You—and everyone you see today— are made to flourish
. . . but if we’re honest, parts of our lives
and our community are in need of repair.
What could it look like, if we worked together? -
Food Pantry
What if the 26,000 residents facing food insecurity had access not only to food, but also to relationships and advocacy in a welcoming environment?
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Bridge Kids
What if kids at-risk of falling behind academically and socially had an after-school program that addressed the needs of the whole child?
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Bridges To Success
What if we helped teens at-risk of social and academic isolation by providing healthy friendships, character development, mentors and life-skill training?
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Citizenship Classes
What if we showed love and hospitality to immigrants who want to become citizens by helping them prepare for their naturalization exam?
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Arlington Turkey Trot
What if we provided a fun opportunity for people of all ethnicities and ages to come together on behalf of our vulnerable neighbors?
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Coffee & Conversation
What if immigrants who may not feel connected due to cultural barriers had an opportunity to develop friendships while practicing English?
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Prayer For Arlington
What if churches prayed not just for their own needs, but also for the entire fabric of Arlington, that businesses, agencies, schools, government, etc. would flourish?
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Exploring Faith
What if people who had questions about purpose, meaning and faith could explore them in a low-key context with others over a meal?
A brief overview of Arlington Bridge Builders
Arlington Bridge Builders is an interdenominational network of churches working with each other, individuals, non-profits, businesses, and civic agencies to seek the flourishing of our community.
Community Service: “Seek the shalom of the city where I have sent you”
Uniting In Prayer: “and pray to the Lord on its behalf”
Church Collaboration: “for in its shalom you will find your shalom.”
(Jeremiah 29:7)
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Community Service
God deeply cares not only for our individual lives, but also for the city we live in. Every part of it. As he did with his people long ago, God has sent us to our city–to this place and in this time–not simply to pursue our own ambitions, but to seek the flourishing of our community. Our network of churches serves our most vulnerable neighbors, whether caring for the poor through our food pantry, disadvantaged children through our after school program, or immigrants through supportive relationships.
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Uniting In Prayer
The longing for flourishing in our lives and our community resides deep inside us all. Yet it seems impossible. And it is—in our own strength and ability. Yet with God all things are possible. And so God invites us to unite our hearts with him and others, asking the Lord to work. To that end, Bridge Builders bases everything we do in prayer, developing creative and insightful resources to pray for the flourishing of our community. Likewise, churches regularly pray for the health of other congregations.
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Church Collaboration
When we begin with seeking the flourishing of others and depending on the Lord to work, God promises we will find our own shalom. By definition, wholeness is found in community, where our broken relationships with others, our selves, creation and God are restored. And so Bridge Builders helps churches flourish by connecting pastors and ministry leaders to one another, and helping churches share resources and ideas. We also help churches welcome the people we serve.
“We can give them housing, food, health care, transportation and clothing . . . . but you give them hope.”
~Arlington County Social Services Employee,
on the work of Arlington Bridge Builders