Our Host Community: Diaconale Leefgemeenschap Bethanië

The Diaconale Leefgemeenschap Bethanië in Amerongen has a long and inspiring history. Its roots go back to 1935, when the Zendings-Diaconessen (Mission Deaconesses) founded their mother house there. The community itself grew out of earlier work started by German deaconesses. For many years, women lived together in a committed Christian community and served in nursing, pastoral care, social work and mission. At its largest, the community included around 90 deaconesses, who made an important contribution to church and diaconal life far beyond Amerongen.

Their former mother house, Hebron, remains an important part of this history. Today, it serves as a Christian centre for learning, retreats, and conferences and will also be the venue for the DRAE Regional Conference.

As the number of deaconesses became smaller, the community began to ask how its spiritual and diaconal calling could continue into the future. In 2019, a new chapter began. The remaining deaconesses moved into a newly built residential community in the centre of Amerongen together with several families. From the traditional deaconess community, the Diaconale Leefgemeenschap Bethanië was created – an intergenerational Christian community where deaconesses and families live, believe, and serve together. In this way, the original vision of the community continues in a new and modern form.

Today, Bethanië describes itself as an open “House of Hope”. Prayer, hospitality, and community life are at the heart of everything they do. Through community cafés, language courses, intercultural activities, and events for families and neighbours, they put their Christian faith into practice and invite people to experience belonging and community.