Bethany Thompson

e: bthompson@rockharbor.org
p: 714.384.0914 x 144
Ministry: Community Life
Job Title: Global Associate Director
Hometown: Imperial, CA
Family: gorgeous husband, amazing extended family, and lots of friends that feel like family.

In 10 words or less…

Describe your job.
Working with the Community Life team to shepherd our church body in learning how to live integrated, Christ centered lives whether here at home or while on a missions trip; while helping to facilitate and organize our missions department.
Describe a normal day.
Meetings, emails, meetings, phone calls, meetings, spreadsheets, meetings, paperwork
Meetings…love ‘em or hate ‘em?
This greatly depends on the subject at hand.
Favorite accomplishment/project since joining staff?
The Go Campaign in 2007. 12 hour work days, fully immersed, but truly rewarding to see God work in major ways, when we jumped into something that was way bigger than we could facilitate.
One thing people don’t realize about the staff that they need to know?
They are hilarious. And they truly, deeply care about our church community and where God is leading.
Tell us a story of what you’ve seen God do through your ministry [use more than 10 if you need to].
Just one? I’ve seen lives changed, both in the countries we go to and in the individuals that we send. Mirayama was nine when I met her in India in 2006. A student at the Harvest India school, she heard about God each day in class. After spending a week with her and her friends during a VBS, I asked her if she knew that God deeply loved her. She said no. I asked if she knew that Jesus loved her. She said no. I told her that He did and that I would be praying every day that she would realize just how much. I returned to India in 2007 and Mirayama was a completely different little girl. She fully knows the love of God and is planning on going to nursing school so she can share His love and healing with others. I’m pretty sure my life has been changed by knowing her perhaps more than she was changed by me.

This or that:

Beach or mountains?
Beach in the winter, mountains in the summer (I like wide open spaces)
PC or Mac?
PC if I’m at work, Mac at home
Coldplay or U2?
Musically illiterate, couldn’t tell you who plays what songs.
Sports or arts?
Totally uncoordinated, and not artistic in the least
Creative or administrative?
Administrative
Skinny jeans or comfortable ones?
Comfy skinny jeans.

Randoms:

Most embarrassing moment?
Oooh, so many to choose from. 1] peed my pants in the 2nd grade on “tropical fruit” day and tried to convince people it was spilled coconut milk 2] when my 20 year old date figured out I’d lied about my age and that I’d only turned 16 about a week earlier. 3] fell down an escalator at a crowded San Diego mall when I was 19 4] when I told an elderly fiddler in Ireland that he sounded awesome and he thought I said he sounded awful and I couldn’t figure out how to explain myself
Favorite date spot in the OC?
Mamma D’s on the Peninsula. Best Customer Service EVER.
In the next 5 years, I will….
trust God with whatever he passes my way. Hopefully it will include living in India as well as becoming a mom.
The best movie of all time is clearly…
Everything is Illuminated
Everyone should read…
“Serving With Eyes Wide Open” by David Livermoore
Favorite Todd Proctor song?
“All I want is you”…wait, that’s U2.