The most important thing about The Bridge isn’t distinctive: Every Christian group needs God’s living Word at the center of everything we are, and everything we do.
In the beginning, the Word was with God, and was God. God’s word is unchanging. God’s word is there to change us. As soon as God’s Word is no longer at the center, we begin to die. So we share this in common with every other healthy Christian group following God.
Beyond that core, The Bridge aims to distinctive. Not better, not worse. Just a little different. After all, what’s the point in being exactly the same as the other great churches around Huntsville? They already do a great job of being them. We aim to do a good job of being us.
Below are some DRAFT ideas that we’re thinking of.
- What do you think of them?
- Do they align with scripture? Do they fit our community?
- Do you have additional ideas we should be thinking about?
Let us know – email us, leave a comment, or pick up the phone any time.
Small is beautiful. Or is bigger is better?
Our focus is on being disciples, and on making disciples. We are happy for new disciples to end up in whatever church God leads them to. Our only priority is to see God’s kingdom grow.
Big churches can be great, but we aim to stay family-sized. If God brought more people to us than our family-size could manage, we would aim to start a second group.
Though we are not big, we still find small groups essential to connecting with others. Really talking over God’s word, and receiving support ourselves. Some small groups may be part of The Bridge, other groups may be part of other churches. But we aim for everyone to be cared for in a small group.
Evangelism inside, or outside?
We find evangelism often happens at work, school or the grocery store. We want to build relationships with our neighbours – whoever God puts in our path – and live out the love of Jesus to them. God reaches more disciples beside the fishing boats than inside the synagogue.
Evangelism can happen at a worship service, but that is not its primary function. In our worship, we aim to provide a base for Christians to learn and be built up, and then to go out and serve. Our prayer and worship is for Christians to drive their roots deeper.
Those that don’t yet know Jesus are welcome when we worship or pray. But our prayer and worship does not try to be seeker-friendly. Instead, we connect with seekers at other times.
Start new programs, or support existing programs?
We serve our community through existing Christian ministries wherever possible. If a good program exists, we try and support that with prayer, volunteer work, and money.
We have already selected one ministry to support, which is The Door Youth Center. We intend to hear regularly from other ministries around Huntsville, such as our Christian camps and schools, Christine’s Place, and food banks. We may support several ministries by working together as a group volunteering, or by praying for them, or with financial support.
That’s not to say we would never start a new program. Where we see specific needs around Huntsville that are not already being met by existing ministries, we will ask God whether we are the ones he intends to meet those needs.
Simple or beautiful?
We choose do things as simply as we can. Why? So we can direct most of our effort and money into serving and reaching the community around us. God is certainly worthy of beauty and excellence as well, and it is not wrong to spend money for God’s glory. But our own call is to be pretty basic.
We don’t necessarily look to have our own building. Many church buildings are underutilized, and all are expensive. So we don’t have our own exclusive space. Instead, we try use existing ministry spaces in Huntsville. We save what we would put towards a building, and use that extra to support other ministries.
We don’t raise money for ourselves, and typically do not accept donations. We try keep our expenses very low. God has thus far provided everything we have needed as gifts-in-kind. Many of us still want to give back to our generous God, so we choose ministry needs as projects for The Bridge, and we give directly to those. Those giving to these other registered charities receive tax receipts directly from those charities.
Obtaining and maintaining charitable status can cost thousands of dollars and lots of distraction. We don’t need charitable status right now, so we have no current plans to get it.
Sometimes simple can be beautiful too.
Work or worship?
We try keep things simple when we meet. We want as many people as possible to just pray and worship without having to ‘work’. That might mean one musician instead of five. Or using a sound system that sets up in two minutes instead of twenty. Right now, we choose not to stream.
The good gifts God gives should still be used, so we ask God to provide other outlets for unused creativity, such as giving the gift of music in a seniors’ residence.
Don’t worry there won’t be anything to do. We still have to move chairs and make coffee!
Forever, or for now?
Hudsons Bay Company – Founded in 1670, it’s one of the oldest companies in the world. Will it live on?
As humans, we imagine we can create things that last. We create families, institutions, and organizations, and we provide property and money for them after we’re gone. Maybe like those that built the pyramids, we imagine some kind of immortality when we create something that outlives us.
Yet we know God’s word is the only thing that lasts. Even the heavens and the earth will pass away. There is only one thing certain about whatever we start: It will end.
We often experience endings as a tragedy. We hang on very tightly to our institutions. Like Egyptian mummies, maybe we feel better pretending something is still alive even after it has died.
But what does God think of endings? God’s uses things for as long as they fit within his plan. There are things he wishes to establish for a long time – like his temple in the ancient kingdom of Israel – but even those cannot last when we go astray. The departure of God’s glory from the temple must be one of the saddest pictures in the bible. God cries too, because it did not need to end that way.
Other things in God’s plan are needed only briefly. When Jesus met Elijah and Moses, the three disciples thought it was wonderful. Peter, James and John wanted it to last, but it was never meant to. They were sad when it was over, but God wasn’t. It was just one step in a bigger, more glorious plan.
When we start something, why do we do it? Do we dream of building something that will last? Do we need a pyramid to amaze everyone?
Or is it enough that what we do just serves God’s purpose for today?
Sprinkle or dunk?
For hundreds of years, the question of baptism has divided God’s people. It is a more complicated question than just sprinkling babies or dunking believers, with lots of theological implications.
The theological implications are not insignificant. Yet most believers of either stripe could not say what those implications are. Of those that do understand, few would claim salvation depends on a correct understanding, whichever one that is.
The practical implications are much better known. If your understanding of baptism is ‘wrong’ for the church you are in, you probably won’t be allowed to serve God there.
The Bridge acknowledges the significance of these questions, but does not believe this matter must separate Christians. So our distinctive position on baptism is: Yes.
God clearly commands one baptism, and we must obey God’s command. Beyond that, Christians diligently and genuinely seeking God’s will may differ on mode, timing, and significance. If your family is convicted that covenantal baptism of infants is right, then in good conscience that is what you must act on. If your family is convicted that baptism of believers is right, then in good conscience that is what you must act on.
The Bridge acknowledges the one baptism for the remission of sins. The Bridge supports families of either view that seek to follow God’s command through baptism. And if, in obedience to scripture you were baptized in name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are welcome to serve within The Bridge.
For those that are convicted to baptize their children as infants, we recognize the need and provide the opportunity for those grown children to profess their own faith. For those that are convicted of believers’ baptism, we recognize the need to pray for our infants, and we provide the opportunity to dedicate them to the Lord.
While we don’t particularly hide our personal convictions, we ask that you respect the views of our brothers and sisters, acknowledging that some may be weaker than you. If you are invited, and having sought the Holy Spirit’s guidance you feel led to do so, you may explain to an individual why you hold the conviction that you do. Your explanation would not include telling someone of a different view that they were definitely wrong, in error, or in sin.
We acknowledge that for centuries Christians of sound faith have not come to a consensus on this matter. We choose not to let this question divide brothers and sisters.
Denominational ties – blessing or danger?
Some Christian churches have strong ties to other churches as part of denominations that have very powerful structures. This can be an advantage, because a congregation that goes off the rails can be corrected. God’s people can be protected by a healthy denomination.
Some Christian churches are just independent congregations, with weak ties to other congregations. This can be an advantage, because denominations can go off the rails too, and then wreak havoc on congregations. God’s people can be protected by a healthy congregation.
Either way, there is no perfect organizational chart for church governance: When we write a sinner’s name in every box on the org chart, bad things will eventually happen.
The Bridge seeks to be part of a Christian denomination that is in-between. A denomination that can provide real oversight, support, and correction, yet without so much unchecked power that local congregations can be too easily destroyed. The oversight and accountability we seek is primarily scriptural and pastoral. We would avoid organizations that are focused on power and property, or where ministers or buildings are the property of the denomination.
Even the right in-between denomination is no guarantee against problems. We believe a denomination and a congregation can walk together as long as they are both headed in the same direction. But in the denomination we seek, if a congregation and denomination take incompatible paths in the future, after careful and prayerful consideration within an open and transparent process, we believe they must be able to uncouple from each other without drama and tragedy, legal fights or lost buildings.
An in-between affiliation is not the perfect solution. But we believe it’s the best for us right now.