Dear Bridge Family,
In Matthew 28:19-20 we were commissioned as disciples to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that
I have commanded you.” Our mission as a local church expression has been
birthed out of this assignment from Christ himself.
We exist as a local expression of the church to be disciples of Jesus who make disciples
of Jesus for His fame.
In March of 2006 we held our first worship gathering and have
been blessed to baptize hundreds of new disciples since that time. We are
actively pursuing to teach these new disciples to obey the commands of Christ
through our corporate gathering and scattering (missional cell families) in the
power of the Holy Spirit. In March of 2012, we sent a team of disciples to
Arnold to begin a new movement of gospel ministry. Then, in the summer of 2013
we sent our first long-term missionaries to Bangkok to begin another work of
gospel ministry.
The gospel is bearing
fruit and growing! There has been healthy multiplication as an outgrowth of
the mission empowered by the Holy Spirit.
This Sunday we celebrated the progress of ministry in
Arnold. They are quickly growing from infancy to adulthood as a local
expression of the church. In light of this, we are moving towards a HEALTHY
transition of the Arnold campus to a local autonomous church.
Here are three things you need to know.
- This will involve a name
change from The Bridge Arnold to something new on September 7th. The local Arnold elders are currently seeking
to register City on a Hill with the state of Missouri. This name
change is essential due to the fact that another large church has moved
into Arnold with a very similar name.
- Eventually, Arnold will move
to full autonomy as they become more financially stable, develop a full
plurality of elders, and have a complete staff.
- This compels the formation
of The Bridge Network of churches. This will keep our family together with
Arnold, Bangkok, and other churches that we have helped to plant or will
plant. A strong relationship among local autonomous churches will remain
through the sharing of ideas, resources, and ministry opportunities.
This is the fruit of
healthy gospel multiplication. There is no conflict. There is only a desire
for disciples to be made for the glory of His name. These developments increase
Arnold’s ability to bring the mission of God into their specific cultural
context. Yes, our name will be dropped but His name will be proclaimed. His
name will be lifted high and that is what matters. Why? We were never
commissioned to make disciples of our name but His. Additionally, we were never
commissioned to spread our brand, but we have been commissioned to spread the news
that Jesus Christ saves sinners.
So let’s go. Let’s keep making disciples who make disciples
for His fame.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the
name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have
commanded you.”
For His Name’s Sake,
Ben Durbin
Lead Pastor, The Bridge Community Church
