Cities
H.I.S. BridgeBuilders currently works in Clarksburg, Dallas, Galati, and San Antonio. Find out more about each area of operation below.
Clarksburg
Read how the Clarksburg extension began.
In December 2006, H.I.S. BridgeBuilders began working in Clarksburg, West Virginia
with the Clarksburg-Harrison Regional Housing
Authority in the Laurel Lanes public housing
community which consists of 100 families. H.I.S.
BridgeBuilders began working in Laurel Lanes
through relationship-building, family oriented
events such as Thanksgiving/Christmas/Valentine
Celebrations that included provision of food,
toiletry and gift items; Ladies Nite Out that
included makeovers and free new clothing; Family
Fun Day that included outside games for kids
and a family cookout celebration; as well as
May Flowers Day teaching children how to plant,
water and grow flowers. Over these four years
the HISBB programs have grown to include Adult
Basic Education training; Family-Life Skill
Building including Anger Management, Parenting,
Nutrition, Managing Money, Handling Stress,
etc; as well as encouraging education in children
through a weekly Children’s Story Time and building
Spiritual Development through a weekly Children's
Bible Study. In 2009, the Clarksburg Harrison
Regional Housing Authority received a national
award through the National Association of Housing
and Redevelopment Officials for the work accomplished
through their partnership with H.I.S. BridgeBuilders.
Both the Housing Authority and H.I.S. BridgeBuilders
also received a Certificate of Appreciation
from the City of Clarksburg for the work that
has been done in Laurel Lanes.
In the summer of 2007, H.I.S. BridgeBuilders
also began working in the Monticello Avenue
Community of the City of Clarksburg. This low-income
community has many challenges including drug
and alcohol addiction, trafficking and the
crime that follows. Through partnerships with
the City of Clarksburg; County and State agencies;
Community Organizations such as the Lions and
Rotary clubs; Local Businesses; Local Churches;
and countless Volunteers, this community is
seeing a physical renewal. Nine houses have
been painted; a leaky roof has been re-built;
over 15 tons of trash and debris have been removed;
homes are getting repaired; and grassy areas
once covered in thick brush are being cleared
out. Residents of the neighborhood are getting
involved in the clean-up effort and pride is
growing in this community.
In addition to these efforts, H.I.S. BridgeBuilders
also serves the Monticello residents through
Community Events such as our annual Back-to-School/Health
Fair event where in the midst of food, games
and music, over 250 backpacks filled with school
supplies are distributed to children and medical
offices throughout the area provide free health
checks and referrals for those in need of medical
attention.
With a heart for the residents of the Monticello
community, H.I.S. BridgeBuilders also looks
forward to starting weekly Bible Studies, Educational
Programs, and Job Training upon completion of
the LightHouse of Hope facility located at 127
Haymond Highway in Clarksburg. This house, donated
by a local Monticello resident hungry to see
transformation in her community, is being completely
renovated through the donations of local businesses,
churches, skilled craftsmen, and countless volunteers,
and should be fully operational in 2010.
Click here for the 2010 HISBB Clarksburg Calendar
of Events: 2010 HISBB Clarksburg
Calendar Events
Dallas
Dallas, Texas is the birthplace of H.I.S. BridgeBuilders. In 1995 Mike Fechner (H.I.S. BridgeBuilders President) and Velma Mitchell (Director of Community Relations) crossed paths. As they worked together to overcome a difficult life circumstance, Mike and Velma formed a lifelong friendship. Out of this friendship, H.I.S. (Hope in Salvation) BridgeBuilders was born in the city of Dallas, Texas.
Through Mike and Velma’s prayerful visions for their city, a desire to build relationships from North to South Dallas, white to black, rich to poor, church, corporation, medical to local community. Throughout BridgeBuilders’ existence, the staff has always trusted the Lord to lead and they would follow; to take steps of faith, so the ministry might grow. It is through this process of growing in faith that the Lord has given times of blessing and times of perseverance and this has made BridgeBuilders what it is today.
Currently in Dallas, BridgeBuilders has built partnering relationships with corporate CEO’s willing to trust God with all He has given to provide for His ministry. Relationships have been built with many in the medical world where ophthalmologist, optometrists, dentists and dental hygienists have given of their time, money and expertise to work in our clinic. Relationships are in constant construction to local churches that come worship and volunteer with us at our Community Fellowship and special events. BridgeBuilders loves to embrace the local schools and churches in the communities in which we serve in order to truly understand the workings of the communities. BridgeBuilders also has strong ties to the government in the form of grant monies, government facilities and cooperation. BridgeBuilders is extremely blessed to have joined forces with so many diverse people and organizations throughout the city of Dallas. It is through these partnerships that BridgeBuilders is able to touch the lives of so many. New partnerships are being made each day, expanding God’s Kingdom work in Dallas, Texas.
Galati
The Galati branch of H.I.S. BridgeBuilders is the first international city for H.I.S. BridgeBuilders International. Through a partner in Dallas we were introduced to the people of Galati and more specifically, the people of the Valley. The Valley is the primary community where BridgeBuilders International focuses their efforts. The crime rate and desperate circumstances that face these people each day is incomprehensible.
A majority of people living in the Valley are gypsies and to everyone else in their country they don't even exist. It is impossible to enroll their children in school, receive any type of health care, and can even be difficult to find an accepting church. Because of these realities there is little hope for the people of the Valley.
However, we have found that by helping individuals receive meaningful employment, which is difficult considering that many of the people there can't read or write their own name, the government will recognize them and grant them official papers allowing the family access to the education system and health care!
Bogdon Mihai and Mihai Marghidan are our first two BridgeBuilders International employees and they work in the Valley every day first to minister and spread the gospel and also help prepare people for jobs and employment opportunities.
Due to the fact that it is hard for many of the gypsies to attend the established churches of the cities we have opened our first church plant in the Valley. Bogdon, who was discipled and trained by an IMB missionary, is the first BridgeBuilders church plant pastor.
God is moving in amazing ways in Galati, Romania and the employment opportunities are coming more available as relationships with businesses, the government, and other foundations are being established.
San Antonio
H.I.S. BridgeBuilders in San Antonio is partnering with Community Bible Church (CBC) to begin a new work at Wheatley Courts. The work will begin with GED training, English as a Second Language classes, Ladies' Bible Study, and after school mentoring and home work help for elementary age children. CBC is planting a new church in the community and is providing a large group of volunteers to support the various ministries. This new partnership is an exciting expansion for the San Antonio effort.
H.I.S. BridgeBuilders – San Antonio ministers primarily in the Northeast Village Apartments. The ministry here includes the following regularly scheduled events:
Children’s Bible Study:
Tuesday evenings (7:00 - 8:00 P.M.)
Apartment 108
Women’s Bible Study:
Wednesday mornings (9:30 - 11:00 A.M.)
Apartment 108
Mentoring and homework support for school-age children:
Mondays and Thursdays (4:00 - 5:30P.M.)
Apartment 108.
Special events include:
An annual Christmas party with caroling and gifts for the children.
An annual distribution of school supplies for school-age children at the beginning of the school year.
We have been blessed by the generous gifts of computers, tables, chairs, books, Bibles, and other supplies which have come from business, personal, and church contacts.
For more specific information about BridgeBuilders' San Antonio Branch, please contact Mel Fechner. |
