COVID-19 PANDEMIC

On Wednesday, May 13, 2020 Governor Hogan communicated updated directives allowing the re-opening of certain businesses and facilities.  What does this mean for Bridgeway?  Well, first of all, our priority during this COVID season is to protect the health and safety of our congregation while passionately reaching our community, culture and world for Jesus Christ.  Secondly, we will align all of our decisions with the direction of our government officials and federal, state, and local health organizations.  As we have campuses in two jurisdictions, we will be following both Baltimore County and Howard County regulations and directives.

Our staff have been working diligently over the past several weeks to prepare for the reopening of our facilities.  A three-phase re-entry plan has been drafted and continues to be revised based on the latest information that becomes available to us.  When our government officials and health organizations release us to reopen, we will begin implementation of Phase 1 of this plan.  Phase 1 is the first step in bringing attendees back into the Columbia Campus and Owings Mills/Reisterstown Campus for Sunday morning modified services.  We will communicate details regarding these services when we get closer to implementation.  Currently, we anticipate that we will host one in-person service at each campus and continue with our three broadcast services on YouTube and Facebook.  The in-person services will have limited capacity and require attendees to follow a registration/ticketing process to ensure a safe and healthy experience for all.  We will follow guidelines provided to us by government officials and health organizations regarding capacity, safe health practices (e.g. masks, safe distancing, etc), and cleaning protocols.

Please keep this in prayer as we prepare to re-enter our buildings wisely.

By the end of this week, our phones will go straight to a recording and we will be forwarding voicemail messages via email.

Our community-at-large Easter flyers are currently en route to the local post office to be distributed to homes in the Columbia and Owings Mills/Reisterstown areas.

If the spread of COVID-19 continues the need for social distancing come April, we will need to over communicate the switch to broadcast-only services to those newly reached populaces who have only heard of Bridgeway through the Easter mailer.

Helpful Links:

Where to get meals during school closures – Howard County
Where to get meals during school closures – Baltimore Area

• Columbia on the 2nd & 4th Saturdays from 9:30-11:30
• Owings Mills/Reisterstown on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays from 10-11:30
• CLOSED on SUNDAYS
• Deliveries are suspended unless a specific need from someone from Bridgeway arises and then we will ask an employee to make the delivery and not a volunteer.

Be sure to like our Facebook page, you never know what Pastor will pop up for an impromptu word or prayer session.

Wednesday Night E-Live will be held via broadcast. Pastor Gary and Minister Tracey will be broadcasting our Wednesday Night Alive service on The Book of James live at 7p exclusively on Facebook.

All events/meetings have been cancelled in Bridgeway’s buildings.  Please do not enter any Bridgeway building without prior approval. Please contact your staff coordinator. They will know how to obtain permission if you need to come into the building.

Cupboards will be open as a “Drive-Thru” only, with pre-packaged boxes that will be assembled by volunteers or staff 30 minutes before the scheduled opening. No guests will enter the building. Security will be present.

• Columbia on the 2nd & 4th Saturdays from 9:30-11:30
• Owings Mills/Reisterstown on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays from 10-11:30
• CLOSED on SUNDAYS
• Deliveries are suspended unless a specific need for someone from Bridgeway arises and then we will ask an employee to make the delivery and not a volunteer.

By the end of this week, our phones will go straight to a recording and we will be forwarding voicemail messages via email.

Life groups, if you choose to meet face-to-face, please limit the size of the gathering in accordance with federal recommendations. Life groups will be considering meeting using another platform such as Facebook Live or Google Hangouts. Both are easy to use and will keep your group connected in the weeks ahead.

Our buildings are closed to the public until further notice.

(See previous UPDATES for additional information)

Sunday Services

Beginning on Sunday March 15^th Services will be BROADCAST-ONLY

No in-person services at either campus

Watch online via Facebook & YouTube  (how-to guide below)

BridgeKids has resources for children at  https://www.bridgeway.cc/kids

Out of an abundance of caution, the following activities are being modified, suspended or cancelled.  We will be working with our ministry leaders to provide support for online and alternative platforms so that we can continue to live out the vision and mission of our church through ministry.  We will update this list regularly.  Ministry leaders should email frank.eastham@bridgeway.cc if the event status is moving from suspended or cancelled to an online or alternative platform so that the status on communications can be updated.  All alternative platforms need approval from Tim Samuel or Frank Eastham.

Community Cupboard

• The Community Cupboard will be distributing free groceries on the following schedule:

Columbia Campus

Saturday, March 14, 2020 and Saturday, March 28, 2020

10:00 – 12:00

Every Sunday

9:30 – 10:15, 11:30 – 12:15, 1:30 – 2:15

Owings Mills/Reisterstown

Saturday, March 21, 2020

10:00 – 11:30

Every Sunday

12:00 – 12:30

Baptisms

• Suspended

Partners Fellowship

• Suspended

Mission Trips:

• All Bridgeway mission trips are suspended through June 30, 2020
• All Bridgeway mission trip planning meetings are suspended through April

Women’s and Men’s Ministry Events:

• The Men’s Ministry Retreat to Sandy Cove scheduled for 03.13.2020 – 03.15. 2020 is cancelled
• The Monthly Women’s and Men’s Breakfasts and activities are suspended through April
• Women’s Leadership Development Institute (WLDI) Monthly Sessions are suspended through April
• Women’s Tea cancelled

Bridgeway Student Ministries:

• BSM Activities are suspended through April

BridgeKids Creative Arts:

• Rehearsals suspended through April

Tuesday Night Alive (TNA) and Wednesday Night Alive (WNA):

• Will transition to online broadcast on Facebook and YouTube on March 18 and March 25

Other Ministries Activities:

• Thirsty Thursdays (Leverage) will use an alternative format through April.  Contact reggymarticus@aol.com for more information.
• Spanish Classes cancelled
• ASL Classes cancelled
• Financial Bootcamp will use an alternative format through April.  Contact betty.shepherd@bridgeway.cc for more information.

Activities and Events not included on this list are under consideration and the Chief Operations Officer will coordinate with the leader of the activities and events.  Ministry meetings with fewer than 25 participates and Life Groups are permitted, at this time, unless they are identified on the above list.

*ONLINE PARTICIPATION @BridgewayMD

Viewing Service:

Bridgeway Community Church live broadcasts services each week on Facebook and YouTube. Once service concludes, these platforms serve as our service archive. Whether you choose to tune in on a Sunday morning, or throughout the week, you can engage in church online.

In addition, Wednesday Night Alive services for March 18 and March 25 will also be modified for an online broadcast.  You can tune in to our Facebook and YouTube platforms for a Bible study on the Book of James taught by Pastor Gary Coiro.

To find these streams, go to our website at Bridgeway.cc and click the links that say “Services on YouTube/Facebook.”

Online Giving:

Bridgeway is blessed to have an amazing community that allows us to live out our vision and mission through giving. While we pass the offering bag on Sundays, we also have multiple online options to make the giving experience easier for you. Here is a quick summary of our online giving options, which all accept ACH (bank account), credit cards, and debit cards.

• Bridgeway.cc/give
  • When you land on the Bridgeway website, you’ll notice a yellow “GIVE” box in the corner. This page directs you to a platform where you can use your Google or Facebook to login, see your giving history, and even set a recurring donation.
• Church Center App
  • By downloading the Church Center app on your phone, you have the option to register for events, join a group, and give online. This online giving platform makes it easy to give anytime from anywhere with your mobile device.
• Text2Give
  • Not an app person? By sending a text to the phone number 442-244-9189, along with any dollar amount, you can set up a one-time or recurring donation.

You are encouraged to regularly visit these websites for the most up-to-date information and recommendations.

• Howard County Health Department,
• Baltimore County Health Department
• Maryland Health Department
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Sunday Services

Beginning on Sunday March 15^th Services will be BROADCAST-ONLY

No in-person services at either campus

Watch online via Facebook & YouTube at 8a, 10a, and 12p

The purpose of this communication is to review the latest information we have received about the virus and to outline our response to this health concern.  COVID-19 continues to raise concerns throughout the world. The number of identified cases is rising each day as more tests become available.  Information changes hourly.  Please go to bridgeway.cc/COVID for the latest information for Bridgeway Community Church.

Church leadership is following this situation closely and will continuously make decisions regarding the status of our services and events in an effort to protect the health of our church community and limit unnecessary exposure of our attendees to illness.

Out of an abundance of caution, the following activities are being modified, suspended or cancelled.  We will be working with our ministry leaders to provide support for online and alternative platforms so that we can continue to live out the vision and mission of our church through ministry.

Baptisms

• Suspended

Partners Fellowship

• Suspended

Mission Trips:

• All Bridgeway mission trips are suspended through June 30, 2020
• All Bridgeway mission trip planning meetings are suspended through April

Women’s and Men’s Ministry Events:

• The Men’s Ministry Retreat to Sandy Cove scheduled for 03.13.2020 – 03.15. 2020 is cancelled
• The Monthly Women’s and Men’s Breakfasts and activities are suspended through April
• Women’s Leadership Development Institute (WLDI) Monthly Sessions are suspended through April
• Women’s Tea cancelled

Bridgeway Student Ministries:

• BSM Activities are suspended through April

BridgeKids Creative Arts:

• Rehearsals suspended through April

Choir:

• Choir rehearsals and Choir Sundays are suspended through April

Tuesday Night Alive (TNA) and Wednesday Night Alive (WNA):

• Will transition to online broadcast on Facebook and YouTube on March 18 and March 25

Other Ministries Activities:

• Thirsty Thursdays (Leverage) are suspended through April
• Spanish Classes cancelled
• ASL Classes cancelled
• Progress Unlimited (Community Care) is cancelled

Activities and Events not included on this list are under consideration and the Chief Operations Officer will coordinate with the leader of the activities and events.  Ministry meetings with fewer than 25 participates and Life Groups are permitted, at this time, unless they are identified on the above list.

*ONLINE PARTICIPATION @BridgewayMD

Viewing Service:

Bridgeway Community Church live broadcasts services each week on Facebook and YouTube. Once service concludes, these platforms serve as our service archive. Whether you choose to tune in on a Sunday morning, or throughout the week, you can engage in church online.

In addition, the Tuesday and Wednesday Night Alive services for March 17/18 and March 24/25 will also be modified for an online broadcast.  You can tune in to our Facebook and YouTube platforms for a Bible study on the Book of James taught by Pastor Gary Coiro.

To find these streams, go to our website at Bridgeway.cc and click the links that say “Services on YouTube/Facebook.”

Online Giving:

Bridgeway is blessed to have an amazing community that allows us to live out our vision and mission through giving. While we pass the offering bag on Sundays, we also have multiple online options to make the giving experience easier for you. Here is a quick summary of our online giving options, which all accept ACH (bank account), credit cards, and debit cards.

• Bridgeway.cc/give
  • When you land on the Bridgeway website, you’ll notice a yellow “GIVE” box in the corner. This page directs you to a platform where you can use your Google or Facebook to login, see your giving history, and even set a recurring donation.
• Church Center App
  • By downloading the Church Center app on your phone, you have the option to register for events, join a group, and give online. This online giving platform makes it easy to give anytime from anywhere with your mobile device.
• Text2Give
  • Not an app person? By sending a text to the phone number 442-244-9189, along with any dollar amount, you can set up a one-time or recurring donation.

You are encouraged to regularly visit these websites for the most up-to-date information and recommendations.

• Howard County Health Department,
• Baltimore County Health Department
• Maryland Health Department
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Tuesday and Wednesday Night Alive classes will be online-only on Tuesday March 17,24 and Wednesday March 18,25. Please note: there will be NO in-person sessions at either campus.

The purpose of this communication is to review the latest information we have received about the virus and to outline our response to this health concern. We will provide regular updates on guidance provided by our community health experts:

• Howard County Health Department
• Baltimore County Health Department
• Maryland Health Department
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention

You are encouraged to regularly visit these websites for the most up-to-date information and recommendations.

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus, or COVID-19 is a respiratory virus first identified in China. COVID-19 continues to raise concerns throughout the world and recently in the United States. To date, there are three known cases in Maryland.

As this time, we will continue with our normal operations and services. We are implementing a plan that includes three areas of response – Personal, Community, Environmental.