Bethany Bonnemere has spent 15 years serving with Blacknall’s Children’s Ministry, a “life-giving” source of joy and connection to God. But she’s also discovered that supporting how the church connects to Durham has been transformational in unexpected ways.
Bethany joined Blacknall’s Durham Ministries & Engagement Team (DMET) in late 2019. What turned into a practical fit — COVID-19 eventually cleared much of her weekly schedule, and virtual meetings were easy to attend — has helped her use gifts from God in new ways.
Bethany (on left) poses with the Backnall Dance worship team in 2015.
“Blacknall has been a gift for my spiritual development and has drawn me closer to the Lord, so being able to contribute to how we help others has been really meaningful,” she said. “It’s a feeling of belonging and excitement in a different way than what I had experienced.”
DMET coordinates Blacknall’s involvement with about 20 local ministries addressing issues such as hunger, homelessness, and community development. For Bethany, her volunteer work mirrors her role as a school administrator in Oxford: setting agendas, leading goal-setting conversations, managing budgets, and analyzing how Blacknall can support Durham organizations.
“It’s a real shift from the work I’ve done in church,” she said. DMET has opened new ways for her to use her skills beyond Children’s Ministry or leading Blacknall Dance, our children’s worship group. It’s brought her closer to ministry partners like Reality Ministries and Families Moving Forward. And she’s enjoyed getting to support Durham Public Schools Foundation, which is not a Christian organization, “but it’s clear how God is at work in what they do” she said, by helping students thrive, supporting teachers, and building multiracial, multigenerational coalitions across Durham schools.
Bethany (on left) wrapped her time helping to lead Blacknall Dance in 2025. Volunteering with our Durham Ministries & Engagement Team has helped her feel a deeper connection to God’s work in the Bull City.
“I’m always captivated by the way the Lord is at work in our community,” she said. “I believe with every fiber of my being that He is caring for people, and serving with DMET keeps me connected to it all.”
For a long time, Bethany saw the impact of Blacknall’s care within its own congregation — in the pews on Sundays and among kids who grew up with Christ in their lives. Being part of DMET and seeing God at work across Durham has expanded her understanding of how Blacknall works to advance God’s Kingdom.
“We’re all so busy, it’s easy to miss what’s happening,” she said. “But it’s good for me — and for our congregation — to recognize how God is doing big things in our church and in Durham.”
This story is part of our series that highlights how God impacts our lives: In the transformation we experience through Him and how He invites us into a deeper life of discipleship with Christ.
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