Struggling with addiction, homelessness or social exclusion?

Betel offers a free residential program in 100 cities worldwide

How can I break free from my addiction?

Betel offers a structured environment where you can start fresh. Two time honored principles lay the foundation of our program: peer support, where residents help each other in a family- like atmosphere and meaningful activities which help to build job skills, diligence and dependability.

Substance free and free of charge

Living in Betel requires no payment. You can help to fund your own recovery by participating in activities at home or at one of our charitable businesses. This takes away the financial burden from families and the government while restoring self-dignity and a sense of purpose.

The history behind Betel

Betel (meaning House of God) began in the neighborhood of San Blas, Madrid in 1985 during a severe heroin epidemic. What started out as a missionary’s act of kindness toward a young man struggling with addiction has grown into an international network of Christian rehab communities spanning 100 cities across 18 countries.

Locate us

Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Finland
France
Germany
Portugal
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom

India
Kazakhstan
Mongolia
Nepal

Brazil
Mexico

South Africa

Australia

ACCESSIBLE TO ALL

Financial principles

We believe that entrance to Betel should be accessible to everyone, regardless of financial means and for this reason we charge no fees.

We aim to be as self-supporting as possible, funding daily operations through our charitable businesses and workshops. We gratefully receive donations of second hand furniture, food and household items as well as economic gifts.

Donate

recommended books

Latest book about Betel: Shooting Up

Shooting Up, by Jonathan Tepper is a boy’s-eye view as his American parents join the mission field and move their four young sons into San Blas, Madrid’s heroin capital in the 1980’s, turning their living room into ground zero for a global movement known as “Betel”. This memoir traces how one recovering addict helping his friends became an international network serving thousands of people in 100 urban centers worldwide.

“Tepper’s story about addiction, AIDS, and his parents’ work with addicts in Spain in the 1990s is an insanely entertaining and wild account. In fact, it’s the most riveting memoir I’ve ever read.” – Frank Schaeffer, author of Crazy for God

Get the book Betel Books

volunteer abroad

The Betel Internship Experience

Betel is looking for volunteers in Spain, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, India, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Portugal and Russia. An internship with Betel will provide you with practical hands-on training for a future in missions or social work.

Betel Internships

Annual report

40 Years with a Mission

Since 1985, tens of thousands of marginalized men and women have entered Betel’s residences and have been healed by God’s love in over 100 cities in 18 nations.
How has this been possible? We have done our best to affirm Christian love, tolerance, and care while at the same time embracing the highest professional standards. Take a tour with us in the pages of our Annual Report…

Elliott Tepper
International Director

View

“

“Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop, within a yard of hell.”

— C.T. Studd (founder of WEC International)