bethesda supports the Community Cupboard by collecting the items above, as well as monetary donations, on an ongoing basis.

Click HERE to learn more about St. Barnabas Community Cupboard.

UPCaM (United Protestant Campus Ministries)

Bethesda is a proud ministry partner of UPCaM (United Protestant Campus Ministries), part of the Inter-religious Council with primary residency at Case Western Reserve University. UPCaM is a progressive, interdenominational Christian ministry for all students attending college in Cleveland. Weekly worship and a meal (always a must for hungry college students) is Sunday evenings at 6:30pm at Church of the Covenant, 11205 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, and all students are welcome.

Click HERE to learn more about UPCaM.

Lutheran World Relief

Bethesda provides financial support to Lutheran World Relief each year. Founded in 1945 by Lutherans in the U.S., Lutheran World Relief is an international aid and development organization that partners with communities to help them develop productive and stable economies, improve resilience in the face of a changing climate, and respond to natural disasters and humanitarian crises.

Click HERE to learn more about Lutheran World Relief.

Alcoholics Anonymous

There are three AA groups which currently meet at Bethesda on the Bay.

Scouts BSA

Scout troop 41 meets at Bethesda on the Bay at 7:00 PM on Thursdays. Their work with young boys has produced 121 Eagle Scouts since 1967! Scout troop 40 meets at Bethesda on the Bay at 3:00 PM on Sundays. Scout troop 40 is a girl-only troop.

The Knickerbocker

Knickerbocker Apartments, established in 1972, provides reasonably priced housing for senior citizens. Four Bay Village churches support the Knickerbocker. Bethesda on the Bay is represented on the Board of Directors.

Bethesda is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). More information about the ELCA can be found here.

Within the ELCA, Bethesda is a member of the Northeastern Ohio Synod. Their website can be found here.

Bethesda members and friends share in many activities in the local and wider communities:

ELCA World Hunger Appeal

Gifts to the WHA produce practical results for people in need within the U.S. and throughout the world.

Click HERE to learn more about ELCA World Hunger.

God’s Work. Our Hands.

Bethesda participates in a dedicated day of service, gathering to serve communities in ways that share the love of God with all of God’s people.

Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio (LOMO)

Bethesda offers scholarships to Lutheran Camps in Ohio. Member families often attend Camp Luther.

Click HERE to learn more about LOMO.

Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry

Bethesda has a long relationship with LMM and some members of Bethesda serve on the board of directors and in other ministries LMM offers around the city of Cleveland.

Click HERE to learn more about LMM.

Bethesda projects that support LMM include:

Members volunteer to visit men and women who are incarcerated and accompany them.
Teams from Bethesda walk in LMM’s annual Gritty City walk, raising money for their children and youth programming.
Christmas collection for teen boys and girls are assembled by Bethesda on the Bay members. The collection is filled with simple cosmetic needs, snacks, and gifts. Also gathered are sweat pants and shirts, basketballs for the boys and gifts for the girls.