Bethel Ministries recognized the importance of developing an ongoing relationship with Christ Jesus in each person, wanting to help men who, having great obstacles to overcome, desired the kind of help necessary to develop a personal relationship with Jesus and make a new life.
Bethel Ministries believes that such new Christians would need support from each other, the church, and the greater community if they were going to truly change their lives and stay out of prison. Bethel saw that men would need help finding jobs, making new friends, participating in educational programs and proper leadership that would help them build a whole new way of living.
The first house was a miracle of God in that while the founder of Bethel Ministries was driving the streets of Boise looking for a house to serve as a transitional home, he turned upon the street named Bethel. As he continued to drive further down the street, a “for rent” sign was in plain view. Of course this immediately became an inspiration as the word ‘Bethel’ in Hebrew means ‘House of God’! Upon checking out the rental home, the owner was more than helpful getting “Bethel Ministries” off the ground by renting the home to the ministry. This home was only the first miracle and to this day, miracles continue to abound.
Over the years, three additional transition homes were added in order to accommodate more men into the Bethel program. Bethel has humbly received awards for this unique and successful program. In spite of the continuous ups and downs from the economy, Bethel has remained afloat with God’s blessing.
Today, more than a hundred men have come through this ministry. Some of Bethel’s graduates are flourishing as they successfully continue in a new way of living.
The ministry has an over 80% success rate of men who have graduated the Bethel Ministries program and not gone back to prison. God continues to bless this ministry in spite of great odds, with miracle after miracle making it truly faith-based.