It happened! I wrote about it here on this site several times over the past few months and it finally happened. The Big Happening? Bridge Church launched Sunday January 21st in Perry Ohio with ninety-eight people present for this God thing! To be honest I wasn’t sure how many people would show up at our inaugural service. We had three preview service that weren’t greatly attended, so I was a litlle apprehensive to say the least about this service. Fifteen minutes before the service our launch was there and so were five other guests. As we kept getiing closer to our start time of 10:00 am, people were still not showing up in number. Then about five minutes before the service people began streaming into Manchester West where we meet. People were still coming fifteen minutes after we had started. I was amazed! After all, we serve the Creator of the universe.
Our layout is that we have cafe’ style round tables for people to sit around during the service. It promotes conversation among people and is a more intimate feel. As people began coming in it was obvious we were going to be out of room. We had to set out extra chairs around the perimiter and still had space for people. Darin Avery, our Worship Pastor did an excellent job of leading worship and getting people to participate in our time of music.
When I was first asked to plant this church in March 2006 by Brad Graves, I was excited about this opportunity God gave us. We have hit the ground running as we have worked hard at showing God’s love in practical ways to people in Lake County. We have given out water at the beach and at stop lights, went door to door handing out nine volt batteries for smoke detectors, buying down gasoline, holding Fifth quarters at the high school, giving away free coffee at park and rides, and buying coffee at a local coffee shop.
We have encountered hundreds of people one on one and shared God’s love with them. God has opened doors for us at with the local schools, businesses, and residents. Our mission is to encounter, engage and encourage people to experience Jesus. We are doing that with our random acts of kindness, one on one conversations, and our worship services. Our vision is to be a church unlike any other church in our area by giving away God’s love so much that people will know us as the giving church.
I am thrilled to be part of this great adventure God has us on. I am not much for gut feelings per se, buy I know that this is going to be the ride of our life. I have committed to not only to launch this church, but to pastor it for as long as God sees fit and keeps me healthy.