4950 W. THOMAS STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60651 b e t h e l n e w l i f e . o r g
FREE TAX PREPARATION
Families with an annual income of less than $50K and individuals with an income of less than $25K are eligible for our free tax prep service.
Starting
Jan. 29, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:30-8 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m.;
Bethel Commercial Center (4006 W. Lake Street, 2nd Fl). Call 773-826-
8121 for more info.
WESTSIDE COMMUNITY CANDIDATES’ FORUM
Aldermanic candidates from the 24th, 28th, 29th, and 37th wards will share their platforms and answer constituents’ questions at Bethel’s forum.
Saturday, Feb. 19, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (1150 N. Lamon)
WHAT’S NEXT: HOUSING & HEALTHCARE PLANNING
Don’t settle for a nursing home. Seniors, learn about your housing and healthcare options and how you can increase the quality of your life.
Tuesday, March 22, Activity Room, Beth-Anne Place, 10 a.m. (1140 N.
Lavergne)
Bethel needs bunk beds and a digital camera. If you can help, call Sara
Spoonheim at 773-473-7870 x146.
Planning an urban mission? You can stay with us! Call Kris Adamik at 773-
473-7870 to find availability of our three modest rooms, sleeping 3-18.
Nominal charge of $10/person/night to support our ministries.
AF FI X
P O S T A GE
HER E
Jesus knew the man had been there a long time. He asked him, “Do you want to be made well?” Instead of answering the question, the paralyzed man recited all the obstacles in his way – the people who cut in front of him, the fact that he had no one to help. Jesus said to him,
“Stand up, take your mat, and walk.” At once the man was made well. (John 5: 2-9)
Sometime we’re just like that man – listing off all the obstacles that stand between us and what we want instead of just saying Yes.
At Bethel, we practice answering Yes and naming the healed world we desire instead of the hurdles in our way. Will you join us in this practice?
We envision health and jobs and affordable homes for the thousands of families we serve on Chicago’s Westside. We picture schools with children inspired to learn, who graduate high school, and succeed in college. We imagine our neighborhoods free from violence and drugs. We picture a community where people have dignity, no matter how limited their income is.
For Bethel, we picture the State of Illinois closing its budget gap and continuing to fund services that are so critical to our communities. We see confirming a permanent CEO, called to serve Bethel’s mission through the national search now underway by Kittleman & Associates. We envision your prayers and financial support growing with us as we reach toward this audacious vision.
And we hold strong to God’s promise in Isaiah, so long our vision statement, that we will be “like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never goes dry.”
So Yes. The answer is Yes.
Let us stand up, take our mats, and serve!
Lawrence Wilson
Interim President and CEO
WINTER ISSUE 2011
O U R M I S S I O N
Realize God’s vision of a restored society by empowering individuals, strengthening families, and building neighborhoods through community-driven solution-oriented, and value centered approaches.
C O N T E N T S
Senior Residents Connect with Family, Friends
Online
Inaugural Bethel
Christmas Store is a
Success for 500 Westside
Families
Bethel Celebrates Local
Employers
Thanks to our Donors!
President’s Message:
Naming the World We
Envision
GRANT F UND S CLA SS F OR BETH E L S EN IO RS T O L EAR N TO US E TH E I NTER NET
From sharing photos to accessing the latest news and weather, nearly 200 Bethel seniors now have the chance to learn how to connect online. Some will even receive a free desktop computer, thanks to a federal grant and Rep. Danny Davis’ support.
Bethel recently received funding through a federal initiative that seeks to provide more access to computers and the internet in low-income communities. Through the grant, residents of Bethel’s supportive living facility, Beth-Anne Place, have a new computer lab, complete with 10 computers and one with a touch screen monitor for seniors with dexterity problems.
Marcell Kane, a Beth-Anne Place reside nt, is enrolled in Bethel’s 12-week computer class.
In February, interested Bethel seniors will begin a
12-week computer class taught by Connected Living, an organization that helps seniors connect online. Eligible graduates of the class will receive a free desktop computer and two years of free internet access in their home.
Bethel resident Cicero Blake already has an email address, a Facebook account, and videos on YouTube.
The 75-year-old blues artist has worked with the likes of B.B. King and Otis Clay and toured throughout the United States and internationally – but there’s just one problem. “I don’t have a computer,” Blake said. “When I get my own computer [through the class], I can update my information online myself.”
For residents who are not as familiar with using a computer as Blake, the class is tailored to fit the needs of beginners. From learning how to turn a computer on to how to make calls using the online software Skype, seniors will have the opportunity to connect with loved ones across the United States.
“My six kids are scattered in different places, from New York to Atlanta to New Orleans. [Through the computer class], I will learn how to connect with them,” said Marcell Kane, a 73-year-old Beth-Anne
Place resident. “You’re never too old to learn.”
Want to learn more about the 12-week computer class or about living at Beth-Anne Place? Contact Erika Jackson at 773-473-7870 or ejackson@bethelnewlife.org.

Hundreds of families and volunteers came together to celebrate
Christmas – and the spirit of giving – through the inaugural
Bethel Christmas Store. This past December, pre-registered
Westside families shopped for brand new gifts donated by sponsor families. Almost all were priced at $1, $5, and $10.
gifts for their families at a level they could afford.
“My mouth flew open when I walked into the store. Right away, I found a pink bicycle that I knew my daughter would just love,” said Bill, an unemployed father of three who bought pajamas, a
Transformer toy, and board games for his other children and a crockpot for his wife. “There’s no way I could have afforded those gifts for my family.”
Many families earned
“Bethel Bucks” to spend at the store by completing Bethel’s financial literacy courses, taking nutritious cooking classes, or earning A’s and B’s in school. They also brought cash – raising more than
$ 5 , 5 0 0 t o s e n d
Westside high school seniors from the neighborhood on a college tour this spring.
Volunteer shopping assistants helped shoppers find terrific gifts.
Volunteer gift wrappers wrapped more than 4,500 presents.
“We were overwhelmed by the generosity of our Bethel friends and family,” said Sara Spoonheim, Bethel’s senior director of
Resource Development. “The Christmas Store would not have been possible without our 300 volunteers, who donated, sorted and priced gifts, welcomed families at the café, entertained children while their parents shopped, helped shoppers find great gifts, restocked the shelves every hour, and wrapped all the presents. Volunteers and our families came together to create a truly memorable Christmas.”
Aaron Shoppa
Director of Youth Ministries, Bethlehem Lutheran Church
“The Bethel Christmas Store was a great annual event for our youth and families to take part in,” said Aaron Shoppa, director of Youth Ministries at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St.
Charles. “We look forward to doing this again and continuing to work with Bethel throughout the entire year.”
Want to help with next year’s Christmas Store? Contact Sara Spoonheim at 773-
473-7870 or sspoonheim@bethelnewlife.org.
Sixteen churches and businesses throughout Chicago and its suburbs donated gifts to the Christmas Store.
Thanks to Bethel’s partnership with the State of Illinois’ Put Illinois to Work (PIW) program, 1,056 unemployed and underemployed people were given the opportunity to work temporarily this fall, building job experience and enhancing their resumes.
More than 100 local employers also benefited from the addition of new staff. “We applied for the PIW program because we needed to fill much needed spots. We were running in the red and it was a strain to pay employees,” said Willie Kimmons, owner and founder of Feminique School of Beauty. “Bethel and
PIW enabled us to run our programs at full capacity. It was quite a benefit to our business."
Bethel sought out and partnered with employers ranging from large corporations like Grane Transportation to local entrepreneurs like Symone’s Catering.
In mid-January, Bethel hosted a breakfast to recognize seven employers who had hired their worker-trainees, along with 34 who intended to hire theirs.
Now that the program has ended, Bethel will continue to foster relationships with employers. “We are following up with employers to make sure they got the maximum benefit from hiring our trainee-employees,” said Nancy Brown, senior director for Family Economic Success. “We want employers see us as a resource for employees and training and to consider our pool of candidates whenever they’re looking to hire.”
Looking for skilled employees? Need help with your resume? Contact Donna Germany at 773-826-8430 or dgermany@bethelnewlife.org.
Symone’s Catering, one of 105 local employers that partnered with Bethel in the
Put Illinois to Work program, provided food for Bethel’s employer recognition breakfast.
A very heartfelt thanks to Wilmette Lutheran Church. After ending your 88year-old ministry, you entrusted your legacy to Bethel. We are truly humbled and honored to put it to God’s glory.
THANKS TO ALL OUR DONORS
We are so grateful to those that supported Bethel by donating July 1 to
December 31, 2010. Thank you!! Want to donate? Give online at bethelnewlife.org
, send a check to Bethel New Life, 4950 W. Thomas, Chicago, IL 60651, or call Sara Spoonheim at 773-473-7870 x146 for other options.
INDIVIDUALS $1,000 AND ABOVE
Tim & Eliza Earle, Lenore Franzen, Donald Gancer, Dorothy Greiner, Jack & Lana Grodoski,
William Barden Houston, Lawrence & Tina Howe, David & Kathleen Johnson, Michael &
Lindy Keiser, Ron Kok-Alblas & Kim Morton, Dirk & Mary Landis, Richard & Beverly
Moody, Mary Nelson, Nat & Summer Piggee, Paul & Barbara Rimington, Barney Straus, Jay
& Carrie Weaver, and Helen Westberg.
I N D I V I D U A L S $ 2 5 0 - $ 9 9 9
Verna Baughman, Perry Bigelow, Marilyn & Philip Breiding, Rev. James Carstensen, Eric &
Jodie Draut, Reuben Erickson, Lawrence Grisham, Kimberly Hendee, Rev. Dr. Sherman
Hicks, Herman & Dorothy Kathan, Richard & Cheryl King, Stephen Kramer, Patrick &
Patricia Madison, Jewel Mandeville, Theodor & Jacqueline Maxeiner, Ernie & Janette Muller, Graham & Ruth Rogeness, Art Salk, Stephen & Debora Schwab, Kenneth & Janny
Travers, Amy & Jason Vandenbrook, Leslie & Jeannie Weber, Craig & Mary Whitehead, and
Rozella Youngquist.
I N D I V I D U A L S U N D E R $ 2 5 0
Robert Alexander, Delbert & Betty Anderson, Carl & Mary Ann Anderson, Bruce & Sara
Anderson, Robert & Mary Anderson, Joanna Anderson, Charlotte Argall, Gerald Ashley,
Ron & Lois Barliant, Ralph Beck, Jim & Betty Benton, Paula Besler & Phyllis Meyer, William
& Jane Boline, David Boller, JoAnne & Keith Brady, Kay Broughton, Louise Carlson, Betty
Cerveny, Marc & Christine Chason, Rev. Kelly & Cheryl Chatman, Douglas & Elaine Chester,
Jorge Cobo, Thomas Coleman & Donna Norell, Earlean Collins, Charles Crump, Gloria
Davenport, Terry & Mary Lee Denley, John & Jan Derdall, Joan Donnelly, Clifford Dotseth,
William Pierre Dunagan, Ted Elbert, Diane & Bruce Erickson, Donald & Jessica Fagerberg,
Raymond & Marie Fellows, William Fletcher, Jerald & Kathryn Folk, John & Ada Fournier,
Timothy & Marcia Fox, Betty Fridlund, Marie Friedsam, Diane Froelich, Navin & Sushila
Gandhi, Donald & Gail Goldstein, Marilyn Goll, Jill Graham, B. A. Young Grider, Peter Haas
& Karen Hobbs, Georgian & Laura Hadley, Ruth & Hamilton, Bruce & Mary Hamming, Rev.
Mark & Ione Hanson, Rachel Harter, Roosevelt Haywood, David & Carol Hedlin, Cherilyn
Heramb, Daniel & Dorothy Hildebrandt, David & Grace Holm, Mary Beth Hughes, Theresa
Hurley, Erica Jackson, Vincent James, Adolph Johnson, Cheryl Johnson, Dorothy Johnson,
Bill & Kathy Kastilahn, Karen Kawashima & Jordi Kleiner, William & Charlotte Kennedy,
Marie Kipper, Deanna & Don Kohindorfer, Wes & Carolyn Kott, Jody & Ingrid Kretzmann,
Raymond & Deidre LeFevour, Martin & Barbara Letscher, Sandy Lewis-Kadiri, Annie Mae
Liddell, Rep. Camille Lilly, Patricia Lindner, Juanita Little, Stephen Mack, Kaanaeli Makundi, Pam Marino, Bishal Maskey & Luna Rajbhandari, Eileen Mason & Fred Mueller,
Richard & Wilma McCallister, Laura McGrady, John McKnight, David & Ruth McLaren,
Sheila Meyer, Laurena Moore, Robert & Nancy Nagel, Norman & Joan Nelson, Jonathan &
Junice Nelson, Pauline Nisbet-Dasse, Frances Nohling, Rev. Linda Norman, Ken & Barbara
Olson, Sylvia Perez, Amelia S. Perkins, Grace E. Pierson, Luther Poole, Joan & Robert Pope,
Colleen Poynton, Sheila Radford-Hill, Andrea Raila & Michael Rohrbeck, Kresta Randolph,
McLouis & Harriette Robinet, John & Gwendolyn Rogers, Julie Rowe, Gloria & John Rowley, Sister Janice Ruch, Miriam & David Sanders, Henrietta Saunders, James Scherer, James
& Margaret Schlegel, Charles & Susan Schwartz, William Schwarz, Marilyn Seelander, Blake
Sercye, Rhoda Sharpee, Lynn Sivertsen, Brenda Smith, Paul & Cynthia Stark, Valora Starr,
Donald & Barbara Swanson, Wesley & Sonja Swanson, Marjorie & Wilbert Thiel, Marilyn &
Edward Thompson, Paul & Ruth Tillquist, Jean Townsend, Carol Trojanowski, John &
Audrey Varland, Wayne & Harriet VerGowe, Daniel & Marianne Wachholz, Connie Walker,
Krista Wanko, Michaela & David Ward, Thelma Werner-Crane, Walter & Jeanette Whisler,
Curtis & Michele Whisler, Richard Whited, Amy Wiegert, and Jessye R. Wright.
F O U N D A T I O N S & C O R P O R A T I O N S $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 A N D A B O V E
Advocate Charitable Foundation, Citibank, JP Morgan Chase, LISC, PNC, and WalMart.
F O U N D A T I O N S & C O R P O R A T I O N S U N D E R $ 1 0 , 0 0 0
BEK Distributing Co., Cornell-Brewer Foundation, Guaranty Bank, HSR Property Services,
Northern Trust Matching Grant Program, Pearson Foundation, The Chicago Community
Trust, United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg, Youth Network Council, and Zenith
Fabricating Co.
C O N G R E G A T I O N S
Ascension Lutheran Church of Northfield, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Gloria
Dei Lutheran Church of Northbrook, Grace Lutheran Church of La Grange, Luther Memorial
Church of Chicago, Metropolitan Chicago Synod, Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Arlington Heights, St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Park Ridge, St. Mark's Lutheran Church of
Waukegan, St. Paul Lutheran Church of Villa Park, and Wilmette Lutheran Church.