The Bridge -- Who Are We?
The Bridge is a new concept church that meets once a week in a large group and in small groups throughout the week. Like the Logo says, we want to help people connect (or re-connect) God and each other by offering a non-judgmental, casual style of worship and fellowship.
We are sponsored by Cherry Point Baptist Church, Havelock, NC and follow traditional Baptist doctrines. At the same time, we hope to be a bit more creative and innovative in the way we help people connect with God.
The Bridge is a group of people gathered together in a non-church setting eagar to grow as Christians and share the love of Christ in the surrounding community.
We exist to reach others who have not heard about Jesus. We also want to help others who have left the church to find a comfortable, non-judgmental, casual place to learn and worship and serve the community.
Please know that you will be warmly welcomed when you visit The Bridge. We hope that you will find something to keep you coming back.
The Bridge is a new concept church that meets once a week in a large group and in small groups throughout the week. Like the Logo says, we want to help people connect (or re-connect) God and each other by offering a non-judgmental, casual style of worship and fellowship.
We are sponsored by Cherry Point Baptist Church, Havelock, NC and follow traditional Baptist doctrines. At the same time, we hope to be a bit more creative and innovative in the way we help people connect with God.
The Bridge is a group of people gathered together in a non-church setting eagar to grow as Christians and share the love of Christ in the surrounding community.
We exist to reach others who have not heard about Jesus. We also want to help others who have left the church to find a comfortable, non-judgmental, casual place to learn and worship and serve the community.
Please know that you will be warmly welcomed when you visit The Bridge. We hope that you will find something to keep you coming back.
Personalities -- David Glasgow
David Glasgow is our Campus Pastor. Officially, David's job title is the "Director of Missions for the Bridge". David is a very creative and energetic person who's ambition for The Bridge coincides with it's vision: "To witness the complete transformation of our city as people become fully devoted followers of Christ." David is the "go-to" person when you have a suggestion, want to join a small group or need some advice or counseling. David's wife, Laura, is also active in The Bridge. Laura is currently involved in the small group "Search for Significance".
Our Core Group
Our new church does not have a commander, nor a body of deacons, or a single outside voice that dominates or rules over The Bridge. Instead, it has a core group of people who are dedicated and determined to find new and innovative ways to reach people in the Havelock area with the message of Jesus. They meet once or twice a month, depending on the number of events planned. The meeting are open to anyone interested in becoming a part of this group, If you have information or would like to attend a meeting, please let David Glasgow know in order to put you on the agenda (dglasgow@thebridgeofhavelock.com).
A Message About Multi-Site Ministries...
- On a typical Sunday in 2009, some 5 million people attend a multi-site church in the US and Canada.
- Leaders at some 45,000 churches are "seriously considering" adding a worship service at one or more new locations or campuses in the next 2 years. (www.multisitechurchrevolution.com)
The above quoted website would suggest that mulit-site churches are becoming the new "normal". Even Jonathan Falwell has lead his church in Lynchburg, VA to soon open its first multi-site location in Danville, about 70 miles south near the NC border. Pastor Doug Randette, coordinator of the project, has noted that Danville's residents are almost 70% unchurched and that they have "no desire to draw from any other church." In addition to the new work at Danville, Randette's church is in the process of helping other churches in Benford, Amhurst and Charlottesville to develop multi-site locations of thier own. In fact, 37% of today's mega churches have reported being multi-site churches.
What makes a multi-site successful? A lot of factors, for sure. But for The Well, a multi-site in Fresno pastored by Brad Bell, they keep their multi-site process simple so they can be responsive to new opportunities (just facilities and core groups), able to change directions quickly like a school of fishes. That formula seems to work for a lot of new congregations trying to reach communities with the message of Christ. Brad Bell also says that "every church community emobdies a culture. Every neighborhood community has its own culture (or subculture). In so far as a church can connect with that particular culture, the better the Gospel can be lived out for the good of the church and the good of the community".
So, to summarize...multi-sites can be challenging, for sure, but success comes
1) with prayer (first thing on Falwell's list was to pray...pray...pray!
2) keeping the organization simple
3) targeting the culture of the surrounding neighborhood.
Except the prayer part, multi-sites necessarily may need to be a bit more creative and do things a little different than their main campus. Understanding this, many churches have launched out with their multi-site adventures in hopes of reaching those who are looking for something different, but inviting.
The Bridge is not dissimilar to the multi-site starts mentioned above; we all have a desire to reach our communities with God's message of Love. The Bridge is in its infancy as far as a multi-site is concerned, but the potential is staggering. Thank you for all your support. Please continue to pray for the The Bridge and its vision.
---Ed Satterley