Bethel Express is a ministry in Rochester, New York that provides a safe place for inner-city school students. Students in this environment often do not know what and/or where they are going home to and where their next meal will come from. Due to these issues, schoolwork and related events are the last thing they are able to focus on. Bethel Express is a redemptive ministry to tackle these very problems. Students of any age are welcome, and mentors are specifically assigned to middle and high school students to help them with their school work. Bethel operates 5 days a week during the school year, and is open for community events such as RocFest during the summer.
The goal of Bethel Express is to ‘Raise Up Champions’. They attack this goal with a redemptive mindset. Christ is set at the center of student mentoring and everything that Bethel does. Concerts and art festivals are open to the community, but they are all worship focused giving glory to God’s kingdom rather than their work. This christ-centeredness has made a lasting impact on the community, and according to their website 100% of students who have finished Bethel Express’ mentoring program since 1987 have graduated from high school, with some even continuing on to go as far as getting a Doctorate degree! Over this time frame, that 100% of students translates into over 1,000 young lives being eternally impacted because of the ministry of Bethel Express. Not only does this ministry provide for basic needs in the community such as hot meals and a safe place for students to learn and grow, but it takes its help a step further to redemptively change the city of Rochester through the spiritually focused mentoring that it offers its students.
I appreciate how you wrote about this ministry. Stability is a crucial necessity for education and Bethel is providing that. It is hard to focus on academics when you have other massive concerns. This a great example of people who saw a need and actually acted on it to produce tangible results and community transformation.
This is a great concept. My grandma is involved with a similar company named Meals on Wheels. I really like this idea and ministry because it is said that 1/6 kids in America go home hungry or are hungry going to bed. This is a large group of kids that could be impacted and have their stomachs filled at the same time! A great idea.