I just know loads of you have been asking the question, ‘how can I financially support the work of Oldham Bethel Church?’ I know if I was you, I’d have definitely been asking. If so, then your prayers have been answered and a solution is now here. Simply take a trip to our website, fill in a short form, and we can make your wallet or church account a little lighter by card, direct transfer or paypal. You can access our giving page here.

If you haven’t been asking how you can give to Bethel Church, let me suggest a few reasons why you might want to think about it.

First, we are unable to sustain the work of ministry ourselves. Oldham Bethel Church is a small church in the most deprived town in England. Unsurprisingly, many of those coming into our church are drawn from the lowest socio-economic backgrounds. Many of our members and adherents are asylum seekers, who are not only prohibited from working but receive only a fraction of the support granted to UK citizens in receipt of benefits. Others are either benefit-class people or those who have retired from non-professional work with limited access to pensions. As a result, it is difficult for a small church such as ours to become self-sufficient. We work with an ongoing, longstanding deficit between that coming in and regular outgoings. This means we are reliant on outside support in order to maintain the work of ministry.

Second, supporting Oldham Bethel Church means partnering in fruitful ministry. By giving financial support to Oldham Bethel Church, you will not just be propping up an ailing work. The church is seeing real fruit – manifest by conversion, baptism and membership – particularly among Muslim-background people from the Middle East. We are also making excellent in-roads into the local Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities, with excellent relationships and gospel opportunities being developed (see our website for further details). Your money will support meaningful gospel work that is seeing genuine growth for the kingdom. Over the last 3 years, we have conducted around 10 baptisms. Though a number of these people have moved on, continuing to worship in local churches with whom we have connected them, many are still pressing on with the Lord in Oldham. You can read about our most recent baptism here and here. Your money will not go to a fruitless ministry but will support effective work for the kingdom.

Third, such giving is scriptural and will result in real partnership (not one-way patronage). This is what Paul says in 2 Cor 9:

⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

If you would like to partner with us at Oldham Bethel Church and would like to support the work of ministry in this needy town, please do visit our giving page. We are extremely grateful for your generosity and partnership with us this way.