Mark 1:29-39 Source of Strength

 

Jesus didn’t have to look far to find people in need of healing. They came to him. Mission opportunities can come like that to churches as well. Sometimes a person simply takes a trip home and returns with an opportunity for people to respond to human need. In 2005, Felix Molokwu, a member of Faith UCC in Union, NJ, went to visit an orphanage in his hometown of Awka, Nigeria. At the orphanage, he found great hardship and returned to his church with its story. From his trip grew many trips, support from more churches and a relationship between people across continents and cultures. A relationship and mission that has come to be called “Bridge of Faith.”

Many trips across the Atlantic have been realized since 2005, and new churches have signed on to help. In New Jersey, the UCC churches supporting this mission are Faith United Church of Christ in Union, and First Congregational Church of Verona. In Pennsylvania, St. John UCC in Riegelsville. Over the years, much has been brought to the people in Awka, like books, mosquito netting, and mattresses. Beyond books and school supplies they have installed a generator, visited lepers and been emissaries of love from American churches. A current project is the collecting of used sewing machines that will be sent to help start a sewing class.

This is a mission project that has grown and succeeded because of the indefatigable work of individuals who have worked with congregations to make it happen. If you’ve been to any of their sales you would see the booth selling African crafts with a sign that reads “Bridge of Faith.” The couple at the booth would be Doug Taylor and Marge Royle, long-time UCC members. They are the human battery pack that provides energy for this growing ministry, and selling these crafts is their main funding support for all the trips and materials they have gathered for Awka.

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We might think that it takes a big organization or a lot of money to cross such a long bridge between peoples, but that’s why this is called a “Bridge of Faith.” It is a bridge built by faith that what can be done will be done. Sometimes mission begins with a denominational effort like a General Synod resolution. Sometimes it begins with a committee in a congregation and sometimes it begins with the efforts of a person who looks at the world and asks, “What can we do?” If you want to find out more about Bridge of Faith go to: http://bridgeoffaithawka.wixsite.com/awka.

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Jesus didn’t have to look far to find people in need of healing. They came to him. Mission opportunities can come like that to churches as well. Sometimes a person simply takes a trip home and returns with an opportunity for people to respond to human need. In 2005, Felix Molokwu, a member of Faith UCC in Union, NJ, went to visit an orphanage in his hometown of Awka, Nigeria. At the orphanage, he found great hardship and returned to his church with its story. From his trip grew many trips, support from more churches and a relationship between people across continents and cultures. A relationship and mission that has come to be called “Bridge of Faith.”

​

Many trips across the Atlantic have been realized since 2005, and new churches have signed on to help. In New Jersey, the UCC churches supporting this mission are Faith United Church of Christ in Union, and First Congregational Church of Verona. In Pennsylvania, St. John UCC in Riegelsville. Over the years, much has been brought to the people in Awka, like books, mosquito netting, and mattresses. Beyond books and school supplies they have installed a generator, visited lepers and been emissaries of love from American churches. A current project is the collecting of used sewing machines that will be sent to help start a sewing class.

​

This is a mission project that has grown and succeeded because of the indefatigable work of individuals who have worked with congregations to make it happen. If you’ve been to any General Synod in the last few years and you went to visit the vendors you would have seen a booth selling African crafts with a sign that reads “Bridge of Faith.” The couple at the booth would be Doug Taylor and Marge Royle, long-time UCC members. They are the human battery pack that provides energy for this growing ministry, and selling these crafts is their main funding support for all the trips and materials they have gathered for Awka.

​

We might think that it takes a big organization or a lot of money to cross such a long bridge between peoples, but that’s why this is called a “Bridge of Faith.” It is a bridge built by faith that what can be done will be done. Sometimes mission begins with a denominational effort like a General Synod resolution. Sometimes it begins with a committee in a congregation and sometimes it begins with the efforts of a person who looks at the world and asks, “What can we do?” If you want to find out more about Bridge of Faith please contact us...