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The Bridge Church is starting a progression to establish weekly Celebration services and we need otherpeople to be a part of the story. Coming up here would be a huge boost for The Bridge in developing relationships that will end with people knowing Christ.Our progression is simple, yet insane. Start with 3 committed people and do 6 monthly Celebrationservices and 6 monthly Community Events to create a “Building Team.” This Building Team will bethe group of people who will begin to embody the Core Elements (purpose, values, process andpractices) of The Bridge. The end goal of the Building Team is to create an atmosphere by “RibbonCutting”* that is what we, well really God, wants. Yeah, this would never happen unless otherKingdom-advancing people come and do this with us.The key is to build the right things into people. We are not just starting a “worship service.”Celebration services are just a tool to let people who are far from God have a chance to be bridged tohim. The Community Events are a tool to earn trust among those who do not go to church. Thenumber one desire is to present to them an amazing Jesus that will transform their lives.You get the chance to be a part of doing that in an area that is 95% non-Christian.** If it takes 7Gospel “touches” on minimum to see someone accept Christ, people who do not know God simply donot have the opportunity to rub into enough people who do. We want you to help us to “touch” asmany unchurched as possible. Even beyond that, we want you to help us have multiple touches onpeople. With every increasing touch, Gospel acceptance becomes a greater reality. We want you to consider coming for one of the 12 Building Events I already described. This would bean immense time and financial commitment on your part, but one that would be worth every secondand every penny. Why? Because when you receive reports of people being transformed by God, youwill know that you had a hand in each and every one.
When will these events be? 
Celebration ServicesCommunity EventsApril 11May 16April 3May 7 June 13July 11June 12July 24August 15September 12August 21September 24
 All of the Celebration Services are set. The first two Community Events are set. The last fourCommunity Events dates will be set soon.
What would a schedule look like? 
You could come and leave at any given point in time. But here is a potential schedule and what youcould be doing during the day.
Short Term Mission Trips
*The name we are giving to our weekly service launch.** One local pastor said 95% was low compared to what he’s heard.
 
WednesdayArrive.Get settled.Dinner with training.Thursday Day:PrayerwalDoor hangersGamer afternoon/cook out @ park.Thursday PMDinnerMeetinRelaxFriday DayPrayerwalDoor hangersFree Car WashFriday PMPass out waterFree time (Celebration Service week. This is dependent upon a lot of factors.)Saturday DayPut on Community EventFor Celebration week, more serving, stirring up buzz, etc.Saturday PMPass out water.SundayAttend Lamson Road. Help with their serviceFree Time (Community Event week. This is dependent upon a lot of factors.)Celebration Service.Recap dinnerMondayDepart for home.Remember, these are only ideas. There are a lot of ideas we can dream up or steal from otherchurches. Oh, wait, borrow ideas. We’re not supposed to steal.
Other things you must know prior to committing...
We would like you to consider being a Partner Church, not just come to help. That means you recruit people from your church to be prayer partners for us and commit to giving to theongoing budget of The Bridge. If interested, we have more info about what it means to be aPartner Church.We have a few philosophies to serving we want those coming to be aware of:We do not intend to share the Gospel anywhere we have not previously served.We serve because we are converted. We do not serve to convert.We serve to show off a loving and serving God. We serve to open people’s hearts to hearthe Gospel. We do not serve to preach.We want to epitomize1 Peter 3:15-16. First, we set apart the Messiah as holy (I hope youhave already done that). Then, we be ready to give an answer of our hope to those who
 
ask. Then we always
 
answer with gentleness and respect. We will be ready toanswer...when asked, but not before.You will need to go through training prior to serving. This way you understand our CoreElements and will reflect the culture we want.
 
Some of this training will be before you even come. We recommend the group going through the book 
 
Guerilla Lovers
 
by Vince Antonnuci. This captures our servinphilosophy.Some of this training will be after you come. The first night's dinner will be a time wherewe will train you on our culture.I will be willing to come and do some training prior to you coming. It would greatlybenefit your team. However, you will need to pay for my expenses if you do this.We will work out when you need to arrive based on what you are doing.At our Community Events, our goal is to point them to our Launch Meetings and ourCelebration Services. At our Celebration Services, our goal is to point them to our LaunchMeetings and our Community Events. This is getting them prepared, through serving, tohear about Jesus.Really, what this is, is a modern day way of asking people to follow us. Jesus, when callinothers to follow him, put no obligation on them except to follow. Really, this is what we wantpeople to do...simply follow us. They will hear, see and ultimately (we hope) accept Jesus asthey follow.
What are the financial considerations to take into account? 
Transportation
For reference, to Baldwinsville, it is 17 hours
drive time
 
from Springfield, MO. It is 14 hours
drive time
 
from Harrisburg, IL. It is 19 hours
drive time
 
from Little Rock, AR. I suggest flying because it will give you the maximum time on the ground.Airfarewatchdog.com is a great place to receive updates for the lowest prices.Air Tran is the only "budget" airline to Syracuse.Rochester, NY has excellent deals on airfare (a lot of the time they are cheaper thanSyracuse) and is about 1.5 hours away. Check flying here before booking anything.Southwest Airlines goes to Buffalo, Albany (3 hours) and New York City (4-5 hours).We do not have the capability to transport a group of people. Make sure you make a rentalreservation for a van for the time you will be here.Gas in Central New York hovers around $2.75 per gallon.
Motel
Please do not count on us being able to come up with host homes for you. That probablywill be too much of a burden.There s a very nice motel in B'ville called The Red Mill Inn, but it will run $150 a room anight.We have a Microtel in B'ville. Rooms probably will go for $70 per room per night.There are other motels in the 5-10 minute range that we can get for around $80-100 a rooma night.These would be "going rates." Iwill work ongetting a "special deal."
 
Remember if you fill a room, the prices goes down per person. For instance, a $100 pernight room is $50 per person with two people and $25 per person with four people.
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