By Stephen and Robin Boda
Stephen and Robin Boda planted Bridge of Hope Community (Alliance) Church in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri. Robin works full time as an education director for a local learning center. Stephen—a full-time pastor, teacher, mentor, and outreach director—also works part-time as a janitor.
“I am a felon, you know. I want to get a job, but I spent 20 years in the penitentiary. I don’t think anyone will ever hire me. I am good with my hands, though.”
“Taking the bus for an hour and a half each way to work is so exhausting, but there just aren’t any jobs around here. I had to take the one I could get.”
These are a couple of the comments we heard this week from people whose lives Bridge of Hope (Alliance) Church is helping to rebuild. It’s more of a community center than a traditional church. Sunday services are held once a month, but Bible studies are conducted throughout the week.
Every Thursday, we host a breakfast attended by about 50 neighbors. Also, we have a bicycle repair shop, community garden, free-clothing store, a washer, a dryer, and a shower. Additionally, Hope Education is an outreach that provides an after-school tutoring program, as well as GED and adult literacy classes.
Answered Prayer
Kenny is a regular at the Thursday breakfast and usually stays around to help with the dishes. He also is receiving educational assistance. A couple of years ago, he was arrested for selling marijuana while on probation for a weapons charge. He had been to Bridge of Hope a few times previously, but after his arrest, he returned to the church for counsel and prayer. There was a good chance that he would be incarcerated.
Kenny lost his family business, his truck was stolen, and he was facing prison. But he had an opportunity for a job if he did not go to jail. He asked for prayer for leniency from the judge.
Kenny’s prayers were answered; he was put on probation and was able to secure promised employment. It is Kenny who commutes by bus each day for an hour and a half, grateful for an income.
Urban Hope
Urban ministry is definitely about the long haul. Breaking the cycles of addiction, poverty, and violence takes time. Bridge of Hope was planted to develop “a new thing . . . in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19). Knowing that the complicated issues of inner-city life necessitate a multifaceted ministry approach, it is our desire to reach our neighbors and to nurture change in the community.
Recently, we totaled all of the participants in our various ministries over the course of the year and were quite surprised by the number—476 people! Not all come weekly, but each has a part in an outreach and is finding hope by being a part of a Christ-centered community.
We are grateful to God for sustaining us in this urban mission field. Thank you for partnering with us through your gifts and prayers to bring the hope of Jesus to spiritually needy people.
What You Can Do
Pray
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Read
Read about other Alliance church-planting efforts.