Last year was such a great year for The Bridge Ministry, and we want to thank all of you that have given your time and money to make it successful! In 2011, the Bridge Ministry was able to provide approximately 1.2 million pounds of produce and non-perishable food items, along with serving approximately 25,000 hot meals to the poor under the Jefferson Street Bridge. In addition, 11,000 snacks and meals were provided to underprivileged school children in our Food for Kids program. Also, 65 orphans and school children were housed and educated in the Candy House in Port Au Prince, Haiti. Also, our Christmas service under the Bridge was our largest crowd to date with approximately 1,200 people in attendance! We were able to give away 800 sleeping bags, hats, scarves, gloves, toys, and candy to all of the underprivileged that joined us. We are so excited to see what the Lord has in store for us in 2012, and pray that with your continued support we will see more lives changed than ever before! Together we can make a difference!

I don’t know how it happened…this compelling commitment I mean. I know why I began volunteering at the Bridge, but I didn’t realize I would be addicted to The Bridge. October 2010 I had been out of “real” work” for several months. “Real” work to me is a steady paycheck. I stepped out on faith to begin my own business as etiquette coach, travelling to colleges and universities and sharing valuable tools for success with students. I had been told I was very good at what I did and now I thought leaving my seven year 9 to 5 would be what God would have me do.

Although I was paid well for my college sessions, this was not a year-round job, so I found myself without income and falling behind on mortgage and bills. I began looking for real work, and nothing was breaking for me. I began to question God and my own choices. I had been attending Oasis Church in Nashville for about a year and knew they had several outreach ministries. Rather than sit home I decided to ride in the church van to the Bridge to perform our assigned task, pick up trash before and after the service. Our group of 8 to 10 people each week walked throughout the grounds with our plastic bags and trash picker-uppers and prepared The Bridge for chair placement. I was good at picking up trash and couldn’t believe that I was now feeling significant.

At that time, there were not enough people to work the food trucks handing food to our friends, so Pastor Jennifer asked if I would help. I had no idea how much joy I would feel as I handed hot plates of food to grateful hands. I was hooked! How sweet and unpretentious these precious people are! I was blessed to just be a part of this incredible operation, The Bridge Ministry. I made friends with our guests and realized just how easily I could have been on the other side of that table having a plate of food handed to me, see I was still unemployed. My eyes teared up often in gratitude.

I sincerely believe I have seen Jesus walking through the crowd at The Bridge – and more than once. No seriously! One time I saw a man who, after we had served the majority of our friends, just walked past our table and through or “into” the crowd of guests. Then I didn’t see him again. I cannot tell you anything about him other than his countenance was “different” from any guest or any volunteer. I can see him in my spirit right now, and my heart warms. This man was Caucasian. The second time I knew I saw Jesus I was assisting in the clothing give-away after the food and church service. A beautiful black-skinned man with light brown eyes, held up a shirt to inspect it. I casually asked, “Think it will fit?” He said, “I just have to maintain my dignity.” Then he looked at me with his piercing brown eyes as he carefully folded that shirt. All I could do was was nod! I have not seen either of these men since. But they both have left indelible impressions on my heart. The Lord said, “When you do it unto the least of these you do it unto Me.”

I’ve been serving at the Bridge Ministry every Tuesday (except two) since September 2010. I have fab “real” job now too! The Lord blessed me with an incredible job that has great benefits and allows me flexibility to be the entrepreneur that I am. I schedule my available travel dates around Tuesdays. Thank you Candy, for your obedience and allowing me an opportunity to be what “ministry” is really all about!

Denise Marcia
Oasis Church, Nashville

Recently Candy Christmas was interviewed nationally on Fox News about feeding the homeless of Nashville, TN through the Bridge Ministry.

Direct link to the YouTube video: http://youtu.be/KIjX-fT9roU

Over the years, The Bridge Ministry’s path has crossed with many individuals who have suffered catastrophic events in their lives. One such person was a gunner in the Vietnam war who has turned to alcohol because of the guilt he feels for his actions during his military service. We see God working in the lives of these individuals weekly and ask that you lift them up in your prayers. We also ask that you remember the “Candy House” in Haiti which feeds and educates 65 children. Lastly, we ask that you continue to pray for each Tuesday night under the Bridge as the need grows and our crowd multiplies.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2, NIV)

Several churches and groups have come forward this year to sponsor the food for a Tuesday and we are so grateful! Each Tuesday it costs us $1,500.00-$1,800.00 to supply our friends with groceries and around $2,500.00 to feed them a hot meal. If your church would like to sponsor the food for an evening, either through cooking the meal or giving a monetary donation to cover a portion of the cost, please contact our office.

“If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:10, ESV)