Bethel Church in Redding, California hosts its 17th annual Thanksgiving celebration for people in need from their community.
Annual Thanksgiving Celebration
On November 28, the community in Redding gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving together in Redding Veterans Memorial Hall. Bethel Church came together to serve hundreds of Redding residents that have no home or family celebrate with during the holidays.
Bethel Redding Church
They have been hosting the gathering annually for the last seventeen years. All funding for the celebration came from Church donations and Church leaders volunteered to make the gathering possible.
“This is the seventeenth year that we’ve done it,” said Nathan Muller, an Outreach Pastor at Bethel. “It was originally started by one of the leaders at Bethel named Chris Overstreet and he started it in his house gathering about 50 people and it’s just grown since then.”
Bringing Joy
Bethel chose to host the Thanksgiving feast to bring joy to people who often feel lonely during this season.
“We choose to do it on Thanksgiving because oftentimes that’s a day where people can feel lonely if they don’t have that opportunity. It’s such a privilege for us to come down, I can’t think of a better way that we could spend Thanksgiving than spending it with people who wouldn’t have the chance to,” said Outreach Pastor Nathan Muller.
For People In Need
The Thanksgiving feast included turkey, ham, green beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls and pie. Bethel Church also provided clean winter clothing to those who needed it. The goal is to make sure that everyone leaves with a full stomach, warm clothes and a joyful heart.
“Without them or the mission nobody would have a Thanksgiving and I want to say thank you to Bethel. I really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart,” said Tony Stevenson, one of those who attended the meal.
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Reference: ABC 7 KRCR NEWS