Betel Children’s Home
Fazenda Betel is situated in the municipality of Cocalzinho in the state of Goias, Brazil and is 120km from the capital city, Brazilia.
On the 3rd May 1975 Assistÿýia Social Evangÿýca de Brasilia, a Christian organisation known as Betel Children’s Home was founded to give help to poor people regardless of religion or politics.
Today there are 150 children aged 4 to 18 living in Betel in 5 separate houses, looked after by house parents. There are also other small living quarters where older children look after themselves. It costs about £120,000 per annum to run Betel, all funds coming from voluntary donations.
In 1977 Pastor Ernesto Swartele and his wife Josefina accepted the challenge to care for 100 children who were being abused and exploited by drug traffickers. In 1982 a supporter of Betel, Agnes Chagos, gave Pastor Ernesto a piece of land – the start of Fazenda Betel.
A regular Newsletter is available from:
Andrew Alford – AndrewAlford@onetel.com
Chris Harding – ChrisHarding3@compuserve.com
Margaret Alford – Margaret_Alford@sil.org
