As churches are beginning to open up more in-person programs as the pandemic slows, it feels like new signs of life are beginning to show. Although the path forward is still filled with uncertainty, there is a common need that I keep hearing people mention: connection. As I teach women’s ministry classes at Harding, we’ve discussed the potential impact these programs can have for outreach. One consideration is how appealing events may be to those who are visiting. While women may attend any event with a friend, some are less intimidating than others. What we need to look for is common ground. Typical places of common ground are similar backgrounds, lifestyles, experiences, hobbies, and interests. While we don’t always think to use hobbies or fun activities in church to reach our neighbor, perhaps we should. Casual conversations can lead to deeper ones later. Unlike in previous generations when evangelism meant mainly teaching foundational truths, we now have another challenge: bad public opinion about Christianity. We must convince those we seek to reach that we are good people and that church is not intimidating. Just getting people through the doors to meet us and feel comfortable is important. This is where low-pressure, fun events can serve an important evangelistic function.

Due to the pandemic, however, the need to rebuild connection among our members is also at an all-time high. Many who are healthy enough to attend in person have fallen out of the habit of attending or have slowed their involvement. Others are just now venturing out and have desperately missed being around their fellow Christians. Because of these challenging circumstances, we find ourselves in an oddly similar situation with our members as we have had with our community – we need to help them through the door and help them feel comfortable at church. This is where “bridge events” are helpful.

Bridge events provide a comfortable place for people to interact with church members in a relaxed and inviting way. They also help visitors become comfortable in the church building. However, given the challenge of community that we face as we come out of the pandemic, they hold promise in helping our current church community as well.

At College Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas, the women’s ministry decided to give bridge events a try. We were unable to hold our annual women’s day event last August. I proposed a series of smaller, fun events to allow the women to get together monthly. Rising COVID numbers and a historic snowstorm caused delays, but in March, we were finally able to hold our first meeting, a painting event led by a well-known local art teacher and member. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Many of our older members had just become fully vaccinated and were ready to get out once again. We had anticipated that about 25 ladies would sign up, but the concept was met with excitement and we ended up with 65 in attendance! People were thrilled to see one another again, and for a few it was their first time back in the church building.

The event started smoothly as the teacher led everyone through the steps, reassuring them that there was no right way to do it. Another volunteer and I passed out some additional colors, and then the women began doing what I had hoped would happen. They started getting up from their chairs, walking around to look at each other’s paintings and having conversations. It was wonderful! We had a great time, and it felt like a little bit more life had been breathed into our congregation.

Every bit of community regained is huge right now. As often as possible, I have staffed a table in our foyer to advertise these events. It has been wonderful to provide a second layer of greeting, and inevitably there are little groups that stop to talk instead of leaving the building more quickly. I have explained to each one of my presenters that we are creating these events to redevelop community, and they immediately understood the significance. This is a way for them to use their passions and gifting to help a church that is trying to heal from the past year. Each lesson is taught from a Christian worldview with some spiritual connections made, but community building is the goal.

While our women’s ministry typically tries to provide events with deeper spiritual substance, right now we are just trying to help people feel comfortable together once again. At College Church, we have a number of visitors and members who joined during the pandemic, too, and this provides an opportunity for them to get to know others. It’s my hope that, once these events have served their purpose for community building within the congregation, that we can use what we have learned to build bridges with our community as well.