By Rev. Stephen Hammond,
Senior Pastor of Bethel Community Church,
Los Banos
Our hearts are overflowing with excitement this Christmas season as the Merced County Rescue Mission has fulfilled what many have longed for and known that we desperately needed on the Westside of Merced County. They have opened a Respite Care house and a Bridging house in Los Banos. For years we have had to send homeless individuals out of town and even out of the county to find a place for them to stay and receive the help that they greatly needed. The impact of these two houses has been immediate. People who have been struggling to find a way out of their situation are now housed and on the road to recovery. Others who need a healthier environment to recover from their medical needs are safe and secure in a loving setting.
As the Senior Pastor of Bethel Community Church in Los Banos, we are fully committed to see these two houses succeed. Their importance to the work that we are all doing on the Westside of Merced County cannot be overstated. We have partnered with the Merced County Rescue Mission and their staff to fill their houses with people, with provisions, with volunteers, and with prayer to ensure that these houses will stay open and filled. Our church has worked with the homeless for over 15 years now, and this is the most exciting event that has happened in Los Banos in that time and even before. We are thrilled and are already seeing the dramatic impact upon our community. From our hearts here at Bethel we say, “Thank You” to the Merced County Rescue Mission for this endeavor.
