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1.
. we ask this of everyone, how do you define
the postmodern movement?
Great
skepticism toward truth, organized anything,
politics, religion, history, any claim to
authenticity. Also a high value of authenticity,
ironically. High value toward experience and
the spiritual. I think we are still at the
very beginnings of the Post-Modern age, so time
will tell where we go from here.
2.
. how does tech fit into the worship at the
bridge?
Tech
stuff can help transform a place artistically. For
instance, besides our light trees, we use slide
projectors(2) to project pictures we have taken of
old stain glass windows from older churches. this
creates an ancient/modern feel. Of course we have
a video projector/rear projection where we show
our short films and stories from the lives of our
people. We try to have a variety of music
dynamics, sometimes big guitars and loud drums,
sometimes more organic and unplugged.
3.
. how does the bridge reach the people they
feel God is leading them to minister to?
For
one example, last Labor Day weekend, we partnered
with the City in its "Arts, Beats, &
Eats" festival that draws a couple million
people to downtown Pontiac, around the corner from
where we meet! We took our service outdoors to the
Pepsi Stage on Sunday morning during the fest and
we developed and hosted an Independent Film
Festival indoors throughout the weekend.
4.
. how important are small groups at the
bridge?
We
see small groups (we call them Community Groups or
The CeeGee's) as key to accomplishing goal in
deepening our spiritual lives and growing in our
friendship with each other as well as with Christ.
Although, we have struggled to get better
involvement in them due to business of people and
already over involved leaders.
5.
. what makes the bridge unique in the
community?
We
specifically target or appeal to artists and
musicians. We are also unique in our young married
majority, and just recently our baby boom. We also
meet in a small downtown/urban area in the middle
of Oakland County. Our people live anywhere's
between 15 to 60 minutes from this downtown area.
6.
what are the three largest concerns facing the
bridge?
Becoming
a Praying church and what that means for
"postmoderns", also visitor retention
and assimilation. Oh, and getting into our own
bldg downtown instead of renting from an old
Masonic Temple place.
7.
. as the bridge matures, what plans are
there for planting other communities of faith?
Well,
we have already had a couple churches that
indirectly grew out of The Bridge. At some point
we would like to intentionally plant churches as
well.
Closing
thoughts: I'd like to see us Postmodern churches
and planters begin discussing Prayer and new
paradigms of how to become a praying church and
how to incorporate pre-Christians in that as well?
Eric
Shanburn
Pastor
The
Bridge – in Michigan
www.thebridgechurch.com
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