Archive for Outreach
Getting to Know The Bridge Community: Decentralized Ministry
This is Part 4 of a series of blog posts, “Getting to Know The Bridge.” In this post, Wayne writes about the simplicity of church. To read all posts in this series, click here.
It is our goal to be a relational place where all believers have the opportunity to join in the mission. This means the church will not develop competing activities at a central place. It is simply not our goal to have programs at the building every night of the week. Instead, we encourage everyone to simplify their lives and embrace the biblical functions of C.O.S.M.O.S. with others in “Community Groups.” And I hope everyone will embrace their role as disciples of Jesus, on mission, embedded with those you live with and work with. Sometimes, attending a neighbor’s cookout or your child’s ballgame with other families is more important than a Bible study at the “church building.”
It’s my prayer for our community that this missional way of life become part of a holistic, natural flow of life for us all – in the neighborhood, workplace, and family!
The role of staff in a decentralized ministry:
We are committed to a bi-vocational approach to leadership. Strategically, staff members and ministry overseers will seek employment outside the church for a portion of their financial needs. The Leadership Team exists to equip the church community to do the work of ministry.
The role of facilities in a decentralized ministry:
The church does not consist of a building; rather buildings can be tools for ministry. Throughout our history, we’ve always sought to use neutral facilities, like school gymnasiums and retail storefronts, because they eliminated barriers that may have kept some people away from “church.” And now, with our purchase of the Nexus Building, we will continue this commitment. We must hold loosely to the building and not get caught up in “ownership” of the space. Lots of good ministry and connection will still happen in homes. The building exists to be a “hub” to help facilitate ministry that requires a larger or public space.
Rather than being a destination, the building will serve as a launchpad for mission!
Fall Clothing Drive: The “Closet”
Preparations are underway for a great event this fall – we’re calling it “The Bridge Community Closet.” We’re doing a clothing drive, looking for donations of gently used fall and winter clothing. Then, on October 23 at 8:00am, we’ll open the doors of the Nexus Building to welcome anyone and everyone to get the items they need. And it’s all free!
A team of volunteers has organized the event and they are leading the way to making it happen. But, we need all the help we can get! How would you like to help prepare for the event, doing behind the scenes things like sorting and organizing clothes? Or how about spreading the word about the event and helping us get more donated clothing? We have flyers you can post at work or in your neighborhood or small informational cards you can give to friends and family to let them know how to give their un-needed clothes. Click here to contact one of the volunteer leaders and they can let you know how to plug in.
This Saturday, September 18 from noon until 4:00pm, we’ll have our first of two “drop-off” days. The Nexus Building will be open and people can bring their clothes to donate. The second drop-off day is October 16.
You can read all the details about the event here. If you’re ready to get involved or donate, fill out the form here.
As the days get shorter, the weather gets cooler, and you settle into your Fall “routine,” please consider how you can be a part of this special event. In the next few weeks, you’ll probably be making the transition from summer to winter clothes. As you do, set aside some of those items you don’t need and move them from your closet to our “Closet!”
The Church Scattered: Marcia Orban and the Work of Clarity
The church gathers and the church scatters. We are the church not only when we come together for worship, but also when we are sent out on mission!
Our church community is made up of an amazing group of individuals! So many of those who call The Bridge their home church are engaged in ministry outside the walls of the building. And this is the way it’s supposed to be! You are the church “scattered” into your unique world of family, work, and neighborhood, and family.
This is the first blog entry in a series focusing on some of the ways Bridge Community people are serving in the world.
I asked Marcia Orban to tell us about the work she does in Elizabethtown at Clarity … Solutions for Women.
What is Clarity…Solutions for Women?
At Clarity, our mission is to serve Jesus Christ. He has called us to serve Him by serving a very specific group of people; those facing (or at risk for) an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy.
We serve our clients through a variety of programs. Check out our web site to see some of the services we offer.
Sharing the hope and healing found in and through Jesus Christ is the center focus of this ministry. We pray with and for our clients. We share the truth of the gospel and help clients grow in understanding of what it means to truly follow Christ.
Clarity is a ministry of the body of Christ. We are financed completely by donations from individuals, churches, Christian businesses, and organizations.
If you would like to be a part of what we’re doing, here are some ways you can help:
- Volunteer! We need volunteers to answer phones and greet clients, act as mentors, stock and organize the resource room, work with men, clean, do maintenance and yard work, help with special projects and mailings, and many other things. Want to learn more? Email me.
- Pray! Many of our clients would like someone to regularly pray for them. Call us at 270-234-1122! We will be delighted to give you the first name of a client who desires prayer.
- Donate! We gladly accept donations of new or gently used maternity clothing, children’s clothing 0-4T, diapers, wipes, and baby equipment. We welcome financial donations.
- Walk! Our annual Walk for Life will be held September 18th. Join us for this fun, easy paced two-mile walk. If you can’t walk, sponsor someone who is walking! Contact Tracey for more information on how to register.
Helping Our Flooded Neighbors
I’m writing to ask you to pitch in with what I hope will be a community-wide effort.
Colesburg and surrounding areas (Boston, Lebanon Junction) were flooded and experienced extreme damage from last week’s rains. A family who is part of The Bridge, the Langfords, have 3-4 feet of water in their house right now. Here are a couple of pictures from my trip out there last night.
Here’s how we can help:
- Join together with others working on the clean-up this Saturday. I’d love to see us form several work crews and ride out together to join in the effort. Because of the importance of helping both the Langfords and other victims, we will be shutting down all activities at the building this Saturday. (Renovations can wait!)
- Donate cleaning supplies listed below. The Nexus Building will be serving as a drop-off point for donations.
As the flood waters recede in the next few days, quick and proper clean up is critical.
Core Cleaning items:
- Buckets
- Mops
- Brooms
- Trash bags
- Scrub brushes
- Sponges
- Bleach
- Laundry detergent
- All purpose disinfectant cleaner
- Antibacterial dishwashing liquid
- Protective Cleanup Gear
- This includes goggles, boots and rubber gloves. If floodwater rises above your boots, wear waterproof pants or overalls.
Please help spread the word (Facebook, Twitter, email, phone, word of mouth). Let everyone know that the Nexus Building, 6746 South Wilson Road, is a drop-off point for supplies. Here is a link to a map.
If you have any questions on how to help, feel free to email me (wayne@bridgecommunity.org) or Rachel Burgess (rburgess@curnealhigniteins.com).
Haiti Relief Update
As you may remember, we took up a special offering on January 17 to assist in relief efforts in Haiti. A very generous response by our worshiping community resulted in $1,200 being sent to CAMA Services.
Here is an official update from the Christian & Missionary Alliance:
Haiti Update
After the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti in January, the Alliance family responded with overwhelming generosity, having given over $856,000 toward relief efforts to date. Compassion and Mercy Associates (CAMA), the C&MA’s relief and development arm, moved quickly to meet immediate needs and will continue to be involved in long-term rebuilding and development work in the impoverished nation during the months and years ahead.
Our Response to the Tragedy in Haiti
This week, we’ve heard the news and seen the images from the devastation caused by a 7.0 earthquake in Haiti. It destroyed Port-au-Prince, the capital city. According to news reports, the death toll may top 100,000. The hospitals are gone, and medical supplies are desperately needed. About 3 million people – one-third of Haiti’s population – were impacted by the quake.
This Sunday in our worship gathering, we will have an opportunity to respond as a community. Compassion and Mercy Associates, or CAMA Services, will provide immediate assistance, including clean water, emergency shelter, medical aid, and other necessities, as well as long-term help in rebuilding efforts, integrating Jesus’ message of redemption with practical acts of compassion. We will be collecting a monetary offering and sending it to CAMA immediately on Monday.
CAMA Services is the relief arm of our denomination, the C&MA. If you’d like to read more about the relief efforts, visit www.cmalliance.org/give/relief/ or call 719-265-2039.
Please pray about what you can give. May God bless our collective offering this Sunday.
Finals Week::Free Doughnuts & Coffee!
Last week we had a great time passing out candy and giving away free high fives! Check out some of our pictures here. It’s funny how such a small gesture of kindness can have such a deep impact. Yet, it’s these small acts of love, done in the name of Christ, that have the ability to reach people. As we gear up for our next service project, I invite you to join us in showing love to the college students of our area.
College finals week is approaching fast at ECTC. Open House sees this as an awesome opportunity to serve our local community again! We will be passing out free coffee, hot chocolate & doughnuts to local college students & faculty. We need your help to make it happen.
December 7th & 8th, Monday & Tuesday, we will be setting up a station in the Academic & Technical Building of ECTC. We will have four different sessions (listed below) to serve as a community. The 6am time is not a typo! 
Monday & Tuesday shifts:
6am-10am
4pm – 8pm
If you are interested in serving please call me at 270.734.9765 or email me at mike (at) openhouseky (dot) org.
Serving on Black Friday
The busiest shopping day of the year is upon us…Black Friday! (A.K.A the day after Thanksgiving) Thousands of people in this area will be falling over one another to get the best deals at the best prices on the best stuff! I know firsthand what it’s like to be in retail on that day and let me tell you, it’s miserable and crazy! Oftentimes the employees get yelled at and treated harshly for no reason whatsoever.
And it is into this setting that we want to inject God’s love.
On November 27, Open House will be passing out small gift bags of candy to employees right in the midst of their chaotic day…and you’re invited! We will be passing out candy bags to the Radcliff Wal-Mart, Towne Mall, and E-town Target. This is a very easy and practical way to show unconditional love to the people of our community.
There are a few different ways that you can get involved with this project:
- The next two Sundays, bring bags of non-Halloween-marked candy to church on Sunday morning that we can use in our goodie bags. This week both Kroger and ALDI have good candy sales. We are really appreciative for your help on this!
- We also have a need for more people to serve! Email me at mike (at) openhouseky (dot) org and let me know that you are interested in serving and I will contact you.
- Pray that this small act of love would point someone towards Jesus!
Stay tuned for other upcoming service projects in the near future! For more info about Open House check out our webpage or go to our Fan Page on Facebook.
