Category Archives: Bridge Church
A Keepsake Made from a Prison Bed Sheet
Our church has been doing life on the inside for the past two years. On the inside of our local jail that is. We’ve treked with over 300 men through Celebrate Recovery and other Bible Studies. We’ve lost some guys and we’ve gained some brothers in Christ and some best friends. I’ve learned a lot about the gospel, about the sinfulness of sin, about justice, about grace. This week we received this simple drawing in the mail. Excerpts from the attached letter are below:
after listening to your classes and getting to know ya’ll a little bit, you truly love not only Christ Jesus, but even a man like me. You guys have helped me and other see that despite our current situation and circumstances we can learn a new way to live. Thank you for your honesty and for caring about us.
Grateful to be a part of a church that’s helping others “learn a new way to live.” Thankful to be serving a savior who loves “even a man like me.”
Getting involved in prison ministry is as simple as being willing and ready to be used. Contact me about local opportunities.
Incarnation-Transformation-Multiplication
Wrapping up a great week of ministry. A few things I’m grateful for:
- Incarnation: Bridge Church’s first building was a mobile home in St Tammany’s largest mobile home park. It is a
residential home and the residents are simply asked to live out the gospel and build relationships with residents that will lead to reproduction of disciples, leaders, and churches. Our second residents, Mauricio and Rebecca Hance moved in this weekend. Glad to have them on our team. Thanks to Brandon Bosarge for his 10 months of work in the park. He now passes the baton to the Hance’s. Just this week we were able to provide pastoral care for three families in the park facing crisis and two residents gave their lives to Christ at our weekly block party in the park. Incarnation is more than a fancy word on a Christmas card. For us, it’s about moving in to stay, being close and responsive to the needs of others. Hoping that our work at Oak Villa is multiplied many times across our region. - Transformation: Home Works of America had their summer session in Covington last week and repaired 4 homes in the
area. I was blessed to be able to spend some time working with Home Works on a home in the West 30’s owned by a disabled single mom. Her home suffered from storm damage, a house fire, and disrepair. Great to see the before and after transformation with a new roof, fresh paint. Still work to be done on the inside. 60 homes have been identified as substandard in the 8 block area known as the West 30’s. Much opportunity for transformation in this area. Next Home Works session will be October 8-9. - Multiplication: Prepping for and experiencing the power of multiplication in several areas of life and ministry right now.
After much work, our summer garden is finally to the point of overflowing and we’re experiencing the joy of plenty and of giving away. This can work for us in life as well. Our church has a small group that’s turning into a core group for a potential new church. Multiplication is just more fun. We’re also prepping for our fall training and network events for Church Multiplication on the Northshore. Two events I’m especially looking forward to: 1) September 8-10, Church Planter Basic Training at Woodland Park Baptist in Hammond. 2) Greenhouse w/Church Multiplication Associates, October 21-22 at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Check out our Northshore Baptist Association Church Planting page for more info and other noteworthy dates.
Allie’s Song
Great moment a few weeks back at Brandon and Allie Bosarge’s wedding. Brandon actually wrote a song for the occasion. It was awesome and he nailed it. Here’s my personal video and the lyrics are below. Congrats and God’s Blessings to Brandon and Allie!
Allie’s Song
Verse 1:
I am so blessed to have you in my life, to have you as my wife, my one.
To see you in that dress, walking down the aisle, i’ve never seen such beauty as this.
Pre Chorus:
I’ve been waiting so long just to say…
Chorus:
I will be a faithful husband
Righteous, holy man
And always be a freind that loves, protects, and understands.
Verse 2:
Looking in your eyes, chokes me up inside. This is going to happen, your mine.
I vow to you my life. To be your shining knight. To love you til the end of time.
Chorus:
I’ve been waiting so long just to say….
I will be a faithful husband
Righteous, holy man
And always be a friend that loves, protects, and understands.
Ending:
I’ve been waitin for a day like today
Where I hold you in my arms
So close to my soul
Your heart to mine, we will be as one……….forever be as one.
The Big Squeeze: Balance Study and Service for Spiritual Growth
I love what the Bridge Church Ladies ministry is doing this month. Having spent time together soaking up Bible Study, Fellowship, etc. They feel the need to be squeezed through serving others. So in July they’ve scheduled several opportunities to serve together, while encouraging spontaneous servanthood as well. They’re calling this “The Big Squeeze.” Love it! I believe this should be the natural ebb and flow of the believers life and the life of the church. Our learning should always lead to application and action.
Have you been Squeezed lately? Each week us church goers, like sponges, sit and soak up great teaching and preaching
from professional and highly trained clergy, high quality Bible Study materials and devotionals, praise and worship music that moves us to experience God, and many, like me, listen to more great teaching and preaching through podcasting and conferences. Here’s the question: What’s next for the SPONGE after it’s has soaked? It SOURS and becomes unusable. Almost nothing is more disgusting than a sour sponge. No one wants to pick it up, it stinks up the entire kitchen, and most of the time at our house we just throw them out.
As a Christian, I’ve had seasons of my life that can be described as SOUR. The sour Christian is sour toward others – nothing meets their standard, no sermon is good enough, they and their class or group or church are the only ones doing it right. No one wants to be around the sour Christian and he/she doesn’t really care to be around them. Being right matters more than being generous and graceful. (For a Biblical illustration of a Sour Christian see the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32 and watch for the Elder Brother).
What’s the remedy for keeping sponges from getting sour in the sink and in the church? A GOOD SQUEEZE. A good wringing out. With the sponge, by hand. But how is the Christian squeezed? Two ways:
1) Through Suffering – When I’ve lost a loved one, or experienced discouragement, or dealt with sickness, or faced financial struggles, or walked with others who’ve experienced these and worse, I have been squeezed. I have had to put to use all that I know about God and His word. That’s why God’s word tells us that there is great benefit to suffering. See James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5.
2) Through Serving – Don’t wait to be squeezed through suffering. Give yourself away and be emptied out through serving others. As we give ourselves away as Christians, we are allowing God to squeeze us and use what He’s placed in us for His good and glory. As we serve others, we experience more of God and the joy of being used by Him and He continually fills us.
What are you doing that squeezes you? Church leader, is your church providing opportunities for people to serve and give themselves away on behalf of others?
July Opportunities for the Bridge Ladies:
- Saturday, July 9th, at Trinity Church in Covington – cooking for Disaster Response Teams coming to serve in NOLA.
- Tuesday, July 12th, at Mt. Zion Bapt Church in Mandeville – packaging school supplies for needy children.
- Helping out with the Summer reading and writing program at the Covington Boys and Girls Club.
- Serving at the Northlake Crisis Pregnancy Center in Covington.
- Homeworks of America, July 10-16. Repair homes for needy residents of West St. Tammany. Click here for more info.
- Block Parties at Oak Villa Mobile Home Park, Wed July 13 and Thurs July 14, 5:30-7pm. Bring hope to residents of a local Multi-housing community.
- Canned Food Drive, Wed July 13 and Fri July 15. We’ll be putting out grocery bags on doors in the Madisonville area on Wednesday and picking those bags up on Friday and delivering them to a local food bank. Contact Bridge Church for more info – 985.373.2748.
“he will turn the hearts of fathers to [their] children…”
Monday’s at our local jail, our church is doing a fathering group called Inside Out Dad. Why? The #1 request on our prison survey form was help with Parenting/Family Issues. Also, for every inmate (1,200+ in St. Tammany Parish) there is a family system on the outside that is hurting, at risk, and in need of the gospel. 20% of inmates are children of inmates (click here for stats on Father absence). 2.2 million children in the U.S. under the age of 18 have a parent in prison. The average age of these children is 8 years old. Compared to their peers, children of inmates are more likely to also end up in prison. If we prevent a child from following a lifestyle of crime we prevent one or more people from being a victim of crime, and cost to the government (estimated at $24,000 per year per inmate; $49 billion nationwide last year). A child’s connection with their Dad is key to many social indicators. I could go on, but in two weeks this study has touched deep issues that get to the heart of the problem of crime and incarceration. “I never had another person tell me, ‘I love you.’ growing up.” “I’ll never have kids b/c I don’t want to cause them the pain that my dad caused me.” And a deep longing to get it right… This is from the journal of an inmate in the group.
I thank God for not only second chances, but many chances. And I would like to take this opportunity to get my life on track so that I can be a positive influence to my kids and grandkids. I look forward to hearing the words “Daddy” and “Grandpa.” And to being able to fulfill what those words really mean.
The Old Testament closes with a promise in Malachi 4:6 – “he will turn the hearts of fathers to [their] children and the hearts of children to their fathers.” Praying to see hearts turned.
It’s easy to talk bad about “the system,” harder to teach a class at the local jail, mentor a child, invest in a single parent household. Check out these ministry resources if you’d like to get involved in Fatherhood/Incarceration/Prison Ministry/Mentoring fatherless kids, etc.:
- Life Coaches, Inc. – Local ministry linking fatherless children with mentors. Shane O’hara also leads fathering groups at Angola, Rayburn Correctional, and Hunt’s in Baton Rouge. He’s on the teaching team at our local jail as well. Also, look for info on volunteering with Shane at One Day With God or Returning Hearts event.
- Inside Out Dad – the 12-week workbook we’re utilizing at our local jail. Works good for facilities where sentences are short. Check it out and consider starting a group at your local jail.
- Malachi Dad’s – a longer, 12-month program for prisons or facilities with men that have longer sentences.
- YOU! If you know a single mom or family with an incarcerated loved one. Have them over and love on them. If you know a kid whose dad is incarcerated. Take them to the movie, pay their way into a community sports program, invite them to your church or on your family vacation. That would be more effective than 52 sermons.
- Let me know if you’d like to help provide the books and resources for our inmate programs at the St. Tammany Parish Jail.
Tangible Kingdom Primer
“The call to community is more than just going to church on Sunday. A commitment to community might change the way you think about your Christian friends. Instead of working to impress them with your spirituality or your “edginess”, you might find yourself entrusting them with your struggles. Which might lead to better relationships. Which might lead to you going on mission together. Which is the whole point.” ~ One of my favorite quotes from the Tangible Kingdom Primer.
This summer Bridge Church is working back through the Tangible Kingdom Primer: An Eight Week Guide to Incarnational Community. It’s a simple study designed to challenge us to intuitively live life on mission for others and to lean in on what it means to be the presence of Christ in my neighborhood and community. One of the basic concepts in the study is the idea of posture, which is defined as “the way a person or community expresses itself toward others.” My personal posture and that of churches in which I’ve been a part of, has often been self-centered, inward focused, and closed off to nonconformists and anyone on the outside. What would it look like for us to posture ourselves and be present with those in the world? What honestly is the posture of your life? Toward the needs of others first or personal safety and satisfaction? The study serves as a daily devotional, with projects to do throughout the weeks designed to allow you to experience life on mission as an individual and group. Tangible, practical, simple, reproducible. Love these concepts which are woven into the entire study. Looking forward to tracking with Bridge Church through the TK primer.
Here are a few resources for those doing the TK:
- The Tangible Kingdom book.
- The Tangible Kingdom video.
- Tanglible Kingdom Primer Introduction. 17 minute description and training session led by the Author.
- Order the TK Primer and check out other Tangible Kingdom resources here.
- Follow the TK guys on Facebook.
The call to community is more than just going to church on Sunday. A commitment to community might change the way you think about your Christian friends. Instead of working to impress them with your spirituality or your “edginess”, you might find yourself entrusting them with your struggles. Which might lead to better relationships. Which might lead to you going on mission together. Which is the whole point.
What would you get if you crossed
a Saudi Arabian prince, the President of the United States, Socrates, & Mickey Mouse? The wealthiest, most politically powerful, wisest, & most famous person in the world – that describes King Solomon. He reigned for 40 years as King of Israel and his life serves as a case study for FINDING MEANING. He tried it all and spared no expense in search for meaning and found it all useless. His full report is recorded for us in the book of Ecclesiastes. Here would be a good headline for this report:
“Can Meaning be Found in Life? 40-year, Multi-Billion Dollar Study says No”
Join us this Sunday at Bridge Church for week two of our study through the Book of Ecclesiastes called FINDING MEANING.
Finding Meaning
A 40-year study was conducted by the wealthiest man who ever lived, of every pleasure known to man, to see what would bring real fulfillment. His full report is known to us as the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. We’ll be studying through this book together this Summer at Bridge Church. Join us for our Worship Gatherings, Sunday’s, 10:30am at the West St. Tammany YMCA. Find the messages on our website here or look us up on Itunes.
Faith In Action Update
Another great Faith in Action Weekend last weekend with Bridge Church, including Friday night serving at the Columbia St. Block Party, then Faith In Action Sunday. Needs met across our area including at Oak Villa Mobile Home Park where our guys installed handicap bars and fixed a leaking roof for elderly residents, and cut problem tree limbs around the park. Some of our ladies completed projects for the Northlake Crisis Pregnancy Center. Then our Celebration for around 40 men, and their families, who completed our Recovery & Re-entry Program at the St. Tammany Jail.
A few things I overheard last weekend:
- from a community leader, “Every time I see Bridge Church you are blessing somebody.”
- from a FIA participant delivering baked goods to public servants, “You should have seen the tears running down her face when we prayed for her and told her how much we cared.”
- inmate family member at the St Tam Jail, “After you guys were here last August, this entire place was changed. I can’t thank you enough for investing in our lives.”
- Party Rental guy, “I think I’m the first person to ever deliver a bounce house to the jail!!!”
Church is a family On Mission together. I enjoyed being on Mission with my family last Sunday. Find pictures and watch for videos from Faith in Action Sunday on our Facebook Page.
Next Faith in Action Sunday will be August 28th and we will be participating in the National Faith In Action Sunday on October 9th.
And of course we topped it all off, with 6 Bridgers taking off on Monday for Chiapas, Mexico on a 10 day mission trip in the Lacandon Jungle. Can’t wait to hear how God will use them.
Bridge Church to Chiapas, Mexico
A team from our Church took off this AM bound for Mexico’s southern most state to work with missionaries & church planters, Sergio & Beth Matassa. Their work consists of raising up and training indigenous leaders among the Tzotzil Indians to plant churches in the 9,000 or so unreached, remote villages throughout Chiapas. Our team will go deep into the Lacandon Jungle to support the Church Planting movement there with free medical clinics, installing life-saving water filtration systems, and sharing the gospel via film and other means. Pray for our team. Chiapas is considered a Voice of Martyrs Restricted Nation (check out my personal picture that made it onto Voice of Martyrs cover in 2009) but much is needed to provide the gospel for many unreached peoples in Mexico’s southern most state.
Chiapas is a great place to invest people and other resources. You can learn more about partnering with the Matassa’s at their website gled.net. To partner with them on a Mission Trip check out there East-West Ministries page.
Lane Corley 