About us
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church has been a beacon of light on the Eastside of Wilmington since 1846. For over 176 years, Bethel has met the needs of community members regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation. Beautiful Gate Outreach Center was birthed to address the needs of community members living with HIV/AIDS, and Bethel C.A.R.E.S. was founded by Rev. Dr. Stanley Hearst II to address other pressing matters of our community members. The motto of Bethel is “The Church That Cares,” and we are putting that care into action by expanding our outreach to our neighbors on the Eastside and around the city.
The acronym C.A.R.E.S. stands for Community Action, Redevelopment, and Economic and Educational Solutions. We are in a community where the poverty rate is too high, and the opportunities are too few. We believe that having a laser focus on issues of social justice, housing, financial literacy, and early childhood education and intervention, we can start the process of transforming lives and improving our neighborhood.
We believe that strong individuals, and families, create strong communities.
Our mission is to impact the Eastside of Wilmington and surrounding communities through transformative programming, community partnerships, redevelopment opportunities, and the continuing education of our community members.
“We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.”
— Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
