Walking Tour of Bethel - v. Bodelschwingh Foundation Bethel

Walking Tour of Bethel
Explanations:
= Information on buildings and other points of interest
= Optional detours (marked with letters)
= Route directions
The whole tour takes about one and a half hours, not including
visits to shops.
The paths are quite steep at times.
There is a map of the area at the back of this brochure.
The v. Bodelschwingh
Foundation Bethel
The name "Bethel" comes from Hebrew and means "House of God".
The name determines the programme for the v. Bodelschwingh
Foundation Bethel.
Bethel's vision is entitled "Putting Community into Practice".
By that we mean living together in a natural way, learning and working
together whatever our differences. Our vision is firmly grounded in the
Christian faith and is based on respect for the inalienable dignity of
each individual as a person created by God.
More than 16.000 members of staff work for the good of sick or
disabled persons who need care or are socially disadvantaged.
The main areas of work in the v. Bodelschwingh Foundation Bethel are:
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Assistance for disabled persons
Treatment and research of epilepsy
Assistance for senior citizens
Psychiatry
Assistance for young people
Assistance for the homeless
General hospitals
Work and occupational rehabilitation
Hospices
Every year more than 150 000 persons are given advice or care in the
v. Bodelschwingh Foundation Bethel, which maintains institutions in
six federal states.
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Dankort – the PR building
Dankort (1) –
Offices of the Public Relations Department
Departments for donations, press and communications, PR information, multimedia resources, the radio programme "Antenne
Bethel 94.3 mhz"
In the same building you will find the Stamp Department, known
throughout the country as the place to send used stamps to. People
with handicaps find employment preparing and selling the stamps.
Various workshops and assembly shops run by "proWerk" (2)
(work and career rehabilitation, previously known as sheltered
workshops) are also located in this building.
The hand weaving workshop has a long tradition and is especially
famed for its artistic work.
Leave Dankort by the main entrance on Quellenhofweg and turn
first right into Hoffnungstaler Weg.
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On the left is Pniel Clinic (Genesis 32, 30, Jacob called the place
Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my
life was spared.") Pniel's work is to reintegrate people with mental
disorders into working life, for example by means of work-training in
its own cycle workshop.
From Pniel, turn right into Karl-Schnittger-Weg. and then left into
Saronweg. (Karl Schnittger had the idea of setting up the
Brockensammlung. At the time, he was unemployed. See below.)
In Saronweg you will find several businesses, for example the hairdressers and the bakery in House Bethlehem. (Beth-Lehem means
House of Bread).
Next door is the Brockensammlung (3) (= Gathering up the pieces).
(John 6, 12, the feeding of the 5000. Jesus said to his disciples,
"Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.).
It is one of the oldest services in Bethel and provides employment for
people who were previously homeless. Clothing is collected for Bethel
all over the country. [It is a member of the German umbrella organisation "Fairwertung" (= Fair Recycling Federation)]
Besides the second-hand clothing stores, "Brosa Shop" and "Jasis
Boutique", (where you might find proprietary goods) there is a
section for household goods, furniture and books in the "Brosa
Bazaar". Valuable goods are sold by auction or in the department
named "Brosa Antiques".
Entrance to the Brockensammlung
in Bethel
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The old gateway house at the
entrance to Bethel village
When you have passed the Brockensammlung, go straight on along
the footpath to Königsweg, cross over and walk down the lower half
of Königsweg.
Here you will find the Bethel Bookshop, founded in 1874, with a
large range of theological books. Adjacent to it is the Hauptverwaltung (4) (General Administration) of the v. Bodelschwingh
Foundation Bethel and the offices of the Executive Board.
On the corner of Kantensiek is the old gatekeeper's office – today
it is a protected building; when Bethel started it was the first point of
contact. There was a lighted candle in the window 24 hours a day to
signalize that help could be got there at any time. Today it is one of
the offices used by the employee representative committee. On the
ground floor are the offices of the research centre into the history of
Diakonia.
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The grounds of the v. Bodelschwingh Foundation Bethel border on
Gadderbaumer Straße. As a result of regionalisation and support for
independent lifestyles many former Bethel residents now live in
Bielefeld city or other towns, for example in residential homes,
shared flats or single flats.
Old Ebenezer –
the oldest building in Bethel
Our route continues to the right along Kantensiek.
In Kantensiek valley there are several hospitals belonging to the
Gilead division of Bielefeld Evangelical Hospital. (Jer. 8,22, the call
of the prophet to heal the sick, "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is
there no physician there?") Some of the larger hospital buildings
and accommodation for nursing staff and trainees can be seen here.
The Sparkasse at Betheleck (= Bank on Bethel
Corner) is the only financial institution where
"Bethel money" can be obtained.
Since 1st March 2002 it is the "Bethel Euro".
This special voucher grants you 5% discount
in most of the shops in Bethel.
Behind the Sparkasse on the left hand side, Kantensiek 9, is the old
half-timbered house Old Ebenezer (5) (1Samuel 7, 12, the stone
Ebenezer, "Thus far has the Lord helped us.") with the Historical
Collection (5) and also the Werkstatt Spielkiste / Laden Mobilé
(5) (= Playbox Workshop and Mobilé Shop)
Old Ebenezer is the house where the Bethel institution started. With
the support of Bielefeld merchants, the "Home for treating and caring
for epileptics" was established in the former farmhouse. Pastor
Friedrich Simon was its first director. On 20th November 1871 Friedrich
von Bodelschwingh was called to become managing director of Bethel
and he significantly influenced its development. Having been trained in
both agriculture and theology, he was predestined for the complex
tasks in the fast expanding institution. He died on 3rd April 1910.
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Our route continues up Sareptaweg opposite Old Ebenezer.
The wall of natural stone on the left-hand side was erected by
"brothers from the highway" – as v. Bodelschwingh called the travelling labourers of the early years – as their contribution towards their
support. On the right is the church office of Zion Congregation.
Just above it is the former home of the von Bodelschwingh family.
Then you come to the impressive-looking House Sarepta (6) on the
right – formerly the Mother House of the Westphalian Institute of
Deaconesses Sarepta (= Zarephath), founded in 1869. The building
symbolizes an angel with outspread wings. (Mal. 3, 2, Sarepta
means "refiner's fire" and refers to the opportunity afforded
by the community to become spiritually more mature. A
second line of explanation for the task of Diakonia can be
found in 1 Kings 17. Zarephath is the home of the widow who
takes in Elijah and whose supply of food does not run out.)
At that time Bethel, the Sarepta Community gave unmarried women
status and a qualification recognised by society. Today it houses a
training centre for caring professions in the health service.
Continue along Sareptaweg, cross Nazarethweg and walk along
Bethelweg.
House Sarepta – training centre
for professions in the
health service and nursing
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Zion Church
When you pass under a footbridge you will see Groß-Bethel (7) on
the right. It was the first new building to be erected in Bethel and
housed around 130 men and women. Nowadays it houses about 60
older residents, most of them in single rooms, and it also has accommodation for couples.
Please turn left into Remterweg.
When you reach the top of the hill, take a short detour to the left to
the Haus der Stille (8) (= Retreat Centre). It was rebuilt as the new
centre of the Westphalian Community of Deaconesses (including the
Ravensberg Sisterhood) and opened in 2000. A few deaconesses live
here to look after the numerous guests attending seminars, meditation courses and retreats. The building has a small chapel in the inner
courtyard, and in the garden there is a labyrinth one can walk round.
Zion Church (9) is opposite. (Isaiah 14, 32, the founding of Zion,
the Temple Mountain in Jerusalem, and Psalm 126, "When the
Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!"
– verse above the altar in the church.)
The foundation stone was laid by Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm in
1883 [and thus the name Königsweg (= King's Way)]. The official opening was on the first Advent Sunday in 1884. Outside on the side aisle
is a stone tablet commemorating those who were killed or displaced by
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He who believes
in me will have life – the gateway
to the Old Cemetery
the National Socialist regime. Since its renovation, the church has wide
aisles and plenty of space in the front for wheelchairs.
Return to Remterweg and walk up the hill.
In the woods to the left is the Church in the Woods (10) which
was reconstructed in 2000. In good weather church services are held
here under the beech trees. The Auferstehungs-Kapelle (11)
(= Resurrection Chapel) on the right is the cemetery chapel and also
Bethel's Roman Catholic church. It was a gift from the Earl of
Sparrenburg, who wanted to donate a Reformed Church to Bethel.
Turn left into Eckardtsweg and go through the gateway into the
Old Cemetery (12).
The v. Bodelschwingh family is buried here. There is a memorial
stone in memory of the four children who died of diphtheria in
Dellwig. The cemetery is laid out according to the tradition for
pastors, deacons and deaconesses, with uniform burial areas. A few
metres further on past House Abendfrieden is the so-called New
Cemetery (13), where Bethel residents are buried, such as Gertrud
Bäumer, an educationalist who spent her last years in Bethel.
House Abendfrieden (= Evening Peace) on Remterweg is one of
several homes for retired Sarepta deaconesses. Part of the building is
"Frieda v. Bodelschwingh Residence". Caring for the elderly is
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becoming an increasingly important part of the work of the
v. Bodelschwingh Foundation Bethel.
A detour to the left takes you to the Theological College Wuppertal/Bethel (A) on Remterweg, which houses the Institute for
Diaconic Studies and Management.
From House Abendfrieden, cross over Remterweg and take the
footpath leading downhill and slightly to the right. You will come to
Bethelweg.
A few metres to the left is House Zuversicht (B), the first hospice in
Bethel for the dying; it was opened in 1998. Professional staff and a
large number of volunteers help people to spend their last days in
dignity.
Further along Bethelweg on the right is the Mission House Bethel
(Centre for Mission and Diakonia) (C). It links the v. Bodelschwingh
Foundation Bethel with the United Evangelical Mission and is a symbol
of the long and still very lively relationships Bethel has, especially to
Tanzania.
House Zuversicht Hospice
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Epilepsy Centre
with Mara Hospital and Kidron
Turn right along Bethelweg and then left into Maraweg. Down the
hill on the left is the Artists' House Lydda.
In the Artists' House Lydda (14) Bethel residents have the
opportunity to develop their artistic talents. It has regular exhibitions
that are very highly regarded. (Acts 9, 32-35, Lydda was a place in
Palestine where Peter healed a lame man and said to him,
"Get up and tidy up your bed.")
Soon afterwards you will come to Mara and Kidron Hospitals along a
side-road. (Exodus 15, 23ff. Mara is the place where bitter water
was turned into drinking water and Israel was told, "I am the
Lord who heals you."
John 18, 1 Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples on
the evening he was arrested. The prophet Ezekiel speaks of
healing water, Ezek. 47.)
The Epilepsy Centre with the two hospitals Mara I and Kidron (15)
is renowned all over the world and caters for a large area.
It maintains Dothan Hospital School and rehabilitation facilities.
Mara II Clinic is a hospital for people with special needs, e.g. for
residents of Bethel who need extended nursing care. There is also an
out-patients department that supplies Methadone and a section for
persons with HIV.
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Lindenhof – a hotel that trains young
people with epilepsy
Continue down Maraweg until you come to the large grounds of the
Mamre-Patmos School on the left.
The Mamre-Patmos School (16) (Genesis 18, God appeared to
Abraham in Mamre. Rev. 1, John had his visions on the Greek
island of Patmos) is an integrated, barrier-free school for children
with special needs – learning difficulties, mental problems, physical
disabilities and multiple handicaps. The colourful new building was
made possible with money collected for a Project of the Year.
Continue along Maraweg until it joins Quellenhofweg and turn left.
After two kilometres you will see Quellenhof farm (D) on the right.
In the grounds there is a home for elderly persons who used to be
homeless.
Walk along Quellenhofweg until you come to Lindenhof (E).
This is a hotel where young people suffering from epilepsy are trained for the hotel and restaurant industry in conjunction with Bethel
Vocational Training School.
In the Lindenhof you can take a rest in the beer garden, have a meal
or spend the night.
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Walk through the hotel grounds and take the footpath on the right
until you come to House Enon (F) (John 3, 23, John baptised
people in Aenon, where there was plenty of water.) This is
another old farmhouse; it has been modernized and provides
long-term accommodation for multiply disabled persons. It also
houses a day-care centre for people over 60, a Bioland horticultural
business and riding stables for hippo-therapy.
Return to Maraweg, pass House Lydda and then turn left across the
car park of the eight-storeyed building House Emmaus towards
Bethel-Platz (= Bethel Square).
House Emmaus (17) (Luke 24, 29, in Emmaus the disciples say
to the risen Lord, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening.") is
home to around 200 chronically ill young, elderly and multiply-disabled long-term Bethel residents. Emmaus, the tallest building in
Bethel, was constructed in this way to enable residents to participate
in events as independently as possible. A day-care centre for persons
over 60 and a swimming pool for hydrotherapy are also in the
building. There are activities to help people structure their days, a lot
of leisure activities and church services. The house also has room for
some people to live in their own apartments.
House Terach – the university
for diaconic professions
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Assapheum – a meeting-place
and conference hall in Bethel
On the far side of the car park take the footpath up to the right to
Grete-Reich-Weg. House Terach (18) is on the left. It houses the
University of Applied Sciences (FHdD). The Keramikwerkstatt
(= pottery) is on the right hand side of the road.
Opposite the pottery is House Ophir (19) (1Kings 9, 28, an area
renowned for its wealth of gold.) It houses the main archives of
the v. Bodelschwingh Foundation Bethel as well as the archives of
Sarepta and Nazareth and the Church of Westphalia.
You have reached Bethel-Platz (= Bethel Square), a place for markets, celebrations and concerts, bordered on one side by the
Assapheum (20) (Psalms 73-83, named after an important
psalm singer), which is used as a conference centre and a church
hall, and on another side by House Nazareth (21) (Jesus' home,
John 1, 46 "Can anything good come from there? .... Come and
see."), the Westphalian Training Institute for Deacons, founded in
1877 as the male arm of diaconic work under the name of Zoar
Westphalian Brotherhood. Women were not trained as deacons until
the 1970s. The community is for fellowship in sharing faith and
service, but the members do not live together. Since 2000 the communities of Nazareth and Sarepta have a joint management and
administration, but the two foundations have remained independent
bodies.
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Botenmeisterei –
Bethel's internal postal service
In the same building complex are the Ev. Bildungsstätte für
Diakonie und Gemeinde, (= Evangelical Training Institute for
Diakonia and congregational work), Bildung und Beratung Bethel
(= Institute for in-service training and further education) and also
houses offices, guest accommodation and meeting rooms.
Opposite House Nazareth is the former Post Office, now used by the
Botenmeisterei, Bethel's internal postal service, which provides
work for many sick and disabled persons. There is also a small post
office in the building.
Cross Bethel Square and go left down the sloping path to
Handwerker Street.
You will see the Jugendgästehaus Horeb (Horeb Youth Hostel) on
the right and House Damaskus on the left. (Acts 9, 1-9, the
conversion of Saul/Paul in Damascus). At the back of House
Damascus are rooms used by the Theatre Workshop and the
department of music therapy. Next door is the Neue Schmiede (22)
(= New Smithy). Bethel's blacksmith's shop really was on this site,
but as there is already a restaurant in Bielefeld called
"Alte Schmiede", the centre was named "Neue Schmiede".
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Neue Schmiede – the leisure and cultu
ral centre in Bethel
It is an integrated leisure centre (= for people with or without disabilities) and has an excellent cultural programme enjoyed by many
people from the city of Bielefeld.
If you parked your car at the Dankort, go down Handwerkerstrasse to
Quellenhofweg, turn right and walk the short distance to Dankort.
We hope you enjoyed the Walking Tour and that it has given you new
information and impressions. Further information can be obtained on the
internet under www.bethel.de
We wish you a good journey home.
With best wishes from Bethel,
Department of PR Information in Dankort.
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v. Bodelschwingh Foundation Bethel
Königsweg 1, 33617 Bielefeld
Phone: 0521 144-00
PR Information Department
Quellenhofweg 25, 33617 Bielefeld
Phone: 0521 144-3599
Fax:
0521 144-5214
E-Mail: pr.information@bethel.de
Donations Department
Quellenhofweg 25, 33617 Bielefeld
Phone: 0521 144-3600
Fax:
0521 144-5138
E-Mail: spenden@bethel.de
account-number: 4077
Sparkasse Bielefeld, sort-code 480 501 61
or online via www.bethel.de
Stamp Department
Quellenhofweg 25, 33617 Bielefeld
Phone: 0521 144-3597
Gathering up the pieces
Saronweg 10, 33617 Bielefeld
Phone: 0521 144-3779
www.bethel.de
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• Map of Bethel
v. Bodelschwinghsche Stiftungen Bethel
(v. Bodelschwingh Foundation Bethel)
Quellenhofweg 25 · 33617 Bielefeld
www.bethel.de