The Northeast Ministry has been serving the needs of disadvantaged youth and families for more than 30 years. We are a non-profit, non-sectarian social service agency. Located within a low-income housing development, the Northeast Ministry provides a variety of essential programs and services to the Marvine-Pembroke community.

As a non-profit organization, the success of the Northeast Ministry is completely dependent on community support as well as contributions from businesses, churches and individuals. The Northeast Ministry would like to thank everyone, both past and present, who have  supported the ministry. Without you, we could not complete our mission.

Northeast Ministry was a seed planted as far back as 1977 by the Social Concerns Division of the Greater Bethlehem Council of Churches. It was the Council of Churches who recognized that the church had a clear responsibility to be a visible, positive force in the public housing community. Visions of this responsibility were shared by several member churches, including Trinity Episcopal who took the lead and refused to let the dream of an outreach ministry go unanswered. After two years of meeting and planning, the concept of a social service ministry began to emerge as a promising reality.

The goals of this ministry were idealistic: To provide residents with the personal and spiritual resources to improve the quality of their lives, to exemplify and bear witness to the love of God for all human beings, and to serve as a bridge between the residents and other citizens and groups of the Bethlehem area. After almost thirty years of reaching and growing, the original mission of Northeast Ministry remains virtually unaltered.

The doors of Northeast Ministry opened in 1980 with Sally Young being named its Executive Director. In its early stages the Ministry faced many challenges. Limited finances, personnel, programs and gaining the trust of the residents in the public housing community were not easily resolved, but through the commitment of its board and Sally these problems were successfully overcome.

Early in 1983, the inklings of autonomy began to emerge. Like any child, the ministry which had been in existence for three years under the tutelage of the Greater Bethlehem Council of Churches, began to exert some independence in thought and will. After two years of ups and downs, the ministry finally in March of 1985 an independent social service ministry.

In 1993, Northeast Ministry was afforded another opportunity by the Bethlehem Housing Authority to expand its program and services when they moved into a larger housing authority building, the Marjorie Fink Community Building. The move to a larger space made it possible to expand the ministry’s outreach to the community by adding programs and services, such as the after school programs and adult programs.

In 1997 the Ministry and its community were saddened by the death of their Executive Director of 17 years, Sally Young. It was at this time that the Sally Young Scholarship Fund was established. After her death, Steve Godbolt moved into the position of Executive Director. Since that time, Steve has helped the ministry to grow through its expansion of programs and services.

In 2000, the Northeast Ministry celebrated their 20th anniversary of service to the public housing community and is moving forward to many more years of service. The Northeast Ministry continues to remain faithful to its original mission statement. Even while its programs and services increase, its committed staff and board remains dedicated to its mission which is as strong and clear as it was in 1980.

HIGHLIGHTS

1977- Plans are made for a social service ministry in the Marvine-Pembroke housing
development by Bethlehem Council of Churches

1980 - Northeast Ministry opens its doors with Sally Young named Executive Director

1985 - Becomes an independent social service ministry

1993 - Moves to the Marjorie Fink Building

2000 - Celebrates 20 years of service to community.

2005 - Dolores Caskey Computer Lab Opens