the bridge Markham Community Church - 2017-2018 Impact Report

GAT H E R // GROUP // GI VE // GO

I M PACT R EPORT 17/18

5440 16th Ave. Markham,ON, thebridgemarkham.com

a markham community church

Letter from Brian Childs LEAD PASTOR Have you ever wondered why you/we exist...why you’re here? Jesus tells us why, “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage (losing your place of influence). Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16 (MSG) Paul echoes Christ’s words, “Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God Himself willing and working at what will give Him the most pleasure. Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing.” Philippians 2:13-16 (MSG)

By God’s grace, we the bridge are a breath of fresh air to many. We are bringing out those God-flavours and those God-colours in the world. This is what we are all about. We create environments where life-giving connections are happening; connection with God, with self, with Christ’s family, and with our wonderful community. Through these connections, we are seeing people transformed and impacting the world.

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the bridge impact report 2017 - 2018

We’ve been busy in the past 18 months in the area of staffing, with some transitions and some additions. We have a new Worship & Creative Arts Pastor, a new Youth Pastor, a new Young Adults Pastor, a new Communications Pastor, a new Assistant Discipleship Pastor, and a new Care Pastor. Also, in the upcoming year, we are trusting God for a new Children’s Pastor, as Ruth Crawford is retiring. God is leading, and God is providing. Our church is so blessed!

We have been tasked by God, and by you, to create these environments where these life-giving and life-transforming connections are being made. Our job is reflected in Ephesians 4:11-16. This scripture contains our job description, to ready all in the bridge family for “works of ministry”. Together, all of us are building church where Jesus shines, and we all grow.

It truly is a season of renewal! An area that continues to bring stable and gifted leadership is at the Board level. All of our last year’s team will be back, save for Jen Dickens. We express thanks to Jen for serving faithfully on the Board.

Take a look at the next page, get a sense as to who does what, and why. Come, be an even greater part and let’s all grow together!

Even greater things ahead!

Brian Childs

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The Staff Brian Childs Lead Pastor

Karen Heppner Pastor of Discipleship Connection Pathway LifeGroups

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Samuel Mills Executive Pastor

Anna Anandarajan Pastor of Care Ministries

Ruth Crawford Pastor of Children’s Ministry

Jeff Boadway Pastor of Worship & Creative Arts

Sam Chung Pastor of Young Adult Ministries

Roderick Cohen Pastor of Youth Ministries

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Cynthia Yoon Director of Administration

Earl James Pastor of Communications

Emily James Assistant Pastor of Discipleship

Taryn Henry-Prospere Media Designer

Mark Raymer Facilities Coordinator

Giselle Albi Bookkeeper

Volunteer Engagement and Host Ministries

Deborah Childs Office Coordinator Director of OnMission

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the bridge impact report 2017 - 2018

Our Mission

Connecting people with God, each other and our world.

ER H

GR

The

UP O

GA T

Our Strategy G

O

VE

4G’s GI

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824

Total Average Weekend Attendance 2.5% increase from previous year

607

38

Total Average Weekly Fearless Attendance

Total Average Adults

59

Total Average Weekly Vibe Attendance

146

Total Average Children

41

Total Average Weekly Vibe AMPED Attendance

30

Total Average Weekly Young Adult Attendance

We Gather

When we gather we get a big picture of God and see ourselves in the context of that story. It brings clarity and an expanded vision of God’s purposes.

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1401

Christmas Eve Attendance

1132

Good Friday Attendance

1331

Easter Sunday Attendance

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9 Sermon Series Our pastoral staff and guest speakers walked us through 9 different sermon series throughout the year.

Which one resonated with you the most?

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130

People attended the This Is Us Marriage Seminar

21 Baptisms

69

People attended the Crisis Intervention and Prevention Seminar

202 Connection Cards submitted

500

Cups of coffee served each Sunday the bridge impact report 2017 - 2018

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Gatherings

for every generation.

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140-180 Kids every Sunday

Curriculum that provides powerful age-appropriate bible teaching Ages

Grades

2-5

1-5

themes

God MADE me.

themes

God LOVES me.

God wants to be my FRIEND forever.

God is KING.

God’s got a PLAN.

Jesus came to find and to SAVE what was lost.

100 Kids participated

in the 2017 Christmas presentation: “What’s the deal with Christmas”

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130

youth reached weekly with the gospel

13

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4

youth retreats

2 2

youth leader retreats

all-nighters

1 the bridge impact report 2017 - 2018

christmas banquet 14

Over

40

Young Adults gather every week

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weekly

pick-up sports

weekly YA. Nights

regular

social events

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We

Group

LifeGroups are the great partner to the Gathering and are big church made small. We do life together.

56% of adults in

LifeGroups

322

individuals in groups

33 +4

+100

lifegroups

42 17

kids!

new groups

lifegroup leaders

+9 new leaders

8

volunteers executed LifeGroup ministry as members of the highly invested LifeGroup Cohort. the bridge impact report 2017 - 2018

Group

Connect

We offer everyone the opportunity to connect to a LifeGroup through our Group Connect experience.

Target number of new connections:

60

Actual number of new connections:

135

Summer Group Connect Attendance

71

“Joining a LifeGroup has been a life-changing experience for me. After our first group meeting, I instantly felt like I belonged to something amazing.

Our group discussions have assisted with my spiritual growth. I read more scripture, and I find myself reflecting on the sermon all week long.�

- Sarah

Next Steps

Groups

Next Steps is all about orientation to both faith and community, and are another connection point to engagement at the bridge.

starting point A CONVERSATION ABOUT FAITH

15

attendees

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86

attendees

79

attendees

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youth bridge

vibe & fearless

13

Each week small group leaders commit to journeying alongside a group of youth here at the bridge.

95%

of LifeGroup leaders attended development sessions.

YA 4

bridge young adults

groups connected 19

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re tir em en t

su pp or t bi rth

lo ss

fa m ily

eq ui p

ad di ct io n

m ar ria ge

di vo rc e

fa ith

re co ve r fin an ce s

di sc ov er

in fe rti lit y

77

2017 - 2018 Seasonal Groups

people journeyed through seasonal groups for 6 - 13 weeks.

14

Divorce Care Grief Care Remarriage and Blended Families

Emotional Healing Stress and Anxiety Life’s Healing Choices Anger Management Total Money Makeover

leaders led our seasonal groups.

30

people from the community attended our new Surviving the Holidays for Grief Care & Divorce Care seasonal event.

3

new seasonal groups added.

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23

Prayer partners meet weekly (Wednesday and Sunday) to pray for the ministries of the church and the needs of the church family.

20-25

Care connections (phone call, visitations and meal delivery, etc.) take place each week by a team of 13 volunteers.

We

95

Give

passionate leaders serve in Kidzone!

Give is the outflow of our time, talent, and treasure – our finances. It is giving out of the abundance God has given to us.

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summer students worked a total of 2880 hours in the areas of children’s and youth ministry.

5

new worship team musicians

6

new production technicians

6

new set design members

bridge worship served over 324 hours in planning and rehearsals to prepare for 108 unique gathering services.

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350

People are serving in ministry

102

volunteers serving in Host ministry

103

Youth Take Over

Twice this year, in February and July the youth took over the Sunday morning servces. They led the church in worship, served as greeters, ushers and even ran the operations for the Hub. Be on the lookout!

These young people serve regularly in many of our ministries!

volunteers serving in LifeGroup ministry

1000

Young adults gave over

hours of helping with set-up, tear-down, food prep, pro presenter, audio/visual, social media, events, etc.

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Financial Update Tim Jenkins - Chair of Budget Committee; Board Member

Our vision at the bridge is of transformed people impacting their world in Christ. It has been another great year here at the bridge, both in ministry and financially. We celebrate and praise God for what He has done and provided.

This year our income increased by $184,000 over 2016/17 and we ended the year with total income in excess of expenses by $240,000 while investing in a number of growing ministries. This surplus was used to pay down the existing mortgage and on expenditures required to complete the upcoming land sale.

New giving methods were introduced within the last year that allow for more convenient and cost effective giving. Our current giving options include our on-line and mobile app Pushpay, debit machine, pre-authorized debit, donation of stocks and bonds, and cash and cheque.

We have also been encouraged by the number of first-time and repeat givers that have partnered with us in this fiscal year.

Financial results are reviewed by the Board at each monthly board meeting, providing oversight on the financial health of the church. The Board and

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the bridge impact report 2017 - 2018

Finance Committee also work very closely with the staff in the development of the annual budget to ensure each ministry is resourced with the funds required to achieve their annual ministry plans. The 2018/19 balanced budget was recently completed and approved by the Board.

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank you, the membership and congregation of the bridge, for your continued generosity, support and partnership. 93% of our income comes from your faithful giving which enables us to expand the message of God’s love and truth throughout Markham and around the world. I would also like to thank the staff and Board for their continued stewardship over the resources of the church and for managing the day-to-day operations of the bridge. Together, we continue to make an impact, connecting people with God, each other and the world.

We rejoice together on the year that was and we are excited to see what God has planned for us in the year ahead.

2017/2018 Expenses $1,579,00

2017/2018 Income $1,819,00

Giving Methods as % of Income

*For more informaition on giving options visit www.thebridgemarkham.com/give

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We Go

Going is the permeation of everything around us with the love of Jesus. Going is love in action. Going is engaging, being with, influencing, taking the initiative and being equipped to serve the world.

making a difference wherever we are

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250+

people served with Out of the Cold and the SHARE food drive.

Weekly

$15,500 worth of food items were donated to the Markham Food Bank during the SHARE summer food drive.

$14,000

raised Good Friday and given to our community partners.

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11

6

th

team to Haiti

th

team to Dominican Republic

1175

We sponsored a refugee family of

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7

to Canada.

shoeboxes were collected as part of Operation Christmas Child.

We supported Full-time missionaries

Supported short-term missions to Indonesia, Singapore, and within Ontario this past summer.

Joanna Yee

Toronto Youth for Christ

Ashley Chan

Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship

Vanessa Mitchell Toronto Youth for Christ

Steinfield Family Spain

Kenisha Paradys Dominican Republic

Asha Chan Cambodia

Sayers Family South Africa 27

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55+

family units were blessed through Christmas Cheer in December 2017.

$14,500+

15

volunteers mobilized Christmas Cheer!

worth of gifts was raised and more than 150 people participated by sponsoring gifts.

70+

New initiative with Kin Village where

The number of times LifeGroups served OnMission.

40

people were welcomed and accompanied to our ‘Family Luau’ by

12 Young Adults

24

Youth and Young Adults went to Dominican Republic.

70+

Young adults gather on Monday, Tuesday and Friday for pick-up sports each week. the bridge impact report 2017 - 2018

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600

kids and their families and friends attended the 2018 Family Luau during March Break

215

kids explored how Jesus rescues us through life’s storms at “Shipwrecked” Adventure Bible Camp.

29

200

kids attended camps in partnership with Onside Athletics and Muskoka Woods.

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Building/Property Report Kevin Aide - Chair of the Building Project Committee; Board Member Building Project It’s with patience and purpose that the Building Committee continues to work hard moving the building expansion project God’s Purpose from a vision toward reality. It’s hard to believe that we’ve been God’s Principles working at it for over 18 months. Ultimately, and eventually, we God’s People will end up with a building that will serve God’s purposes amongst we who are the bridge, and the community that we God’s Program serve. Patience is an attribute that we’ve had to learn as we’ve God’s Property waited for 6 months for the City to provide official comments on the Site Plan Application that we submitted in March. This was longer than we expected but we have now received all the comments and are working to incorporate them. The committee met recently to discuss proposed changes to the building design that incorporate feedback from the urban design group, who wanted to see more of the church building fronting onto 16th Avenue, making it more pedestrian attractive. the bridge staff have been playing a very central role in helping the committee understand both the function and the form of our future build.

As you pray for the building project, please pray for: 1. Wisdom for the Committee, staff and the Board who are involved in providing input and making directional decisions. While we are blessed for the income from the pending sale of a portion of our property, we still need to work within certain fiscal constraints and parking requirements.

2. Glenn, our Architect, who takes ideas and turns them into a design that conforms to City requirements.

3. Favour with the City as we move forward with variance requests related to parking.

Property Sale The last of the details related to sale of the property are being completed and we’re hoping that the deal will close before the end of 2018. The church will have use of the office pavilion space until the end of December and then on a month-by-month basis until needed by Andrin.

The church has also negotiated the continued use of the driveway and parking spaces on the severed land until Andrin starts their development. At such time, the bridge will be relocating those spots back to our retained property and Andrin will relocate the driveway at their expense. Andrin has made the office pavilion and the parking spots on the severed lands available to us at no cost.

The proceeds of the property sale will allow us to fully pay off all our current loans. The remaining funds will be invested in appropriate investment vehicles suitable for the needs of the church as it moves forward with its building project and its “vision fund”.

We are thankful for the opportunity for growth that God has provided and are excited for what He has in store for the future of the bridge. Thank you for journeying with us and praying with us.

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StoriImpact es of

From around the bridge

“I have been part of a group for 8 years now and friendships, spiritual maturity, and life support have resulted from this.”

-Chris

“The openness and authenticity of a relatively new member confirmed that our group is a safe place.”

“Church ball isn’t like the other ball runs we go to. We actually get to meet and connect with new people and hear their stories. There’s always great competition, it’s just positive vibes all around; plus we get pizza once in a while which is blessed.”

“Through our LifeGroup, we’ve built deeper roots that can withstand storms, authentic relationships with each other, focusing on our relationships as a couple, and continue to nourish the living world around us. ‘Life’ in the word LifeGroup has truly been experienced within our group through three weddings, new jobs, a baptism, and a Permanent Resident approval!"

- Michael and Tammy Thielmann LG leaders “The atmosphere is warm and not overwhelming. The environment is inviting and there is no judging.”

“After only a few weeks, the bridge feels like home.”

"Starting Point was just that, a safe, confidential place for me to explore God and faith, something which I never grew up with. Liz and Keith were accepting, encouraging and open to any thoughts or questions I had.”

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the bridge impact report 2017 - 2018

“This has been an incredible journey so far. God has brought purpose to my life and I no longer feel alone. I’m very happy that I signed up for the Starting Point – here I got to know more about Christianity and Jesus. The couples Lifegroup is also amazing. I knew I wanted to be baptized as soon there was an announcement for it but I was concerned that I was not good enough or whether I should wait a bit longer. But I was baptized in November. My faith has been growing stronger as I got to learn more about God. I’m very excited to know what I can do for the church and what the future has in store for me.”

As a prayer partner at the bridge I have seen the impact of prayer in people's lives! It’s a blessing to see people moved by the Holy Spirit coming forward in humility, being vulnerable and transparent. It always gives me joy to see people surrendering their lives to Christ and receiving Him as their saviour after a service.

Tony Resendez

the bridge was unlike any church I had been to and I felt no pressure or judgment; something I was preparing for. I felt comfortable taking the next step, Discover the bridge, and then did Starting Point, which turned everything around. All of a sudden, I wanted to rebuild our marriage, with God as the foundation. It's a strange feeling, going from not believing to believing, but it's the best feeling I've ever had, and it's given me the passion to help others, just as those in the bridge have saved me.

Marc Lamirande

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T H AN K YO U FOR BEI NG TRANSFORMED PE O P LE IM PACT ING OUR WORLD THROUGH JESUS.

a markham community church 5440 16th Ave. Markham,ON, thebridgemarkham.com

G AT H E R / / GR OUP / / GIV E / / GO

I M PA CT R E P ORT 17/18