The "Good Samaritan Rule"

The "Parable of the Good Samaritan" is quite a familiar story, even with people who haven’t read the parable. People generally understand that the parable's central theme is to do good to their  neighbour, who is identified as someone in need. While this perception is true, there is a greater sense of what Jesus meant in telling his listeners the story.

The Good Samaritan provided far more than just "helping" the person, he provided a refuge for him. At the time the "Good Samaritan" went to the aid of the beaten man, he probably didn't realize the full measure of how involved he needed to be nor did he appear to be concerned about it. The Good Samaritan's frame of reference was to provide refuge, or in other words, to do whatever it took, within his abilities and resources, to meet the man's need. The man in need welcomed the Good Samaritan's unconditional help and entrusted himself to his care. 

Bethesda's mission is to support people with disabilities and their families with the attitude and motivation like that of the Good Samaritan. Primarily, Bethesda supports individuals who have developmental disabilities.  In keeping with the "Good Samaritan Rule", Bethesda will act, within its abilities, to support persons with varying disabilities. 

"Refuge" is synonymous with "support", "protection", "security", "shelter" and "haven". Refuge may be short-term (e.g. foster care, respite care) or it may be permanent (e.g. adoption, residential). 

Statement of Faith & 
Community Good Neighbor Commitment
 

Members, Board Directors, Employees and Volunteers strive to implement Bethesda's vision in supporting individuals with disabilities and their families with a Christian spirit of love, compassion, respect and with excellence to the glory of God. As a community of believers, each person embraces Bethesda's Statement of Faith and the agency's Community Good Neighbor commitment.

Statement of Faith

The Association bases all of its activities on the Bible as the infallible and all sufficient Word of God, as interpreted by the historical creeds of the Protestant Reformation (Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed and Athanasia Creed).  Services to individuals with disabilities at Bethesda are considered a ministry of mercy based on the conviction that God’s Word speaks to and directs all of life.

Thus we confess:

1. That there is one God, who exists eternally in three persons as the Holy Trinity:  the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.   (Deuteronomy 6; Isaiah 9; John 10; Luke 22)

2. That human life in its entirety is related to its Creator, for God created men and women to serve Him everywhere for His glory.  (Genesis 1; Genesis 2; Isaiah 40; 1 Peter 4)

3. That the Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God used by the Holy Spirit to strengthen our relationship with God, His people and His creation.  (Exodus 34; 2 Timothy 3; John 1)

4. That through sin, which is disobedience of God’s will for our lives, human life has become broken.  (Genesis 3; Genesis 4; Galatians 3; Romans 3)

5. That Jesus Christ, both truly God and fully man is gracious and faithful in redeeming our life in its entirety, healing our brokenness everywhere.  (Psalm 49; Psalm 130; Isaiah 53; Matthew 1)

6. That in order to truly live now and forever, we must have a personal and vital faith with Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord.  (John 14; Romans 1; Romans 4; 1 Corinthians  16)

This confession implies that Christ clearly teaches us sanctity of life and;

1. That we must oppose any tampering with that sanctity of human life, no matter how broken it may be.  (Exodus 20; Psalm 139; Acts 17; 1 John 3)

2. That Christ’s law of love demands that all people, regardless of ability, become the subject of our love.  (Matthew 22; Mark 10; 1 Corinthians 12; James. 2)

3. That the pursuit of spiritual, social, physical and intellectual development in all people disabled or not, is best realized through our Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”.  (John 14:6)

4. That our Lord, Himself, was so intensely interested in those with disabilities that He said, “In as far as you have done it for the least of my brothers you have done it for me”.  (Matthew 25:40)

1. Assist all inquiries from families and individuals for service in accessing the service delivery system.

2. Seek out individuals with disabilities who are in need of services and assisting them in entering the service delivery system.

3. Recognize the importance of the involvement of the individual and/or his/her family and significant others in program planning and implementation.

4. Provide community based services to persons with disabilities served from across the province that will assist them along the continuum toward independence in community living.

5. Provide long-term services to disabled persons referred from supporting churches, from the provincial government and from others on a space available basis when finances can be arranged.

6. Utilize a "circle of support" approach in the provision of diagnostic, evaluation, program planning services and in the implementation of services to individuals served.

7. Address the entire spectrum of individual needs, to include developmental, social, medical, emotional, spiritual, legal and recreational/leisure.

8. Assist disabled persons served in achieving and exercising their human and civil rights.

9. Observe and implement the concept of inclusion; utilizing the development model in programming; and insuring that services are provided in the least restrictive setting possible.

10. Utilize generic services to the greatest extent possible; ensuring that such services meet high standards of quality.

11. Continue the agency's relationship with individuals placed in the community to assure successful community adjustment, through follow-up/follow-along services.

12. Continue increasing the quality of agency services through a formal program evaluation system and through an active staff training program, both within and without the agency.

13. Ensure community responsiveness and effective management through the election of a Board of Directors who possess various qualifications and competencies and who are committed to serving the community's health and welfare needs.

14. Alert the public and government officials to the needs of persons with disabilities through an active program of agency advocacy and public education.