Testimonial

If I had been a Mastermind contestant my specialist subject could have been rehabs of Great Britain 1984-1997. I was first part of the Bethany Project in the late 1990's several years before its concrete existence. To me Bethany House is more than a building it is a friend, not merely a friend but one, which I have seen, often painfully brought into conception and through a growing process come into its own identity.

Bethany is concerned with people and relationship and so like us I somehow doubt that this ontological progression will ever reach full completion. One of the most important things about Bethany is the question of ownership, to whom does this place belong? The undoubted Master of this house is Christ whose presence suffuses and macerates this building as oxygen to air. However in my experience Bethany belongs to every individual who has lived within it, it is truly to me a living organism in the process of becoming, this fluidity is the difference between Bethany and other projects I have known 1984-97. It treads a possibly unique path between a family home and a supportive project, this is profoundly appropriate as every individual who passes through its doors is equally unique.



To establish firm boundaries without restricting or preventing growth is a difficult balance, the key to which is only found within unconditional love. It is an empathetic thing it is a sharing thing it is a supporting thing and sometimes a carrying thing. It is not a secular thing. The "programme" at Bethany is excellent in structure; it has a fully equipped computer room and workshop. It also has a network of relational contacts with other agencies in the area including North Devon College and relapse prevention courses in the town. These things are necessary and useful to encourage life skills, yet a lot of projects have in place good programmes but they are not Bethany House.

Every living sentient being has a heart beat or centre and if pressed to locate Bethany's one need look no further than Roger and Jill.