Nothing could have prepared us for what we would go through in 2020 — individually or as a church. Despite all the suffering and uncertainty, I can confidently say that I saw God’s hand this year as we continued to make more and stronger disciples who make more and stronger disciples. In March we launched Faithbridge Online, a 24-hour streaming service with all original content. This included programming like Faithbridge @ Home, Faithbridge Family Gatherings, Family Praise and Worship, Faithbridge Kids!, Launch & Elevate Online, Pointbreak RoundTable and much more! We produced over 333 unique episodes across 15 different shows. The highlight of the summer for our Kids Ministry was a 100% self-produced, virtual VBS! We provided kids with a kit that contained supplies for the activities during the week that went along with the video content for each day. This virtual VBS had a total of 1,777 livestream views!
Despite spending most of the year doing online-only ministry, we had a total of 538 first-time visitors, and our Connection Ministry thrived seeing 13 adults baptized, adding 46 new members, and teaching 136 people about the beginnings of Faithbridge at either a Fajitas and Faithbridge or Coffee with Ken event. We also had 290 students participate in virtual mission journeys through The Road! Your generosity made all of this possible, and we are so thankful to each of you who gave in 2020, especially the $5.8MM to the Legacy campaign (which puts us 50% of the way to our pledge goal) and $535K to the Bless Our City fund.
This webpage serves as just a snapshot of the work God has done in and through you in 2020. I am looking forward to what God will do in this new year, and I hope that you’ll join me in praying that He will continue using us to proclaim His Gospel. I am grateful to be on this journey with you as we invest in the lives of Faithbridgers now and in those to come.
With much gratitude and joy!
Ken Werlein
Founding Pastor
January
We kicked off a new year with a sermon series on the seven deadly sins, and a new round of Ministry Enrollment with many of you registering for the classes and groups for the new year.
February
We officially broke ground on our new Student Building + Chapel with a special Groundbreaking Service, thanks to the pledges for the Legacy campaign in the fall of 2019. Faithbridgers pledged $11.1 MM to the new building and the future of our students.
March
March was a tough, new experience for many of us, with COVID-19 ravaging through the US as the whole nation had to go through a lockdown – having to close our businesses, churches, and stay at home. During the first few weeks of lockdown, we created online content every day to help us get through the first phase of the pandemic. You may even remember some of your favorites like Faithbridge Fit!, Family Worship, Faithbridge Kids!, God Sightings, and more!
April
Since we had to keep the campus closed due to COVID-19, Faithbridge still wanted to make Easter special for our members and online viewers. Our amazing staff and volunteers put together an online Easter worship service with inspiring, uplifting music from Faithbridge Worship, and a special message from Bible Teacher Timothy Ateek. In the same month, we started the “Bless Our City” campaign, raising over $500,000! Thanks to your generous giving, we were able to assist those who were affected the most by COVID-19.
May
In the month of May, Kids Ministry started a new campaign called “Pack The Sack”. During the first run, our Kids Ministry kids brought over 1300 decorated bags full of healthy snacks to share with our neighbors in need! At the same time, our staff was also planning a special summer for our Faithbridge kids!
June
The highlight of the summer for our Kids Ministry was a 100% self-produced, virtual VBS: Waymaker 2020! We provided kids with a kit containing supplies for the activities during the week that went along with the video content for each day. This virtual VBS had a total of 1,777 livestream views! Our kids learned that God is the Waymaker and Jesus is the Way.
Despite not being able to travel for mission trips like originally planned, The Road equipped 290 students to do “Mission at Home” with virtual mission trips! Students learned that it’s not always going somewhere that makes mission happen. Mission can take place right where we are.
July
Even in the midst of a global pandemic, the construction of the Legacy building was still underway. In July, FSM Student Director Jill Sullivan gave us an exciting online update on the progress of the Student/Road + Chapel building! We also had our first Faithbridge Drive-in service.
August
While our staff was developing a plan to return to campus, we also launched a new website on August 23 for Back to School. This was the first phase for a Faithbridge brand refresh.
September
As the number of COVID-19 cases began to decrease in the Houston area, we were able to offer baptisms again – while being safe and social-distancing. In 2020, we celebrated 13 people baptized! We also opened up the church campus again while running Faithbridge @ Home at the same time.
October
On October 6, Bridging for Tomorrow food pantry hit 1,000,000 pounds of food distributed since COVID-19 began! In the same month, Kids Ministry and Student Ministry also started their on-campus services again through RSVP. On Halloween, we welcomed over 400 cars at our first ever Drive-Thru Trick or Treat! We wanted to let kids know how much God loves them as dozens of characters handed out candy and invited them to come be a part of Faithbridge Kids Ministry whether in-person or online!
November
For Thanksgiving, our Local Outreach team started a Turkey Drive and collected 250 turkeys and gift cards for Bridging for Tomorrow. We also had our annual Christmas Giving, and through your generosity, we were able to help provide a special Christmas for those who needed it most!
December
For Christmas, Faithbridge was excited to present a classic movie drive-in theater event – something the whole family could enjoy together. For six nights, we played some of your favorite Christmas classics like Frozen, Home Alone, The Polar Express, A Christmas Story, The Grinch (2018), and Elf. Kids Ministry and volunteers put together snack bags and activity packs with a specific theme for each movie night.
For Christmas Eve, two “Christmas @ Home” online services were offered which included special guest teacher Ben Stuart and beautiful classic Christmas worship music from our Faithbridge Worship team and volunteers.
While 2020 may be a year many of us will remember with fondness or disdain, we hope we were able to help you navigate this challenging year and head into 2021 with a joyful, fighting spirit! If anything, we believe this year showed us that Faithbridge can weather any storm when we work together in unity as the Body of Christ.