Monthly Missions Focus, October 2020

Bridges International

Ministry Report

Through the last nine months, Bridges significantly increased our online presence through a website, a podcast, producing videos, and hosting our events on Zoom. Both in expected and unexpected ways, we’ve seen this become an important part of what we do and increase our ability to connect with students and former students who are all around the world. We’ve also been invited virtually into classes at the English Language Institute to connect with new students there, which has brought some rich relationships!

God is moving

Last week we held our first “hybrid” Bible study where we gathered some students for a campfire while still hosting on Zoom as well. After the lesson, we had an impromptu conversation with some students about what it meant to love your enemies, and somebody on the Zoom call spoke up. He’s a former student from India currently living in California, and we had connected with him maybe once or twice before - some of us didn’t even remember him at all! He had randomly joined the Zoom study that night and was impacted by the conversation we were having. He shared with us that he comes from a Christian background in India but had never taken God seriously before, and as he talked with Chris, they agreed to set up a time to connect further and talk about his story and his relationship with God. Even though being online has its challenges, we’ve been amazed at the improbable and amazing connections God has given us - even all the way in California!

Prayer Request

Our biggest need in this area is those student connections, both old and new. Whether it’s on Zoom or students listening to our podcast or watching our videos, sometimes online relationships can be fickler than in-person ones.

Pray

Lord, we want to be face-to-face with those you have brought to Bridges. Our experience has told us that is where the richest relationships are grown, but whether through distance or disease, we find ourselves having to go through the internet to meet students. At the same time, we have seen you overcome these barriers and create meaningful connections where there were none, so we ask that you would continue to create important conversations, community, and transformative moments in the lives of students through our website, over Zoom, and through our videos and podcasts. Please open opportunities and sustain gospel friendships as we seek to be faithful in new ways. Amen.