Raise the Roof!

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A nonprofit fundraiser supporting

Bethel Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
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Bethel Lutheran Church needs help raising funds to replace our damaged roof.

$10

raised by 1 people

$42,671 goal

1 month left


Bethel Lutheran Church has grown a reputation in South Minneapolis not only as a place of worship, but as a hub for the whole community. Many local organizations make use of our space for education, 12-step groups, fitness, parties, and more. But this use of our space has been jeopardized in recent months. 

Due to a hailstorm in 2023, Bethel sustained severe damage to its roofs. As the months have passed without repairs, we can no longer sustain our programming at the capacity we would like, due to many leaks and concerns about structural damage. 

We would like to ask for your help to raise the remaining funds we need to fix the roof, so that we can continue to provide shelter and community space for all our neighbors.  

Below is a letter from our Pastor, Brenda Froisland, detailing our specific needs regarding the roof, as well as all the myriad organizations and community members we support with the use of our building: 

"Bethel Lutheran Church in south Minneapolis is more than a church. Some call us a community center. A place where many people, organizations, neighbors, children, and strangers gather to attend various meetings and events. Indeed, we share our large building with all people, without exception.

  • We house organizations who are attentive to the neighborhood, as well as to the elderly in our community. 

  • We have two congregations who worship regularly. 

  • We have seven 12-step groups who meet weekly, two home-school groups who participate in joint classes one day a week, four BSA groups, and two Girl Scout groups who call this place home. 

  • This does not even touch the art fairs, conferences, celebrations, graduations, memorial services, weddings, and parties that happen on a regular basis. 

 We also share our grounds by providing places to gather for our community. We have a soccer net, basketball court, labyrinth, bike repair station, natural playground, Little Free Pantry, two Little Free Libraries, and benches and picnic tables to use as you gather with family and friends.

We are an all-inclusive community who make our welcome well known. Rainbow flags, signage, and our people are good at loving others, unconditionally.

Having said all of this, we need new roofs. Our flat roof was replaced three years ago, so it is fine. However, our pitched roofs (sanctuary, gym, and garage) all need to be replaced. Although our insurance is covering 85% of the cost for these three roofs, this leaves Bethel with a bill of $42,671 to cover.  

We would love your help in keeping this center of activity and worship space well guarded from roof leaks, deterioration, and long-term deferred maintenance.  By doing so, we continue to be a place of worship and refuge, recovery and learning, community and ministry.  

Thank you for your dedication to our presence and relevance in South Minneapolis."

-Pr Brenda

No need to take our word for it, though--Several of our neighbors who utilize community spaces at Bethel have shared their stories about what the use of our building means to them.

Community Action Network MN (CANMN) is an organization that serves between 300 and 350 families each week, providing fresh produce, diapers, and other household goods. Here's what one of their representatives has to say about Bethel: 

"CANMN loves being at Bethel. Very generally, it is a space that is very accessible to our community members that need support. More specifically, we really feel how much Pastor Brenda and Regan believe in our work. It is so refreshing and has not always been the case for us at previous places we have been. Not only are the staff at Bethel accommodating with providing additional refrigeration or storage when we need it, but they are always asking how else they can support our work. 


We feel at home at Bethel. At home in the physical space and even more so with the people. We could not imagine a better space for us to do our work."

-Tom

Bethel hosts multiple BSA and Girl Scout groups on a weekly basis. Here is one parent's story about how participating in BSA at Bethel has helped her connect with a stronger sense of community. 

"We joined scouts 4 years ago. My kids love the engagement, activities, and the amazing space we get to do it in. When my oldest went from the troop to the pack, he wanted me to come to the meetings. I sat there, chatted, didn't really do anything.... until they recruited me to be a scout leader. Now I engage 20-30 scouts regularly as they work towards becoming adults who lead through the principles of scouting (trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, reverent)."

-Tess

For the sake of Bethel Lutheran Church, and your South Minneapolis community, please consider making a donation today. For just $25, you can secure 5 new shingles for Bethel. Let's work together to Raise the Roof! 

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