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Walking up to a pizza stand with her children at a downtown arena in Nashville, she looks just past the server to observe the menu options before ordering two slices of pepperoni. “Miss Candy!” the server cries, looking at her. With a questioning look, she gazes back at the server. “Don’t you recognize me, Miss Candy?” says the server with an excited smile. “I have a job...I’m doing well...I had my baby...you know me. We met under the bridge.” This isn’t the first time such an event has taken place for Candy Christmas. In fact, some of the most precious people in her life are those she has met under the Jefferson Street Bridge in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, over the past fourteen years. A few years earlier, Candy left the road as a recording artist, something she had been doing since the age of 13 when she recorded her first album with her family’s group, The Hemphills. As part of this legendary southern gospel group, Candy became one of the genre’s most respected singers, garnering six GMA Dove Awards in addition to her own Dove as a member of the group Heirloom. She was also nominated for Contemporary Album of the Year in 1984 for her solo recording Heart Afire as she followed in the musical footsteps of her immediate family and aunt Vestal Goodman. Read More |
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The Three Phases of The Bridge Ministry:
Church Under the Bridge
Every Tuesday at 6 p.m. under the Jefferson Street bridge, The Bridge Ministry serves between 350 to 500 poor and homeless individuals. We provide a hot meal, distribute 15,000 pounds of groceries, hygiene items, and clothing, to every guest in attendance. In addition to meeting natural needs, The Bridge Ministry also meets spiritual needs by ministering the Gospel in Word and song.
Bridge to Kids
In addition to children’s programing under the bridge on Tuesday nights, The Bridge Ministry provides weekend food bags for food insecure and homeless children. During the 2016-17 school year, we partnered with 20 schools and aftercare programs to feed 1,100 children each week. Over the summer, we were in 21 programs and fed 1,780 children each week. For the 2017-18 school year, we have partnered with over 30 schools and aftercare programs and are feeding 2,300 children each week.
Bridge to You
The Bridge Ministry partners with over a dozen local ministries, who need support, that have outreaches in their communities, by assisting them with food, clothing and hygiene items.
Church Under the Bridge
Every Tuesday at 6 p.m. under the Jefferson Street bridge, The Bridge Ministry serves between 350 to 500 poor and homeless individuals. We provide a hot meal, distribute 15,000 pounds of groceries, hygiene items, and clothing, to every guest in attendance. In addition to meeting natural needs, The Bridge Ministry also meets spiritual needs by ministering the Gospel in Word and song.
Bridge to Kids
In addition to children’s programing under the bridge on Tuesday nights, The Bridge Ministry provides weekend food bags for food insecure and homeless children. During the 2016-17 school year, we partnered with 20 schools and aftercare programs to feed 1,100 children each week. Over the summer, we were in 21 programs and fed 1,780 children each week. For the 2017-18 school year, we have partnered with over 30 schools and aftercare programs and are feeding 2,300 children each week.
Bridge to You
The Bridge Ministry partners with over a dozen local ministries, who need support, that have outreaches in their communities, by assisting them with food, clothing and hygiene items.