Bethel Church offers great give aways

It’s not often things are offered for free, but that’s exactly what will happen this weekend when family fun will be offered at Bethel Church in Owatonna.

It’s called the Bethel Great Give Away, and organizers are quick to point out this is not a fundraiser but rather a mission project where everything is free. The event will take place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bethel Church, 1611 Hemlock Ave., Owatonna.

“A team of 10 people has been working on this since January,” said Julie Rethemeier, one of the volunteers at Bethel. “Our entire church body is bonding together to make this a reality for our community,” she added.

Bethel will offer live music, supervised kids’ activities, tent of encouragement, food and a huge garage sale inside the church where everything is free. As part of the sale, guided shopping trips will take place with limited numbers of people at one time, according to Rethemeier. She noted the tent will feature big smiles, warm hospitality, prayer and free Bibles.

This isn’t the first time Bethel has offered this event. In 2010, about 1,000 people attended a similar event. Co-chair Jolene Kunkel came up with the idea 14 years ago, Rethemeier said, noting the church expects about the same turnout this time around.

“We decided it was time to do it again,” she said. “A few of our values as a church are focused on community, serving and being generous. We serve a generous, loving God, and we want others to feel that love.”

Rethemeier said they are finding out that there is so much need in the community right now. “It’s important for our church to come together to bond and give,” she says. “We want to be the hands and feet of Christ.”

All items for the giveaway have been donated by members of the church as well as other community members, Rethemeier said. By the end of the week, she said the church gym will filled with household items, clothing, home décor, furniture, books, games and much more. “It’s a typical garage sale of different things,” she said.

 “We truly want to bless our community. This is an experience.”

Bethel, which has been around for 75 years, attracts 400 people to weekly services. With Pastor Micheal Simmerman leading the congregation, Bethel’s vision is to “enjoy God in closeness of relationship and join him in his purpose of making his name known throughout the earth.”

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Bethel Great Give Away

Who: Bethel Church

What: Free food, music, kids’ activities and shopping

Where: Bethel Church, 1611 Hemlock Ave., Owatonna

When: Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Why: Church is committed to serving and being generous