By Puja Lamsal
They do not ask questions. They do not take pictures. They welcome every person who walks through the door with dignity and respect. They believe they are doing what they are supposed to do, and that they are getting much more in return.
In 2022, the idea for Bethany Café began with a question posed during a small-group Bible study: “What are you going to do to help the world and your community?” While the café model was not new within the Moravian community, bringing it to Kernersville Moravian Church was far from easy. Even with careful preparation and unwavering determination, the team faced doubts and uncertainty. Many wondered whether the church would have enough volunteers or resources to bring the vision to life. Still, the four women behind the effort remained determined.
“We just didn’t buy into that,” Sandra, one of the four core members, recalled. “We kept on. We serve a God of abundance, not of scarcity.”
A key turning point came when Sherry, one of the ministry’s founding members, attended Synod and learned about a grant opportunity through the Moravian Ministries Foundation. Although they had little experience writing a grant application, the team successfully applied for and received a $12,000 Hunger & Thirst Fund grant in 2022. The funding provided crucial support to launch and promote the ministry.
Since opening, Bethany Café has become much more than a monthly meal. It has become a place where guests are welcomed, known, and valued. Volunteers serve each guest individually at their tables, taking time not only to provide a meal but also to build genuine relationships. “The neat thing is there’s a little lady who sits here every month,” Marsha, another core member, shared. “She’s very quiet until you sit down and get to know her. We’ve gotten to know different people, and it’s really a neat situation where you look for them. And when they’re not here, you worry.” Marsha also shared the joy of watching children who attend Bethany Café grow over the years.
“We have watched them over these past three years, how they have grown,” she said. “They have just become part of our family because they’re here.”
The impact of ministry on strengthening the congregation itself is also well evident. After the disruption and isolation of the pandemic, Bethany Café provided a renewed sense of purpose, connection, and community. “It has really been a boost to our church’s community spirit, our morale, our ability to talk with each other. It has helped us grow stronger in our faith and to walk the way we’re supposed to be walking”, the members affirm. Local businesses, organizations, and community members have also stepped forward with donations of food and resources.
Not only that, but guests also often arrive carrying gifts of their own—fresh vegetables from their gardens to share, or handmade bowl holders sewn as thank-you gifts for volunteers. The ministry has also expanded through Feeding His Sheep, a home-delivery meal program created to serve members of the congregation who are homebound or recovering from illness. What began with a small group of organizers quickly grew as volunteers stepped forward. “We thought we might have eight people interested,” one member said. “When we came back, there were 24 or 25 people ready to help.”
Since inception, Bethany Café has never struggled to recruit or retain volunteers, which is a testament to the generosity of the congregation and the community’s willingness to serve. For those involved, the greatest lesson has been the unexpected blessing they receive through serving others.
“We get fed so much more when we feed them,” they all agree.
Bethany Café began with a simple question about how to help the community. Today, it stands as an example of what can happen when people dream together, trust in abundance, and create a place where everyone has a seat at the table. It is a ministry where generosity flows in every direction.
MMFA is grateful to the donors whose generosity makes the Hunger & Thirst Fund alive and possible. Year after year, the fund helps transform ideas into ministries that bring hope, foster connection, and create meaningful change in communities. We are honored to partner in this work and look forward to supporting many more ministries in the years ahead.
This article was written by Puja Lamsal, MMFA’s summer intern. Puja is originally from Pokhara, Nepal, and is a student at Salem College, double majoring in Professional Writing and Political Science.
