Why We Serve - Lead Team Update

Bridgeway has become my church home. I have been coming here since 2009. I have learned many lessons in that time. However, some of the most challenging, encouraging, and insightful lessons that I have ever learned at Bridgeway have been while serving.

Before I even agreed to become a partner with the church, I knew that I wanted to get involved in some form or another.  Since then, I have served in many different and various ways and opportunities, and I am thankful for each one of them. Each opportunity to serve in a different place allowed for more personal and spiritual growth. Each experience allowed God to speak to me, and speak through me.

While as a greeter, I learned how the impact of a smile and warm welcome can not only change a person’s day, but it can help someone that has been disconnected from God to be receptive and open to him working in their life.

While serving on the setup and tear-down teams, God used other people to speak to me in ways that I never could have dreamed. Apparently, God even works loading and unloading trailers at 5 am. Even on days when I was reluctant to go, in my exhaustion, he would show me that through setting up chairs in a high school, I was preparing a place that somebody was going to hear God’s voice for the first time in their life, and that is what matters.

While serving coffee, I realized that sometimes, that cup of Joe, can be the ice breaker to start a conversation that can change a life.

While serving with kids, even on days when you have zero patience before you walk in the door, a kid can show you what they learned about Jesus, just because you were there and gave them attention that they might not have received anywhere else.

The point is not to serve any old place just to serve or because there is a need. The point is, we need to serve so that God can help US become the person that we are each called and set apart to be.

According toJeremiah 29:11 (NIV) ^“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

We are each called to do great things, I feel it is safe to say that we have not reached up to our full potential either as a church or individually.

I know that we are called to reach 72,000 people in the Tri-County area. I know if that is the plan God has called us to, he will equip us to do it. He will prepare the way for it to happen.

However, in order to do this, he may need us to step out of our comfort zone. He may need our YES before we know exactly what we are called to do.

The great thing about Bridgeway, is that there are PLENTY of opportunities to get involved and serve. Café team, Greeting team, Parking team, Children’s ministry team, Worship team, production team, etc. The list goes on.

I hope that you noticed that each ministry is a team, that is not an accident. Nobody serves alone. When you begin to serve on a team, God begins showing you his Grace and Love both through others on the team, and through the people you are serving.

The challenge becomes not IF to serve, but WHERE? 1 Peter 4:10 says “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others”

If you do not yet know what exactly that your gifting is, then start somewhere, and see if it fits, if not, there are other ministries that might be just for you.

Rick Warren once wrote, “Anyone can be a servant. All it requires is character.” If you are not involved somewhere and you want to get involved, come by the church Saturday June 7^th for our Volunteer Celebration 10am-Noon.

As a Lead Team, one way we are serving is by meeting and having conversations with a group of candidates. We are working through this list and finding the elite best options that will fit with the calling that is Bridgeway. We have several conversations scheduled over the next few days. Please be praying with us, as we seek God’s provision and wisdom.

- Jesse Pierson

Waiting on the Lord

I was reminded the other day how hard it is when we do not get what we want. When I think about not getting what I want the way I want it, I imagine a toddler in the cereal aisle at the grocery store. There was one particular moment that even as a child I was able to understand.

When I was a kid, I tried to “reason” my way into getting that giant box of Captain Crunch that was calling my name. I wanted it to sooo bad. I felt that I deserved it because I was on my best behavior (when we arrived at that particular aisle of the store anyway). My friends all had Captain Crunch at their houses, and why couldn’t I have it, I begged and pleaded my case. Then, once that strategy wasn’t working, I went into an all-out frenzy right there in Aisle 9. Forced tears, screaming, and crying the whole shebang. Unfortunately, for me, my parents were not having it that day. They wisely had other plans that were better for me.

Just like our father in heaven, even when we want something so badly that we can taste it. Even Jesus had a moment where he had something that he didn’t want to do. We read in Luke chapter 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (NIV)

As we look forward to what is ahead of us as a church. There may be some times that may challenge us. The point is that we know that God has called Bridgeway to greater things in the Tri-county area.

Rest assured, that God is moving in the church and he is preparing us for what comes next. It may not be exactly when we want it to happen, or when we think we “deserve” it to happen. But I promise you, in Christ’s perfect timing it will happen the way he has allowed. Until then, as Isaiah writes in Chapter 40:31 “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

As a loving father knows what is best for his children as our father in heaven knows what is best for his church.

For the challenges and hardships that we have faced and hurdles that may be ahead I say bring ‘em on. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:10 “Jesus told me “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”…That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

As a Lead Team where we are right now, is working through our 2^nd batch of candidates.  We have compared notes and a few promising candidates have risen above the rest.

We are doing everything we can to “Hustle and Obey” as our District Superintendent says. But we must remember that God’s will not ours be done.

As a church body, please be in prayer for wisdom and discernment so that we may hear with clarity the voice of God.

- Jesse Pierson

Do you ever feel like you are being attacked?

Do you ever feel like you are being attacked?

Not attacked as in being mugged on the street by some anonymous masked person, but attacked as in feeling like Satan is waiting for you at every turn, every decision you make?

I have felt like that a lot lately. It’s like Satan has a direct line into my life and he’s making notes on all my areas of weakness and he’s just waiting to attack me when those weak moments arise. 

But that’s not just a feeling, folks.  That’s exactly what Satan does.  1 Peter 5:8 tells us “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, waiting for someone to devour.”

Scary, right? Yeah. Satan knows exactly where we are most likely to mess up or turn away from God’s will for our lives, and he hangs out just waiting for those situations to pop up in our lives. Then he attacks.

There can be so many areas of weakness for us:

Our relationships, be it with friends or our spouse

Disobedience in our kids

Decisions we have to make our jobs

Choosing to be honest and live with integrity

Choosing to be a servant leader in all areas of our lives

Having unwavering faith in God’s abilities to do His will in our lives

Whatever your weakness may be, you can trust that Satan will be lurking around its corner, just waiting to attack you when the situation arises.

But if we read on in 1 Peter, verse 9 says “Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.”

Every single Christ follower deals with this issue.  We are all in the same boat.  How encouraging is that?! Everyone feels our pain and God has given us a family of believers to share the burden and to do life with. 

James 4:7 tells us to “humble yourselves before God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and he will come close to you.”

This may be the best verse I’ve read lately.  It offers us so much hope. If we stand firm in our faith and trust that God will bring us through our temptation and our struggle, eventually, the devil will give up and that temptation will no longer have a hold on us.  And Satan will FLEE from us.

If this is an area that you struggle with, what are your next steps? Maybe you need to spend some time in prayer asking God to help you stand firm in Him and to resist the devil when he strikes.  Maybe you need to reach out to a fellow believer in Christ and ask them to pray with you through your struggle and ask them to encourage you to stand firm. You may even find that they have a similar struggle and you can be praying for them while they pray for you.

Whatever your struggle may be, we can find rest and hope in God’s promise that if we come close to Him, He will come close to us.

And the closer we are to Him, the farther Satan will flee.

One thing we're aware of as a lead team is that this transition time could be a convenient time for Satan to exploit our weaknesses, both as a church and as individuals.  He would love nothing more than to disrupt BridgeWay’s mission of connecting people to Jesus, each other, and God's purpose. However, we continue to be hopeful by the amazing effort you are all showing in continuing this mission to the tri-county area.

In fact, this past week, we met with Scott Sherwood, our district superintendent, to go over a new list of potential candidates. Our team is hopeful that God, in His perfect timing, is bringing us one step closer to our next lead pastor.

- Mary Miller

We are ready.

My son just started playing soccer this week. He’s been talking about it all winter and was so excited when he finally got his jersey (ok, it’s a t-shirt but we’ll call it a jersey for his sake) and shin guards. That first practice, my son was ready.

He was ready when I got home from work at 5:00. Practice didn’t start til after 6:30.

He told me how he was going to be the best kicker on the team.

He was going to run the fastest.

He was going to be a good teammate (a carryover conversation from our T-ball days last year). 

He was ready.                                  

He met me at the door with wide eyes and told me it was time to go. I looked at him and said as nicely as possible, “not yet.” That’s a tough thing for a five year old to hear. He was sitting on the couch watching the clock, anxiously willing time to go faster. But every time he asked I had to answer the same way, “not yet.”

We’re kinda there right now as a church. We have all been anxiously running to our Father in heaven saying it’s time for a new pastor! He patiently tells us, “not yet.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Later on, Ecclesiastes 8:6 says, “For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him.”

As I read those verses, I can’t help to think we know that there is a perfect time for everything as a part of God’s plan. We know our present is incredible because we are still connecting people to Christ. We may not know what the future holds for Bridgeway which can feel troubling to some people. But we do know our future is going to be beyond what any of us can imagine. We also know that a journey is accomplished by the steps we take.

We are taking one of those steps right now.

The lead team is pleased to announce that Kevin Grose (current worship director) will be taking on the role of Interim Campus Director. What this means is the leaders of our different ministries will have a point person they can turn to for direction and guidance. Kevin will also work with the lead team in everyday operations of the church, determine areas of ministry that are working well, and continue his work in worship and production.

Kevin has been a part of Bridgeway since the beginning, nine years ago. He’s been a member of the worship team, production, and has a real heart for the mission and vision of Bridgeway. We as a lead team are excited to bring him on board as we continue on this journey of waiting on the Lord.

When it was finally time to go to practice, my son jumped for joy and ran for the car. He was thrilled! There will come a time that we as a church will jump for joy when our new pastor comes on board. Until that time, we will jump for joy at the new people who visit us (but not when they first show up . . . that would be weird). We will celebrate the people who make a commitment to Christ. We will continue to be amazed of all that you do to forward this mission.

We are ready. Are you?

- Nate McCarthy