Our History
Thirteen women from Sword of the Spirit communities around the world first met together in 2005 in Lansing, Michigan, for a conference where we began to build relationships with one another. There we realized that we shared a common vision and a common desire to find a means to network and support one another in living out our call to live single for the Lord within the Sword of the Spirit.
At our second conference, held in Monterrey, Mexico, in 2007, we came to a decision to move toward forming an association for that purpose. In the two years after that, much effort went into writing and reviewing several drafts of a charter describing our statement of ideal in living single for the Lord and our rationale for forming an association.
In our most recent conference (October 2009), seventeen sisters with a lifelong commitment as well as several with a full commitment gave a final review of the charter—and wholeheartedly and unanimously accepted it.
At our second conference, held in Monterrey, Mexico, in 2007, we came to a decision to move toward forming an association for that purpose. In the two years after that, much effort went into writing and reviewing several drafts of a charter describing our statement of ideal in living single for the Lord and our rationale for forming an association.
In our most recent conference (October 2009), seventeen sisters with a lifelong commitment as well as several with a full commitment gave a final review of the charter—and wholeheartedly and unanimously accepted it.
“God has set an open door before Bethany Association. Beyond it lie all the resources we need to do the work the Lord is setting before us. Grace abounds. Let’s make ourselves available to whatever God asks of us. This is God’s work. This open door is not just for us individually, but for us as a group and for the Sword of the Spirit.”
— Beth Melchor, Vice-President, Bethany Association Council
— Beth Melchor, Vice-President, Bethany Association Council
