FaithBridge launches as new Rockwall congregation
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Written: 10/23/2009
For months and weeks, the launch team for a new United Methodist church has met, worked, and prayed in preparation for launching FaithBridge Church, a United Methodist Community and a ministry nurtured and launched by First UMC, Rockwall.
“FaithBridge” is a new faith community, being birthed as the daughter of First UMC. “Our prayers are with the pastor and congregation as they grow from being a new-born ‘fellowship’ and to one day being a newly chartered United Methodist Church! The ‘Mother/Daughter model’ of planting new churches proves to be the most effective way of Making New Disciples For Jesus Christ For the Transformation of the World…We invite other churches to explore this avenue of reaching out in new ways to their communities,” explained Rev. Jim Ozier, Director of New Church Development and Transformation.
FaithBridge is a name that uniquely fi ts the new congregation. Theologically, FaithBridge serves as a link between God and new people. Geographically, it is a reminder of the long over Lake Ray Hubbard, linking Rockwall to the Greater Dallas area.
On Sunday, Oct. 11, this fledgling church opened its doors for the very first time. People came from throughout Rockwall County to share fellowship and worship, to sing and pray together, and to hear the message of the risen Christ proclaimed. The church meets at Celia Hays Elementary School at the corner of FM 1141 and FM 552 in Rockwall. Fellowship time is Sundays at 9:30 a.m. with worship at 10:30 a.m.
The congregation was a mix of launch team members, supportive friends from the “mother” church, First UMC, Rockwall, and a healthy number of first-time guests. These guests came in direct response to invitations they had received at various community events or at their own front doors.
There were more than 100 children, youth, parents, empty nesters, singles and married couples worshipping at FaithBridge on its first Sunday.
FaithBridge Church launched with a sermon series called “Building Better Bridges,” which will examine how to create healthier connections between each other, between individuals and God, and between neighbors and God. The scripture to start the new church was Mark 1:1-8, which reads in part: “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” The central figure in this passage is John the Baptist who acts as a bridge between Israel and God because he connects Israel to Jesus. The message was that our call is the same as God’s call upon John the Baptist, says new church start pastor Rev. Frank Rahm. FaithBridge no longer has a launch team because FaithBridge has been launched. One curious person asked, “If we’re no longer a launch team, what are we now?” The answer is a new United Methodist Community in Rockwall, charged with the purpose of making more disciples for Jesus Christ.
FaithBridge Church is a bridge between its neighbors and God because of its mission to connect pople to Jesus. For more information, please visit website www.faithbridgechurch.net, or follow on
Twitter, “faithbridgerock.”