Click on the Questions to see the Answers.
Why should I come to THE BRIDGE?
If you’re asking a question like "Why should I come?" chances are you've already heard God whispering to your heart. Of course we’re biased but we believe you’ll have a positive experience. We pray and believe we’ll help to make that already present whisper just a little louder.
At The Bridge you’ll hear a message from God’s Word, spoken in everyday language. It will be relevant to you and your everyday life, and given in a genuinely friendly, upbeat environment, combine that with contemporary Christian music and we can’t be classified as an old school church.
Give us a TRY! Listen to that Whisper in your heart.
What exactly should I expect if I come?
Signs will direct you into the Kent Island High School facility (where we meet) and to the parking area nearest to the auditorium. We strive to make sure that someone will greet you both outside and at the door.
Once inside we try to provide an open, airy, friendly atmosphere where you’ll feel welcome and comfortable. The first inside encounter you’ll have will be with our folks at our welcome table. You’ll see most everyone wearing stickers with their name on it. The folks at the check in table provide that. We’d love for you to get one so we’ll be able to talk to you by name!
Further inside you’ll find a resource table (where we can offer you your free gift Bible should you need one). Also, there is an awesome café with coffee and breakfast treats.
If you have children you may want to check out the "Bridge Builders" ministry. We do not baby-sit your kids, the environment is more age appropriate instruction in the Christian faith for your children.
Around 9:45 the doors will open to the auditorium where we hold our worship service. At 9:52 our service starts. Everyone, children included, are welcome in for the music (Praise) portion of the service. We think there is a great value in the whole family sharing this experience. The music normally lasts 20 or 25 minutes and is generally contemporary. Sometime after the music and before the message (sermon) we will dismiss the children to "Bridge Builders".
Sometime during the music we will take our offering. Uh-oh, there’s that money thing. Relax. We do NOT expect visitors to give an offering. However, we would like you to fill out the connection card that will be in your bulletin and place it in with the offerings.
Our lead pastor then shares the message. He strives to share a message that is powerful, down to earth, easy to understand, relevant to everyday life, and most importantly … Biblical.
After the message we pray and there is normally one more song. Generally, during the last song we take our offering.
The service will then close.
Sounds like the end? Not quite yet.
Pastor Jeff and his wife Kim would like you to enjoy the café again and personally thank you for coming.
We pray your heart will be touched. As such, perhaps something at the resource table will be of help before you leave.
The whole service lasts about an hour and a half. We look forward to seeing you and sharing God’s love. (Watch Video)
Do I have to dress a certain way?
Absolutely, however you’re comfortable. Jesus never sent anyone home because they weren’t dressed "right" for church. So be comfortable and come as you are. You may now be saying "Okay, comfortable means what?" So just click on this link and SEE what we mean by comfortable.
What time does the service start?
Our service starts at 9:52 A.M. We use that time to remember what our worship is to be. It comes from Psalm 95:2 – "Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song".
As we’ve mentioned though the great Bridge Café is open before the service; specifically at 9:15. Most folks come early to enjoy the relaxing, children friendly, coffee house atmosphere. Also, this provides an opportunity for meeting new friends over a continental breakfast complete with juice and coffee.
Am I going to be asked to stand up or be embarrassed in any way?
Absolutely NOT! We want you to feel welcome and comfortable. So come, sit back and enjoy your time with us. We promise not to embarrass you!
Will I be asked for money?
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Do I need to have a Bible?
You don’t need a Bible to come to a service. However and not surprisingly, we believe everyone should have a Bible. So we’ll provide a Bible if you’d like one. Just stop by the resource table and ask for your Bible – no strings attached.
Are there refreshments available?
Yes, as we’ve mentioned we have an excellent Café that’s open before and after the service. Everything is free of charge, so please enjoy!
What denomination are you?
We are members of the Southern Baptist Convention. Having said that, we’re sure that in some, if not most people’s minds, that conjures up some sort of stereotypical impression. So let us explain a bit.
The Southern Baptist Convention is a group of churches aligned together with a common set of essential Biblical beliefs and a common commitment to worldwide missionary work. Each church functions independently under the direction of the senior pastor. The rules about how a service is run, when to have communion, or what kind of music to play are left up to each individual church. There are no mandates from afar by some Southern Baptist leader. In short, each Southern Baptist church is autonomous.
So to the extent there is a stereotype of "Southern Baptists" we are a proud, NON-stereotypical Southern Baptist church. We’re sure you’ll see the "non-stereotypical" when you visit.
What if I’ve never been to church before, or used to go but got turned off and stopped going for some reason?
That’s okay. In fact, that’s what we’re here for! THE BRIDGE came into being so that YOU would have a place to come for your first church experience or to rekindle your Christian ties. We are very intentional about making THE BRIDGE a comfortable and friendly place to "kick the church tires" and see if you like it.
In fact, we use the term "Real-Deal" a lot. We do so on purpose and without apology because many people have been turned off by the customary "church" experience and turned away from their walk with God. Unfortunately, the world is full of hopefully well meaning but nonetheless questionable "religious" folks who may be stumbling blocks to God’s message of Truth in love. We think it’s important to be authentic in both word and deed; hence "Real-Deal". The "Real-Deal" mentality simply says: It’s not how much you know; It’s how well you reflect the authentic, real-deal love of Christ. You’ll hear people say often at The Bridge, and we pray you see it at work, "Jesus loves you and so do I".
What are your beliefs?
That’s a great question because our beliefs define who we are, both as individuals as well as a church. Think about it. Beliefs act like street signs that direct us along the journey of life. Ultimately, our beliefs will determine our final destination. This link will take you to our essential convictions: beliefs, values, and actions page.
What can I expect for my young children?
We have an awesome children’s environment. This link will allow you to see everything that’s going on with our "Bridge Builders", our special environment for kids.
What’s the music like?
Our music is upbeat and contemporary Christian. We enjoy praise and worship with our own band, who have blessed us with several original pieces. As in our whole worship experience we are non-stereotypical. We have no organ nor do we sing traditional hymns. Here is a sample.
What are your messages like?
The best two ways to describe our messages are to tell you what people say about them, and let you listen for yourself. So we’ll do both.
Here’s what people say:
"The Pastor is really down to earth & easy to understand…"
"The messages are actually helpful because they’re relevant to real-life…"
"If more churches preached like this, more people would go to church."
"Not only do I get it, I’m remembering it and thinking about it all week long. I’m actually learning the Bible – this is pretty cool!"
And here you can actually watch and listen to them!
Do you have small groups?
Yes. We believe good things happen when a small group of people gets to know each other really well. This develops close personal relationships. By exploring the Word (Bible) and talking about our common faith in the context of safe, loving, and supportive friendships, personal & spiritual growth flourishes.
What’s the staff look like?
Take a look at our Leadership Team.
How did you get the name THE BRIDGE?
Our church name has more meaning than most people think. While it is true that the Bay Bridge creates a certain metaphorical context,
there are really three defining pillars that give rise to our church name.
1) Jesus is the One and only eternal Bridge, across which humanity may cross from death to everlasting life.
2) Our vision is to serve this community as a Bridge, connecting the love and truth of Jesus Christ with our neighbors'- in the context of
their everyday lives.
3) Jesus’ last words commanded His followers to bring His message to the ends of the earth. Consequently, we see ourselves as a
Bridge to the world.
Do you have any social activities?
Yes. We get together and have fun as a church family on a number of levels. Whether it’s a church-wide, "let-your-hair-down-and-have-some-fun" activity or a "bring-a-friend" event, or one of our many "community involvement" activities.
You’ll be sure to find plenty of opportunities to get plugged in and have fun.
Do you have communion and when?
Yes. We take communion together about once a month in our regular service. We also have a communion table set up each Sunday for anyone who would like to partake on their own or as a family.
Where are you? How do I get there?
We are located at Kent Island High School on Route 8 in Stevensville about a mile north of Route 50 on the right. Here’s a map.
What’s parking going to be like?
We have ample parking as well as handicap accessible entrances. There is also a drop off area very close to the front door.
Is anybody going to bug me after I visit?
No. We have a "no bugging" policy. All we’ll do is send you a quick email and follow up card thanking you for coming. While we’ll be hoping you come back, we won’t bug you.
I’m physically limited. Are the facilities friendly to me?
Yes. We meet in a modern public school. Consequently, the facilities meet the highest federal standards for accessibility.
Why meet in a public school?
Why not? Some people get caught up about the building, the steeple, the color of the carpet and a bunch of other stuff that really doesn’t matter. In the New Testament, the part of the Bible that chronicles Christ’s ministry and the early church, the original context of the word "church" has nothing to do with a building or structure. The word that we translate "church" actually refers to a "group of people." So, even though it sounds grammatically ugly… in truth, "the people is the church," regardless of where they meet. So, "Why a public school?" Again… why not?
How would I know if the church is closed due to bad weather?
We will post a "Closed due to bad weather" announcement on the front page of our website if and when this ever becomes an issue. At the same time, if you cannot get to the internet you can always call the church (443-262-2422) to double check.
What are you all about?
We exist to help people grow closer to God, closer to other believers, and closer to those who do not yet know the love of Christ so we can share the His good news.
How can I get involved?
The first thing to do is come visit! Then, if you sense a good fit, you’ll find many different "environments" that offer you opportunities to get plugged in. You’ll be able to join a Community Group and/or serve on one of our environment teams. Click this link to check out some of our different environments.
How do I become a Christian?
THE CENTRAL THEME OF THE BIBLE IS GOD'S LOVE for you and for all people. This love was revealed when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world as a human being, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Because Christ died, your sins can be forgiven, and because He conquered death you can have eternal life. You can know for sure what will become of you after you die.
You have probably heard the story of God's love referred to as the "Gospel." The word Gospel simply means "Good News." The Gospel is the Good News that, because of what Christ has done, we can be forgiven and can live forever.
But this gift of forgiveness and eternal life cannot be yours unless you willingly accept it. God requires an individual response from you. The following verses from the Bible show God's part and yours in this process:
GOD'S LOVE IS REVEALED IN THE BIBLE
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." -John 3:16 (NIV)
God loves you. He wants to bless your life and make it full and complete. And He wants to give you a life which will last forever, even after you experience physical death.
WE ARE SINFUL
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." -Romans 3:23 (NIV)
You may have heard someone say, "I'm only human- nobody's perfect." This Bible verse says the same thing: We are all sinners. We all do things that we know are wrong. And that's why we feel estranged from God- because God is holy and good, and we are not.
SIN HAS A PENALTY
"For the wages of sin is death." -Romans 6:23 (NIV)
Just as criminals must pay the penalty for their crimes, sinners must pay the penalty for their sins. If you continue to sin, you will pay the penalty of spiritual death: You will not only die physically; you will also be separated from our holy God for all eternity. The Bible teaches that those who choose to remain separated from God will spend eternity in a place called hell.
CHRIST HAS PAID OUR PENALTY!
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8 (NIV)
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, has paid the penalty for all your sins. You may think you have to lead a good life and do good deeds before God will love you. But the Bible says that Christ loved you enough to die for you, even when you were rebelling against Him.
SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." -Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
The word grace means "undeserved favor." It means God is offering you something you could never provide for yourself: forgiveness of sins and eternal life, God's gift to you is free. You do not have to work for a gift. All you have to do is joyfully receive it, Believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ died for you!
CHRIST IS AT YOUR HEART'S DOOR
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." -Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
Jesus Christ wants to have a personal relationship with you. Picture, if you will, Jesus Christ standing at the door of your heart (the door of your emotions, intellect and will). Invite Him in; He is waiting for you to receive Him into your heart and life.
YOU MUST RECEIVE HIM
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." -John 1:12 (NIV)
When you receive Christ into your heart you become a child of God, and have the privilege of talking to Him in prayer at any time about anything. The Christian life is a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ. And best of all, it is a relationship that will last for all eternity.
If you are making this commitment to Christ today, please let us know. We would like to send you Bible study materials to help you grow in your faith.
Taken from "Your Christian Life" 1965, 1968, as "Aids to Christian Living," 1986 as "Practical Steps in Christian Living," 1995 as "Beginning Your Christian Life," 1997 as "Your Christian Life," Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
