How is your summer going? Fun, slow, or just too hot to enjoy being outside?
Each year brings its own changes and seasons. But this summer has felt especially heavy, as we’ve walked alongside many in our congregation who have lost loved ones. The Care Ministry has been reaching out—calling, visiting, and comforting families during their time of grief.
In those sacred moments, I often find myself overwhelmed. Driving to yet another home for a visitation, I silently ask the Lord, “What can I say that will genuinely comfort this family? How can I show the love of Christ in a way that brings healing?”
More often than not, I don’t have all the answers to those deeper questions. And so, I lean on God’s wisdom and grace—trusting Him to guide me with presence and compassion.
Let me ask you:
- When life throws you a curveball, how do you respond?
- Who is standing by your side?
- Who are your team members?
- How many friends at Bridgeway truly know you and know that you’re here?
We all need genuine connection.
The 2023 U.S. Surgeon General’s report, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” explains how social disconnection is damaging both personal and public health. The crisis is so severe, the report compares its health impact to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Broken relationships, lack of community engagement, and overreliance on digital interaction have created a deep loss of meaningful connection, leading to increased depression, anxiety, heart disease, and early death.
So what does this mean for us at Bridgeway?
What does the Care Ministry have to do with any of this?
Bridgeway already offers excellent care, including counseling, visitations, prayer teams, support groups, recovery ministries, and more. But what I’ve come to realize is this: Care is not just a program. Care is a community.
And it’s not just any community—but a Gracist community: It’s a family marked by grace and unconditional love, shaped by what Christ has done for us.
Are you part of that kind of community?
Without it, caring for others can become transactional—brief and impersonal. You receive what you paid for. But care within the Body of Christ is meant to be transformational.
If you’re sick or going through a difficult season, you don’t have to face it alone. We’re here—ready to walk with you, encourage you, and remind you that you are not forgotten. Things are going to be okay.
If you miss a Sunday, does anyone check in? If you lose a job or feel emotionally or spiritually overwhelmed, who shows up? Does anyone notice when you’re not there?
Not long ago, I received a call from a grieving father who had lost his daughter to illness. His heart was shattered. He shared that his family had attended Bridgeway for more than ten years. But what grieved me even more was this: he didn’t know anyone here. How can that be? He always came to the early service and left immediately afterward. He was suffering—and suffering alone.
So where does genuine care happen?
In small groups. Life Groups. Support Groups.
In circles of ten people or fewer, we form Gracist Communities where we
1) Do life together (“You are not alone.”)
What it looks like:
- Someone going through a divorce has a group that listens, checks in, and shows up when they need help.
- A new mom in a Life Group gets help from other parents when she feels overwhelmed.
- A young adult who’s new to the area finds friends to hang out with on weekends.
2) Discover meaning and value in one another’s stories in a multicultural body (“Your story matters.”)
What it looks like:
- A group of people from different cultures talks openly about what it was like growing up in their homes—and everyone learns from each other.
- A man shares about his struggles with mental health, and someone else says, “I’ve felt that too,” creating trust.
- Someone who normally feels like they don’t fit in starts to realize they’re deeply valued just as they are.
3) Encourage each other through the struggles of a broken world. (“You’re covered.”)
What it looks like:
- A friend in the group loses their job, and the group prays, shares leads, or even helps financially.
- Someone facing health issues gets rides to the doctor and regular texts saying, “Thinking of you.”
- After a rough week, a person walks into group and hears, “We’re here for you. How are you really doing?”
This is Bridgeway’s primary Care model. This model – small, real, diverse, caring communities – is how Bridgeway takes care of people. Not just through programs, but through relationships. These groups are where Care happens first, even before someone ever reaches out to a pastor or counselor.
Care is more than a program—it’s you. It’s us. It’s a community.
It’s a family filled with Gracism, and it’s transformational.
Can we care for you?
If you need help or support, please contact Care.
If you are looking for activities to meet others, check out our Events.
If you are looking for people to do life with, connect with our Groups.