Far Team is Bethel's reach to Christian projects beyond the Synod and the greater DC area, continuing a long Lutheran tradition in global mission. 

The Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod has three companion Synods [Namibia (Africa), Slovakia (Europe) and El Salvador (Central America)] toward which it directs its focus.  Bethel has provided a Nambian pastor (who visited Bethel in October 2008) financial help to extend electricity into his church and its office.   In 2009 we participated with a focus on Slovakia with special crafts for kids and an adult education speaker.  Deena Bulick-Terry, from Bethel, is a member of the Synod's Outreach team and travelled to El Salvador as part of a LWR visit to assess local Lutheran and other areas needing partnership support.

In addition to the companion synods, Bethel supports ELCA Global Mission and Lutheran World Relief (LWR), including its efforts in Fair Trade projects and products.   The Far Team began to support Lutheran efforts in Fair Traded coffee and chocolate by providing congregation access to these products and extending the support to the cooperatives and their families who are producers. Bethel members are able to buy quality products with full knowledge that the distribution chain is offering a fair return to the producers.  Repeat customers are delighted that both the coffee and chocolate are delicious!

Bethel's Sunday school has supported ELCA World Hunger in the past; other related Bethel projects include blankets and personal hygiene kits for disaster relief efforts by LWR.

The Far Team went to New Jersey this past summer (“Sawdust and Sandals”) and helped rehabilitate a building that is to be used for job training.