The Vision
The Bridge is a unique and expandable non-profit model for providing community services. It is purposely designed to facilitate unity within the community by bringing people together, bridging gaps, and meeting needs. Community members connecting with one another through mentoring relationships will help promote stability, health, and wholeness where most needed. The ultimate goal is to bring real and sustainable change into people’s lives, and thus bring hope for a better and brighter future for the community as a whole.
The Bridge Facility
The Bridge's new location is at 7620 Birch Bay Drive, in the heart of the Birch Bay community, on the waterfront, near the C-Shop. This new location houses the Food Distribution and clothing Boutique ministries.
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The Birch Bay Community
The community of Birch Bay is located near the Canadian border, approximately 100 miles north of Seattle, and has a year round population of approximately 8,400 residents, made up primarily of senior citizens and families with children. As a resort community, the population increases to over 17,000 in the summer months. Birch Bay is the fastest growing rural community in Washington State and the fourth largest community in Whatcom County.
However, the community of Birch Bay has had no learning center, no senior center, no food bank, no community center, and no counseling center. Birch Bay also has no schools of its own, but is served by the Blaine School District, which is approximately a 15 minute drive to the north. The only counseling or food assistance available in a crisis in the Birch Bay area, in the past, has been from local churches, until now. The Bridge Community Hope Center and Grace Core Chaplaincy training program aims to change that.
The lack of services in this community means that our children, seniors, and others who need to access such public support facilities must drive approximately 20 to 60 minutes round trip to a neighboring community. The Bridge will help fill the need for these basic facilities and services that most people would expect to find in a community of this size.
The following photos show some areas within two blocks of The Bridge facility.
However, the community of Birch Bay has had no learning center, no senior center, no food bank, no community center, and no counseling center. Birch Bay also has no schools of its own, but is served by the Blaine School District, which is approximately a 15 minute drive to the north. The only counseling or food assistance available in a crisis in the Birch Bay area, in the past, has been from local churches, until now. The Bridge Community Hope Center and Grace Core Chaplaincy training program aims to change that.
The lack of services in this community means that our children, seniors, and others who need to access such public support facilities must drive approximately 20 to 60 minutes round trip to a neighboring community. The Bridge will help fill the need for these basic facilities and services that most people would expect to find in a community of this size.
The following photos show some areas within two blocks of The Bridge facility.
Endorsements for The Bridge |
The Bridge Sponsors |
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Beachside RV Park
Billy Brown, Realtor, Windermere Birch Bay Bible Community Church Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce Blaine Christian Fellowship Christie and Christie Land Surveying, Inc. Dakota Creek Christian Center Faber Construction Home Depot, Bellingham North Bay Christ the King Community Church Northwood Alliance Church Patrick Alesse, C Shop Stremler Gravel, Inc. Summit Engineering and Design, LLC Vonna's Purple Fin Restaurant Windermere Real Estate, Birch Bay Square |
Lee Connors, Executive Director
Lee Connors is the founder and lead pastor of The Christian Way (2006) in Blaine, WA. He has training in chemical dependency counseling and a B.A. in psychology from Western Washington University with minors in world religion and philosophy. He received a Masters of Divinity in Chaplaincy (M.Div.) and an M.A. in Pastoral Counseling and Life Coaching. Lee worked as a chaplain and shelter supervisor at the Lighthouse Mission in Bellingham, WA, from 2011 - 2015, serving approximately 150 homeless people each night. Lee founded The Bridge at Birch Bay in 2014 and currently serves as its executive director. He also serves as the executive director and lead instructor for the Grace Core Academy.
The Bridge Board of Directors
Lee Connors, M.Div., Chair
Rosemary Connors, Secretary
Eric Nathan, Treasurer
Bob Brown, M.A., Ph.C., LMHP
Paul Satoepo, Ph.D.
Rosemary Connors, Secretary
Eric Nathan, Treasurer
Bob Brown, M.A., Ph.C., LMHP
Paul Satoepo, Ph.D.
A brief history.
April 2017 - The Boutique opens three days a week
January 2017 - Hosted the Hope for the Hurting Conference with Dr. H. Norman Wright; GraceCore training begins
December 2015 - First Bridge Open House
September 2015 - Lee connected with the following teachers for training materials for the GraceCore staff
December 2014 - Partnership with fellowship of local pastors established
September 2014 - Applied for permits for facility and property improvements
June 2014 - Signed the facility lease; first meeting for The Bridge
February 2014 - Partnership established with the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce
January 2017 - Hosted the Hope for the Hurting Conference with Dr. H. Norman Wright; GraceCore training begins
December 2015 - First Bridge Open House
September 2015 - Lee connected with the following teachers for training materials for the GraceCore staff
- Dr. Tim Clinton, President of AACC and Light University, which will provide the chaplaincy training curriculum and accreditation for our Grace Core chaplains
- Dr. Scott Hawkins, Associate Dean of Department of Community Care and Counseling of Behavioral Sciences at Liberty Univ.
- D. Norman Wright, nationally recognized expert in trauma and crisis counseling
December 2014 - Partnership with fellowship of local pastors established
September 2014 - Applied for permits for facility and property improvements
June 2014 - Signed the facility lease; first meeting for The Bridge
February 2014 - Partnership established with the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce