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To provide a Christian environment demonstrating Christ’s love and teaching to all.
Bethshan is incorporated as Bethshan Ministries Ltd, a not for profit, charitable and religious organisation. It is registered with the Australian Charitable and Not For Profits Commission (A.C.N.C). It is governed by a Board of Directors which appoints a management team to operate the ministries.
Bethshan was founded by Elliot John and Ethel Rien as Bethshan Holiness Mission. The Rien’s first came to Wyee in 1897 to assist with bee-keeping. They saw a great need to provide a place of rest for Christian workers to revive them spiritually and bodily and to establish a missionary training home in scriptural and practical holiness.
On the 1st May 1908 Mr & Mrs Rien took up a selection of approximately 120 acres of virgin bush and signed the property to a trust forming Bethshan Holiness Mission. Bethshan means “place of rest”.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 10:10
Jesus said “ I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”.
In the early days many swagmen stopped at the Mission and stayed in a hut specially built to provide shelter for them. They were also provided with meals. The Mission ministries revolved around missionary support, outreach programs, bible teaching, camp accommodation and church activities.
To meet the needs of staff and visitors, over the years, farming such as dairying was a part of the activities of the full time Christian workers living on site. They grew a lot of their own food and lived by faith trusting in God to provide all their needs. It was a natural progression by the 1960s for Bethshan to establish the retirement village. Today Bethshan owns and operates a 50 home retirement village.
Following the retirement village the need for a nursing home was seen and it was opened on July 20, 1970, with Miss Agnes Bakewell as Matron. The hostel was opened two years later, in August 1972. Over time the nursing home and hostel became “Bethshan Gardens” residential aged care facility. In February 2020 it was sold to Baptist Care Australia one of the largest faith based providers in Australia. The residential aged care facility now operates as “Baptist Care- Bethshan Gardens”. Bethshan continues to provide a chaplaincy program and spiritual support service to “Bethshan Gardens” as a ministry of Bethshan Bible Church.
Over the years many people who have needed time out for respite or a home have experienced ministry from Bethshan. Today, our Bethshan Bible Church through its ministry challenges people to find a personal faith in Jesus Christ and receive the promise from God of eternal life. Finding meaning, truth, happiness and a real purpose in life.
Donations and bequests have been a huge part of Bethshan since it’s beginnings and many people have experienced the joy of giving and sharing in the real difference made in the lives of people that are touched by these ministries.
If you are interested in donating or bequesting to Bethshan please contact our General Manager Phillip Bryant on (02) 43058820 or via email at phillipb@bethshan.org.au
Thank you for your consideration to support and provide financial assistance for this vital ministry.
