Why is Bridge of Hope Christian Faith-based?

Bridge of Hope National and our network of affiliates are faith-based ministries that have been called into existence by the Church.  As such, our unique role is to challenge and be a voice on behalf of homeless single mothers.  We call local churches from a wide variety of Christian traditions to work together to respond to homelessness in their community.  Then we train and equip them in a response that is life-giving and holistic. 

Bridge of Hope affiliates serve homeless single mothers and children from diverse religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.  In addition, we recognize the unique context of each world religion and we value similar work done by nonprofits representing other faith traditions. 

Bridge of Hope's work to end and prevent homelessness is done through the Christian Church.  This allows us to build relationships with local churches and motivate them in ways that are unique to our faith context.  As stated in our values statement, Bridge of Hope's unifying belief is that Jesus Christ is our example in bringing love and hope to the poor, the broken-hearted, the oppressed, the homeless and all those who suffer. 

Programmatic implications

The context of our faith tradition has programmatic implications, especially in how we recruit, train and support the work of mentors.  Mentoring groups are recruited from one local church.  They are encouraged to see their role as a ministry of friendship motivated by a desire to exemplify the unconditional love of Christ to homeless families.

Staff members pray regularly for families and mentors.  And mentor training includes a call to prayer as a foundation for the group's primary task-building and nurturing a caring and supportive relationship with the mother and her children. 

We value physical, emotional, social and spiritual wholeness in all families, mentors, board members, staff and volunteers involved in Bridge of Hope.  Our training and other materials reflect gratitude to God, nurture of each other, compassion for those we serve and joy in our Christian faith. 

A way to practice unity in Christ

Through work with local churches, Bridge of Hope also fills a role in bringing together diverse streams from within the Christian faith tradition, including those who are Protestant, Catholic, mainline, social justice-oriented, evangelical, liturgical, charismatic, orthodox, post-modern, emergent, pentecostal, missional or contemplative. 

We are committed to ministry across the broad spectrum of Christianity and are grateful to play a small part in nurturing unity within the sometimes divided body of believers.  On this we agree: Christian churches provide a wonderful circle of friends in which homeless single mothers can find love and wholeness.  The body of Christ, the Church, can and must be a source of belonging and healing for homeless families, our neighbors.