|
Columbia Bethlehem Community Center
|
"A Safe and Nurturing Place to Be" |
HISTORY
The Bethlehem Community Center was
established in September of 1945, during the period of American history when
World War II forced women into the workforce in increasing numbers. The demand for women of all races to work
created a situation of African American mothers having to devote more work
hours to caring for the children of other working mothers. The African American
"nannies" literally locked their own unattended children in their
homes, then ventured to the homes of the other mothers
to care for their children. This way of life caught the attention of Mrs.
Julian Webb, a Missionary Woman of the Washington
Street Methodist
Church of Columbia,
South Carolina.
Mrs. Webb had a very devoted maid who took care of her twin children, but did
so with the same great self-sacrifice. When Mrs. Webb reported this condition
to members of her Sunday School class and to the
Women's Missionary Society, the women decided that something had to be done to
alleviate this problem and others like it.
Hence, in October of 1945, the Methodist Church
National Division of the Missionary Society in New York City,
New York, and the Missionary Council of the Methodist Church
of South Carolina took action to purchase
property and to open services under the name Bethlehem Community Center.
Over fifty years later, the center continues to provide vital outreach ministerial
services in fulfillment of and as an outgrowth of its original mission.
