Three strands initiative

Together we will

  • Payoff the current mortgage on the Kytle Street facility, freeing resources to meet the larger challenges and opportunities
  • Pursue the purchase of the Dahlonega Campus facilities
  • Renovate additional space at the Dahlonega Campus for use as a state-licensed daycare and pre-school
  • Pursue the launch of a daycare which will provide additional revenue to fund ministry, church planting, and help the Dahlonega Campus become self-sustaining
  • Perform required 10-year maintenance to the Cleveland Campus fire system water tank
  • Provide much needed salary and support for El Puente pastor and/or staff
  • Refresh Cleveland Campus interior (paint, flooring, cafe chairs, etc.)

WHy now

The current lease for our Dahlonega campus expires in June 2026. The property owner has expressed a clear preference to sell rather than continue leasing, and despite extensive searching, we have found no alternative facility in the area capable of accommodating our growing congregation of 150 and the momentum we are experiencing. Because we hold the first right of refusal, purchasing this property allows us to secure the significant renovations and investments we made when launching the campus.
By paying off the mortgage on our former facilities by May 2026, we will free the resources needed to pursue non-traditional financing options and acquire the Dahlonega building with minimal impact on our current operating budget. This is a time-sensitive opportunity we cannot afford to miss.
The midpoint of this two-year initiative falls in 2027, a year filled with major milestones for The Bridge Church:
  • The 50th Anniversary of The Bridge
  • The 20th Anniversary of Lead Pastor Patrick Ballington and Cleveland Campus Pastor Jeff Groves
  • The 3rd Anniversary of both the Dahlonega campus and El Puente — a crucial marker, as nearly 40% of new churches do not survive their first three years
This campaign allows us to honor the legacy of our founders, safeguard the future of our new campuses, and position The Bridge to expand its ministry influence across North Georgia for generations to come. It is a pivotal moment to celebrate God’s faithfulness and step boldly into the next chapter of our story.
We sense — and are seeing signs — that we are standing on the edge of a spiritual revival and awakening that is touching churches across our nation and around the world. Over the past two years, we have witnessed more baptisms and professions of faith from first-generation believers than at any point in our history. Every week, people who once walked away from church and faith, and others who have never attended a worship service or professed faith in Christ, are finding their way into our congregations.
Securing a permanent home for our Dahlonega campus, providing salary and support for El Puente leadership, and addressing deferred  maintenance items at our Cleveland campus will ensure we are prepared to steward this movement of the Holy Spirit. These steps will allow us to focus more fully on the mission God has entrusted to us — inviting and equipping people to follow Jesus Christ.

What you can do

Pray

Pray daily for God’s favor and wisdom as we make decisions in the days, weeks, and months ahead. Pray for God’s blessing and provision for all those who will engage in this process. Pray specifically about your role and what God is asking you to do. Prayerfully determine how God might be calling you to grow in your generosity to be a part of our ‘Three Strands’ opportunities.

Invite

The ultimate goal of this initiative is to bring more people to Christ through the ministries of The Bridge. Invite people to come with you every week and see what God is doing and experience it for themselves. This is an exciting time and we want to share the hope we have in Jesus with as many people as possible. A simple invitation  to “Come sit with me” is huge a way to personally engage in the Great Commission.

Engage

God does his deepest work in us when we engage Him in authentic community with fellow believers.  We cannot go far, and will not go big, until we go deep in our faith in God and sharing faith and life with one another. Attending Sunday services, participating in a small group, and serving on a ministry team are ways we fulfill our calling and engage in the mission and vision of The Bridge.

Pledge

Indicating your best intentions with God’s help through a written pledge is vitally important to our leadership, our partners, and those who will help make decisions about funding these projects. Utilizing our “one-fund” approach will allow us to continue funding and growing all of our current ministries and outreaches while going above and beyond to fund the next chapter of our story.