Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care

At its heart, the Bridgeway Pastoral Care Ministry is about being the hands and feet of Jesus. We desire to come alongside those in our congregation in their time of need — to love, support and encourage them when they’ve lost a loved one, or are dealing with a long-term illness, hospitalization or hospice situation, or other of life’s many challenges.

For more information about any of these ministries, please contact Pastor Mark Henkel.

BRIDGEWAY CHAPLAIN TEAM

The Bridgeway Chaplain Team provides emergency response for situations needing immediate care and support, such as an unexpected death or emergency hospitalization due to accident or illness. To request chaplain support, call the Chaplain Hotline at (916) 952-8887. If you reach voicemail, please leave a detailed message and someone will respond as soon as possible.

STEPHEN MINISTRY

Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one care ministry that equips and empowers lay caregivers—called Stephen Ministers—to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. At its core, Stephen Ministry is a ministry of presence—being with people to love, support, and encourage them through life’s difficult times.

VISITATION & TELECARE TEAM

The Visitation & Telecare Team provides short-term visitation support, primarily by phone, for those needing encouragement, spiritual support, and prayer. This team fills the gap between urgent calls appropriate for Chaplains and the formal, long-term caring relationship offered by Stephen Ministry. To request support, please fill out the Request Support form.

PASTORAL CARE TEAM

The Pastoral Care Team is available to meet with those who need short-term pastoral care in order to provide biblical counsel, a listening ear, prayer, and compassion. Please fill out the Contact Care & Compassion form and one of our care coordinators will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

CARDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TEAM

The Cards of Encouragement team sends cards and letters to those who are battling cancer and other illnesses, to help provide encouragement and comfort. Team members also pray faithfully for those who receive the cards. If someone loses their battle with illness, the team continues to send cards to the surviving family. For more information, contact cards@bridgeway.church.  To request Cards of Encouragement for yourself or someone else, please complete the Cards of Encouragement Request form.

MEALS MINISTRY

The Meals Ministry provides meals on a temporary, emergency basis for those who attend Bridgeway and are going through a time of need, such as the birth of a new baby, illness or hospitalization, or a death in the family. For more information contact meals@bridgewaychristian.org. To submit a request for meals, please complete the Meals Ministry Request Form.

GRIEFSHARE

It hurts deeply to lose someone. GriefShare is a support group designed to help those who have suffered the loss of a loved one through the grieving process and give them tools for rebuilding their lives. These groups have video-based teaching and are led by a trained facilitator. Those in GriefShare will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. For more information contact our GriefShare team

MEMORIAL SUPPORT MINISTRY

The Memorial Support Ministry seeks to come alongside those who are grieving the loss of a loved one and who need to plan a memorial service at Bridgeway. This team will assist with planning and hosting the reception after the memorial service. Our desire is to enable families to spend time with each other rather than in planning and hosting a reception.

Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one care ministry that equips and empowers lay caregivers — called Stephen Ministers — to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. Stephen Ministers are not counselors, mentors or pastors; they are men and women who understand the ministry of presence — being with people to love and support them through life’s difficult times.

To contact our Stephen Ministry team or to request care, choose from the options below.

We’re looking for men and women who love the Lord, who are gifted with compassion and mercy, who are great listeners, and who can keep confidences. Has God given you a heart of compassion for others? Consider becoming a Stephen Minister. Stephen Ministers receive 70 hours of in-depth training as well as ongoing continuing education and supervision.

Stephen Ministry Training begins in October of each year, and we accept applications through August.

To find out more, please complete the interest form.

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