==Bethesda Home==
Around 1966Viva Leota Willis Gunn was born in 1899 in New Hartford, [[Richard Edwin Burson|Richard BursonMissouri]] felt that , the Lord daughter of John William Willis (b. 1862 Farmer, MO - d. 1933 Fulton, MO) & Mary Elizabeth Mudd Willis (1864-1901 New Hartford, MO). Viva was calling him married to develop a home for retired assembly missionaries that would be in NickersonEwart Stewart Gunn (b. 1881 Stonewall, [[KansasManitoba|MB]], just five miles from who died in 1968 in KCMO. They in fellowship with at an assembly started by Dr. Lawrence Littlefield in Kansas City, MO in the mid-1960's, [[Kansas Spruce Hill Bible CampChapel, KCMO]]. The burden was that there were many workers retiring , as a hive-off from the field to find their spiritual gifts not as highly soughtcentral [[Troost Avenue Gospel Hall, and the idea was to utilize their knowledge of the Word, evangelistic fervor, and seasoned input to influence the campers and staffersMO]], while perhaps bringing a sense of purpose for the retirees. He settled on the name "Bethesda" as it referenced "healing at the pool"with land donated by Lawrence's brother John Littlefield.
He formed a small corporationAround 1966, and a few Viva planted an idea in [[Richard Edwin Burson|Richard Burson]] of the Lord's people assisted in providing funds towards purchasing developing a spacious three-story house near the gradeschool home for retired missionaries. The retirement home was to be in Nickerson. Golda Pope, a young married nurse [[Kansas]], just five miles from Concordia, [[KansasBible Camp]] . The burden for Richard was encouraged towards that there were many workers retiring from the idea, field to find their spiritual gifts not as was likely George Easterhighly sought, who and the idea was in to utilize their knowledge of the midst of planting an assembly in his home in nearby SalinaWord, which would eventually become [[Sunset Bible Chapel, KS|Sunset Bible Chapel]]evangelistic fervor, and possibly Stanley & Edith Bloom, who had strong ties seasoned input to influence the camp campers and assemblystaffers, while perhaps bringing a sense of purpose for the retirees. He settled on the name "Bethesda" as it referenced "healing at the pool".
The house purchase did not materialize, however it was purchased by He formed a large familysmall corporation, and one a few of the childrenLord's people assisted in providing funds towards purchasing a spacious three-story house near the gradeschool in Nickerson. Golda Pope, as a young manmarried nurse from Concordia, [[Kansas]] was encouraged towards the idea, Thomas Staffordas was likely George Easter, who was in the midst of planting an assembly in his home in nearby Salina, which would eventually be led to Christ after a period of rebellion thru outreach efforts of individuals at Hutchinson Gospel become [[Sunset Bible Chapel, KS|Sunset Bible Chapel]], and was in fellowship there in possibly Stanley & Edith Bloom, who had strong ties to the 1980'scamp and assembly.
The house purchase did not materialize, however it was purchased by a large family, and one of the children, as a young man, Thomas Stafford, would eventually be led to Christ after a period of rebellion thru outreach efforts of individuals at Hutchinson Gospel Chapel, and was in fellowship there in the 1980's. Richard then used the funds to purchase a small tract of land outside of Nickerson, with the intent on building a structure, and had a listing the 1966 Waltericks Assembly Address Book with a P.O. Box for the upcoming Bethesda Home. With funding from Viva Gunn, Richard, as well as Dr. Lawrence Littlefield, and Russ Farwell took an excursion thru the Midwest thru Canada visiting various assembly retirement homes along the way, including El-Nathan in [[Missouri]], possibly Linn Manor in [[Iowa]], definitely Rest Haven Homes in Grand Rapids, [[Michigan]], and a retirement home near Toronto, [[Ontario]], possibly Markhaven, and/or Elim Homes in Waubaushene. However, the idea did not materialize, and so Richard focused the remainder of his life in the growing children's work at Kansas Bible Camp, as well as a popular itinerant preacher in assemblies all throughout the Midwest, until his homegoing in 1976. Viva relocated to Bay City, Texas for a decade in fellowship with Braeburn Bible Chapel (now First Colony Bible Chapel), then retired to the El-Nathan Home (founded by Sister Abigail) in Marble Hill, Missouri where she died in 1989.
==Sources==
* phone interviews with Golda Pope & Stephen Burson on 11-23-2020, Dan Burson & Sarah Littlefield Townsend 11-27-2020;