The Bridge Fellowship
Encyclopedia
The Bridge Fellowship is a non-denominational, independent church fellowship in Kernersville, North Carolina
(officially incorporated as "The Bridge Fellowship, Inc.", previously as "Calvary Chapel of the Triad, Inc." in 2003, with the new name adopted in November 2010, and officially changed in January 2011).
study conducted by the current Senior Pastor, David T. McGee. Following much of the philosophy of ministry and distinctive style David had experienced in many of the Calvary Chapel
churches he had ministered in, he began teaching the Bible verse-by-verse. He started in Genesis (Old Testament) on Thursday nights, and started with Matthew
(New Testament) on Sunday mornings. The fellowship grew and moved out of the McGee home October 2003 into a 1600 sq. ft. storefront at 1210 East Mountain St. in Kernersville, NC. Growing to three services per Sunday, they moved into 16,000 sq. ft. of a former factory facility at 365 West Bodenhamer Street in 2004, expanded into the entire 37,000 sq. ft. of that facility in 2005, and for the third time expanding to three Sunday services in late 2009, they purchased and remodeled the 80,000 sq. ft. former Dudley Products, Inc. manufacturing facility in 2010, and began holding services there on October 31, 2010.
The service begins with approximately 30 minutes of loud, enthusiastic, and contemporary worship music similar to what is played on Contemporary Christian Music
radio stations. (David McGee has released two prior albums, and the church has released one CD) This is followed by several minutes of announcements and a short time to greet others and drop offerings in the offering boxes. Then the main event is David McGee teaching verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter through the Bible, concluding with a challenge to personally apply the teaching to the listener's life.
and radio
programs annually that are broadcast
through the "Cross The Bridge" ministry. Also heavily advertised is their "Prayer for the Lost" ministry that allows believers to submit the first names of their loved ones to be distributed to hundreds of people that, in turn, pray for their salvation
.
Informal "come as you are" dress.
Warm friendly people who are on a journey together to learn how to live the way God intended.
A children's ministry that teaches little ones on their level.
Benevolence for those in need.
Biblical counselling for those who are in need of sound Biblical advice.
A cafe so you can get a beverage.
Strong community service involvement.
Multi-media plays a large role in both internal and outreach ministries in the church.
Multiple annual "Big Events" for the community.
Kernersville, North Carolina
Kernersville is a town in Forsyth County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 17,126 at the 2000 census. In 2007 the U.S. Census estimated the town's population at 22,309. Kernersville is located at the heart of the Piedmont Triad metropolitan area, which consists of the cities...
(officially incorporated as "The Bridge Fellowship, Inc.", previously as "Calvary Chapel of the Triad, Inc." in 2003, with the new name adopted in November 2010, and officially changed in January 2011).
Brief History
The fellowship began around October 2002 as a home BibleBible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
study conducted by the current Senior Pastor, David T. McGee. Following much of the philosophy of ministry and distinctive style David had experienced in many of the Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel is an evangelical association of Christian churches with over one thousand congregations worldwide. Calvary Chapel also maintains a number of radio stations around the world and operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College programs. It presents itself as a "fellowship of...
churches he had ministered in, he began teaching the Bible verse-by-verse. He started in Genesis (Old Testament) on Thursday nights, and started with Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
(New Testament) on Sunday mornings. The fellowship grew and moved out of the McGee home October 2003 into a 1600 sq. ft. storefront at 1210 East Mountain St. in Kernersville, NC. Growing to three services per Sunday, they moved into 16,000 sq. ft. of a former factory facility at 365 West Bodenhamer Street in 2004, expanded into the entire 37,000 sq. ft. of that facility in 2005, and for the third time expanding to three Sunday services in late 2009, they purchased and remodeled the 80,000 sq. ft. former Dudley Products, Inc. manufacturing facility in 2010, and began holding services there on October 31, 2010.
Services
The sanctuary service format is very simple:- Worship Time
- Announcements and Greet & Give Time
- Teaching of the Bible, considered God's Holy Word
The service begins with approximately 30 minutes of loud, enthusiastic, and contemporary worship music similar to what is played on Contemporary Christian Music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
radio stations. (David McGee has released two prior albums, and the church has released one CD) This is followed by several minutes of announcements and a short time to greet others and drop offerings in the offering boxes. Then the main event is David McGee teaching verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter through the Bible, concluding with a challenge to personally apply the teaching to the listener's life.
Teaching
Independent reviews of Pastor David McGee's teaching call it "phenomenal" and "spell-binding". David McGee's teachings are streamed live on the iCampus portion of their web site and extensively archived in their entirety. In addition, the church produces hundreds of televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
programs annually that are broadcast
Broadcast
Broadcast or Broadcasting may refer to:* Broadcasting, the transmission of audio and video signals* Broadcast, an individual television program or radio program* Broadcast , an English electronic music band...
through the "Cross The Bridge" ministry. Also heavily advertised is their "Prayer for the Lost" ministry that allows believers to submit the first names of their loved ones to be distributed to hundreds of people that, in turn, pray for their salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
.
Church Atmosphere
Other features of the fellowship include:Informal "come as you are" dress.
Warm friendly people who are on a journey together to learn how to live the way God intended.
A children's ministry that teaches little ones on their level.
Benevolence for those in need.
Biblical counselling for those who are in need of sound Biblical advice.
A cafe so you can get a beverage.
Strong community service involvement.
Multi-media plays a large role in both internal and outreach ministries in the church.
Multiple annual "Big Events" for the community.