QC benefit concert to help Filipino church, others

Jonathan Turner
·2 min read
QC benefit concert to help Filipino church, others

Bethel Wesley United Methodist Church, 1201 13th St., Moline, with support from the Filipino-American Association of Iowa-Illinois: Quad Cities, will host its second annual Music for Missions concert on Sunday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m.

A free will offering will raise money for Lakeview United Methodist Church, Philippines; Community Resource and Learning Center, Moline; and Christian Care Martha’s House.

Some of the performers who will be part of the benefit concert Sunday, March 24th.
Some of the performers who will be part of the benefit concert Sunday, March 24th.

The concert will include vocal solos as well as piano, violin and cello music performed by graduate students from Western Illinois University and the University of Iowa.

Vocal performers are from East Alton United Methodist Church, in East Alton, Ill. Most performers are Filipino. The Filipino-American Association of Iowa-Illinois: Quad Cities will perform a Filipino cultural dance.

Lakeview United Methodist Church, Philippines, is a church and child feeding center catering to the needs of the less fortunate community in Lakeview, Philippines, according to a Bethel Wesley release. Donations from the concert will help support the feeding center.

The Community and Resource Learning Center is a family literacy program serving local immigrants and refugees. Its classes are held at Bethel Wesley United Methodist Church. Christian Care Martha’s House provides safe shelter, support and resources for homeless women and children in our community.

One of the pianists in this Sunday’s event, Alexis Pal, lives in Moline. She is an adjunct faculty member at Black Hawk College and teaches piano as music therapy in Moline.

Pianist Alexis Faye Pal of Moline.
Pianist Alexis Faye Pal of Moline.

The members of the Filipino-American Association of the Iowa-Illinois: Quad Cities who will be performing a dance at the concert all live in the Quad Cities.

Last year’s Music for Missions benefit raised $5,000, going for two organizations:

  • The Community Resource and Learning Center, which serves recent immigrants and refugees, and its free program of classes held at Bethel Wesley United Methodist Church. It has helped hundreds of adult students become English literate, job-ready, community aware and able to assist their children in school.  It has provided scores of children with school-ready skills. Established in 2007, the CRLC began as a government supported program, but is now completely funded by local foundations and private donations.

  • Volunteers in Missions International, which led a mission trip to the Philippines in May 2023 to help needy churches with church and parsonage construction and renovations and medical care. The team was made up of pastors and lay members of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Donations are accepted by cash or check to Bethel Wesley United Methodist Church (1201 13th St., Moline, IL 61265).

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