Welcome to the Family Kent Hillman & Jasmine Gasaway!!!

This weekend we had the pleasure of welcoming Kent Hillman and Jasmine Gasaway into the Family of God!  Both have been involved with the Student Ministry of Life Bridge, and have benefited from the relationships built there and activities such as MOVE.

Welcome to the Family, Faith Briggs!

This week Faith Briggs was baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of her sin and received the free gift of the Holy Spirit!  Faith had been baptized as a baby and raised in faith, but had never chosen for herself to give her life to Christ as we see repeatedly in the New Testament… buried with Christ in death and raised to a new life (Romans 6:4).  Her and her friends celebrated with bacon (and other breakfast foods, like waffles!) at 10pm after her baptism!

If you see Faith at church, welcome her to the Family.

If you find that you relate to Faith and desire to understand more of what the Bible says about entering this renewing relationship with Jesus, check the box “Becoming a Christian” on your Connect Card on Sunday or email Builders@ImagineLifeDifferently.com.  We would love to talk with you.

Crazy Changes

The past few months have challenged us as we walked through "Crazy Love."  Chan has challenged us through God's Word to stretch far beyond what we considered "normal" Christian living.  In fact, we've learned to see "normal" as "lukewarm" and learned to see "crazy" as the new normal.  The changes is starting to show.

Rick Garza (2/17/13)

Congratulations Rick!

Family Becomes Family

It's always a joy to watch someone make the decision to join God, receive His Grace, and walk with Him.  This week has brought a special joy to my heart.  I've watched families bringing their family to God's family.

I'm Ready

"I'm Ready."  I could tell by the look in his eye that he meant it.  Getting to this point was a lifelong process.  In recent years, Dennis had been actively asking his friends more questions and reconciling his life-story with the picture of a loving God.  Now, he was ready to accept the Grace that God offers each one of us and the powerful gift of His Spirit.  He was ready to be baptized.

The Family Continues to Grow

Luke Hilzley (Center Front)

I'd like to introduce you to our new brother in Christ, Luke Hilzley!

On Saturday October 27th, we joined with 4 generations of family and friends to witness Luke's decision to walk with God.

Luke has been learning about God under the tutelage of his parents, Skip and Cheryl Hilzley, and Life Bridge. 

Congratulations Hilzley family!  Keep on walking with God and encouraging one another along the way! 

Welcome to the Family!

On Saturday October 13th, we had a splashing good time down at Kouts Christian Church, as we baptized Cheyenne & Trenton Smith.

Early on in Life Bridge's history we had the honor of baptizing Chey and Trenton's parents, Matt and Denise.  Deb Warren, mom and grandmother, celebrated the new lives in Jesus both then and now!

Eleven

I only have one God sighting this week, but it lasted all week long.  It still lingers in my head and continues to drive my 16+ hour days and ministry to each person I encounter.  It has to do with the number eleven.

Last week, as we were finishing our outreach at the Porter County Fair, I received a call from an old friend who used to attend Life Bridge before moving away years ago.  He was asking for a favor.  "A good friend of mine just lost his 11 month old little girl to leukemia.  They don't go to church or have a pastor.  Would you be willing to do the funeral?"  How could I say no?  The funeral was set for Monday morning at 11am.  I prayed and prayed during my preparation for this funeral, not knowing what to say.  I trusted that God would provide.

Then Traci told me about a text that she received.  "Brianna wants to be baptized!"  Brianna is an 11 year old girl who spends the summer here with her mom.  Her summer was coming to an end this week.  Before leaving to go home to her dad's house, she wanted to be baptized this week...on Monday.

The number eleven seemed strangely popping up all over the place: 11 months old, 11 o'clock, 11 years old.  It took my mind to another significant time when the number eleven was important: eleven apostles.  Don't get me wrong.  I know that Jesus chose twelve apostles, but one of them ended up betraying him for money.  Judas wasn't really a follower of Jesus.  He was a follower of self.  It cost him his life and, most probably, his eternity.  The other eleven, though, remained faithful.  They wavered, but repented of those sins.  They held on to their faith in Christ all the way to the end of their lives.  They will spend eternity together with Him.

It was then that I knew what to say.  I knew what Monday was to be all about.  It was a day to celebrate life.  Family and friends at the funeral heard about life, were encouraged to hear that their little girl was enjoying life with Him, and were encouraged to join her in walking with Him.  They heard that they can get together with her again at the "family reunion" someday if they will turn to God through Jesus Christ and accept life everlasting.

I went home, changed clothes, and went to the lake to baptize Brianna.  Once again, we celebrated life.  "Why do you want to be baptized?" I asked her.  "To wash my sins away and receive the Holy Ghost," she answered.  We talked some more.  She understood what it meant to receive life everlasting and the power to live life to the fullest today.  We went into the water and her mom and I baptized her together.  We celebrated life.

As the evening progressed and we continued with tasks like cleaning up after the Porter County Fair, planning the next sermon series, coordinating activities with the team, it all had a different perspective for me.  I saw God working in and through those activities a little more.  I saw people working together to bring life to the world around us.  I saw God at work.

The rest of the week has been filled with long hours, many phone calls, texts, and emails.  None of it has worn me out.  I find myself energized by Him - desiring to reach people for Him and bring them new life.  I don't want to be like the one who turned away from Him, betrayed Him, and then chose death.  No, I will be like the eleven: choosing to follow Christ, turn back to him when I fall, and spending all my time living the abundant life.

Two New Brothers - One Great Day

"I'm ready to be baptized."  That was his statement.  Doug had read all the Scriptures and wanted to accept Jesus as his Savior and Lord.  He wanted to go down into the waters and have his sins "washed away."  He was ready.

We met at lake Wauhob, walked past the bluegill and minnow, and baptized him into Christ. What a great day!  

But, he wasn't alone.

Chris was in a completely different place.  He was experiencing God at a Christ in Youth conference in Holland, Michigan.  He had been wrestling with the desire to be baptized for over a year now.  They had a swimming pool there.  "Look, there's water!  What's to prevent me from going now?"  It was time.

Two new brothers.

One great day.

Imagine life differently.

A New Sister

They met for an hour at a table in the cafe.  
She decided it was time.  Kim Jacobs wanted to be baptized.  
Traci shared the news with our small group.  
Kim took her son home to tuck him into bed.  
We drove down to Kouts.  We got a new sister in Christ!  
Congratulations Kim!  Welcome to the family!!!