Beacon Church Initiative

Creating the cultural shifts necessary for more welcoming, accessible, and vibrant communities where every member of the Body may come experience worship and share their gifts.

At Bridge, we believe that following Jesus is never a solitary journey. In view of this, Spiritual Connections has supported events such as the Sunday Evening Celebrations (SEC), and Roots and Wings Bible Study in order to meet the spiritual and relational needs of our friends with disabilities. 

Central to our efforts will always be the importance of connecting the individual to the body of Christ. But equally important is the empowering of our friends, church communities, and volunteers to equip them for the establishing of meaningful relationships that build one another up. 

How can Spiritual Connections help in this Initiative? 

Educate

  • Beacon Church Collaborative (BCC) Conference is held annually in October and is facilitated by professionals in the field of disability as well as self-advocates.
  • Resource Library Click on our library for quick navigation to helpful resources.

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Connect

  • Beacon Church Collaborative (BCC) Zoom meetings held quarterly with groups from participating churches where we can support one another in inclusive ministry for the disabled.
  • Social Events held monthly such as the SEC Monthly Celebrations and other social gatherings. Spiritual Connections will assist in the planning and promotion of these events with our local churches.
  • Assist in the planning of Bridging Hearts Bags Events meant to make important personal connections with those who are challenged with disabilities, as well as their family and caregivers. 

We invite your church community to be a beacon – a light on a hill – that welcomes people of all abilities to come and find safe harbor in the love and grace found in Jesus. 

Beacon Church Collaborative ZOOM Meetings

Our Beacon Church Collaborative (BCC) is off to a great start this year! Please join us!

This collaborative brings together a network of King County churches consisting of those who are well-seasoned in disability ministry as well as congregations who are newly considering it. We meet once per quarter via Zoom to collaborate about how to improve (or introduce) disability ministry within our churches. It is meant to be a source of information sharing and support between churches. After all, we were never meant to do ministry alone. We need each other!

Please contact Jackiek@bridgemin.org for details and the Zoom link for each meeting.

Archive of Beacon Church Collaborative Zoom meetings – AUDIO VERSION:

  • 2022 1Q – “How to Become a Welcoming Church to People with Disabilities” featuring Speaker Spencer Miller of Joni and Friends
  • 2022 2Q – “Moving from Ignorance to Awareness: Church Education and Culture”
  • 2022 3Q – “Identifying Barriers to Inclusion” featuring self-advocates Crystal Martin and Nate Alden
  • 2023 1Q – “Becoming a Welcoming Church: Let’s Ponder and Plan”
  • 2023 2Q – “Disability and Practical Theology” featuring Educator and Speaker, Dr. David Anderson
  • 2023 3Q – “Diving Deeper: Continuing the Discussion on Practical Theology”
  • 2024 1Q – “Inclusive Faith: Developing Opportunities for Rewarding Experiences Serving Together” featuring Speaker Victoria White of With Ministries
  • 2024 2Q – “Inclusive Faith: Discovering the Three Most Important Steps for Creating Meaningful Experiences Serving Together” featuring Speaker Dr. Sarah VanderZee McKenney of Stone Belt Arc.
  • 2024 3Q – “Inclusive Faith: Discussing the Common Challenges in Ministry with People with Disabilities” featuring Speaker Bill Gaventa, MDiv.

Upcoming Meetings and Events:

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OUR 2024 BCC CONFERENCE IS COMPLETED!

Our third annual Beacon Church Collaborative Conference was a 2-day event this year held on October 17 and 18. It was an insightful and productive time spent together gleaning important and relevant teaching from Speaker Bill Gaventa MDiv. regarding the Church’s inclusion of all of God’s people of all abilities just as Christ intended.

It is the purpose of these conferences to inform, equip, encourage, and support our local churches in embracing our brothers and sisters in Christ who live with disability as both welcome and contributory members of their congregations.

Thank you to all who attended, the volunteers who were those extra pair of hands we needed for this event, Lakeside Christian Church for hosting this year’s conference, and our Speaker, Bill Gaventa, from whom we learned so much.

And it is also our intention to provide a video version of the conference for the first time this year so be on the look-out for when that will be made available on our website!

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Churches Who Partner with Bridge

A faith community intentionally taking steps toward inviting and worshiping with people of all abilities.

We believe that no matter what abilities an individual has, God desires for all of us to worship Him in the context of community.

BELLEVUE

KIRKLAND

NORMANDY PARK

REDMOND

RENTON

SEATTLE

SHORELINE

WOODINVILLE