Bethea Retirement Community

11/03/2025

Some people spend their lives pursuing things that will make them happy. Happiness can be described as a state of being emotionally satisfied with one’s circumstances. However, the problem comes when those circumstances change.This is why lasting happiness eludes many people.

But there is an attitude that God wants us to have, and when we have it, it will keep us satisfied even when circumstances change – it’s called joy. The key to our joy is Jesus Christ, not what happens to us.
Instead of looking for your circumstances to satisfy you, look to Jesus. He will give you true satisfaction, despite what happens in your life.
"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory" (1 Peter 1:8 ESV).

Pastor Jeff

10/28/2025

"We are ambassadors for Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV).

If you are a follower of Jesus, you are an ambassador for Him. What is an ambassador? An ambassador is a representative sent out on a mission to build relationships. There are all kinds of ambassadors—political, economic, cultural, business, and goodwill ambassadors. And the Bible says there are spiritual ambassadors—that is you and me.

As an ambassador of Jesus, you represent Jesus in the world. That should affect everything about how you live. Philippians 1:27 says, “Be sure that you live in a way that brings honor to the Good News of Christ.".As you live each day, it is good to remember that you represent Jesus everywhere you go. When you are at work, playing a sport, or stuck in traffic—remember who you represent. And, as Ephesians 4:1 says, “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received."

Pastor Jeff

10/21/2025

God keeps His promises. He is good. He is faithful. If He makes you a promise, you can count on it.

That’s what Mary sang about in Luke 1: “He has kept the promise He made to our ancestors, and has come to the help of His servant Israel. He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham and to all his descendants forever!” (Luke 1:54-55)

Abraham lived two thousand years before Mary. And God made a promise to Abraham. He promised that he would bless Abraham’s family by sending the Savior through his family line.

Mary knew the promise God had made to Abraham—and she knew God was keeping that promise through the baby she was going to have.

You see, Mary’s story began thousands of years before she even was born. There was the promise God made to Abraham. And there was a prophecy in Isaiah: “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14)

God kept His promise. He sent his Son, Jesus, to be born, to live, to die on the cross for our sins, and to be resurrected. God also promised that all who believe in Jesus will receive forgiveness and salvation (Romans 10:9, 13).

God made many more promises to you that you discover in the Bible. Remember that God is faithful and keeps every one of them.

Pastor Jeff

10/16/2025

For more than 65 years, Bethea Retirement Community has been a place of Christ-centered care, compassion, and fellowship.

Today, Bethea’s sponsor, SCBC (South Carolina Baptist Convention), together with SCBMA (The SC Baptist Ministries of Aging), shares a strategic ministry refocus initiative to SC senior adults and plans to transition Bethea, as well as its sister community, Martha Franks, to new ownership as part of a faithful step forward.

We will work closely with SCBMA to identify a thoughtful, skilled partner who will honor Bethea’s heritage and strengthen its future.

Our priority remains the well-being of our residents, families, and staff. We want residents to continue to receive the same quality of love, service, and support that have always defined our community.

We are deeply grateful for your prayers and trust as we move forward together in faith.

Learn more at https://www.scbma.com/

10/13/2025

A girls high school state championship basketball game in Oklahoma last year ended in jubilation for one team. A player made a three-pointer as time expired to give her team the lead and the state championship win. The team's players, coaches, and fans erupted in celebration. On the court, shortly after the game ended, they received the state championship trophy from the state high school athletics association.

The coach of the winning team was happy for his players, but admitted that he felt uneasy about it, because several times during the game both coaches questioned whether the score on the scoreboard was accurate. So, the coach of the winning team, knowing the game was recorded on video, decided to watch every play and record the score. He discovered that his team did not win the game, they actually lost.

He called a team meeting and took his findings to his players and asked what they thought should be done about it. His team voted unanimously to give the state championship trophy to the other team. The Oklahoma state high school athletics association ruled that one team cannot give a trophy to another team, The winning team was told they needed to appeal their win. After receiving their appeal, the state association agreed and awarded the trophy to the other team.

Both teams were asked their thoughts about the lessons learned from it. All the members of the team that thought they won, but actually lost, agreed that giving the trophy to the other team was the right choice. One member of the team that thought they lost, but was eventually declared the winner, expressed her gratitude. She also openly hoped that if she faced the same kind of decision that she would do the right thing, too.

Proverbs 11:3 states, "The integrity of the upright guides them."

A person of integrity does the right thing every time, regardless of who knows, and regardless of the cost to them.

Pastor Jeff

10/06/2025

We love the support and partnership we have with Darlington County Sheriff's Office! Thanks for joining us today! 💙

10/06/2025

This morning we celebrated our Veterans by unveiling two new memorials on our campus. 🇺🇸

Thank you to all those who have served and continue to serve our country! ❤️💙🤍

Also, thanks to all of our sponsors who helped make this possible and for all the great organizations and friends of Bethea that came out to support us!

10/03/2025

We kicked off Fall🍁 with a new game show series! We had many contestants “come on down” for our first game, The Price is Right! ❤️💙💛💚 Stayed tuned to see what our next game show will be….

10/03/2025

Don’t forget to nominate your favorite coach! We will pull a winner on Monday! ⚾️🏀🏈

One week from today is National Coach’s Day! ⚽️🏀🏈⚾️🥎🎾🏐🏓🎳🏸🥊⛳️

Over the next week, share and nominate your favorite coach in a comment below, for a chance for them to win this basket of goodies! The winner will be announced next Monday, Oct. 6th.

Coaches must be in Florence or Darlington County! 🏀🏈⚾️🥎

10/03/2025

Last month, residents in partnership with Whosoever Church, served 47 individuals through our homeless ministry! 💙

10/03/2025

Don’t forget!! Starts at 2pm today. Follow the signs 💙

09/29/2025

A man told a story that recently he became stuck on an elevator with several other people. A few of them began to panic just a few seconds after the elevator stopped. He noticed one man, standing near the door, did not panic. Instead, the man calmly reached for a small door below the buttons, pulled out a phone, and called for help. After placing the phone back in its place, he told the others that help was on the way.

As the group waited for help, which arrived in a few minutes, the man was asked how he knew where to locate the phone. He replied that he worked for a company that makes elevators. Instead of becoming stressed, he knew how to find help. Psalm 34:17 says, "The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles." When you need deliverance, instead of allowing stress to prevail, call out to God. He will answer your call, and He will come to your rescue.

Pastor Jeff