What hits you when you hear the word church?

Something Positive? Negative? What about community? Community is a word that shows up in a lot of places. We hear it in the news, in advertising slogans, in political campaigns, on the Internet and even in churches.

What is it? Community is being in authentic caring relationships that add significant value and meaning to life. Community isn't something that happens easily or even automatically. You cannot manufacture it or force it. And we sacrifice community due to our fast-paced lives. Building community is not just a six-step program. You cannot pursue a particular church structure or a set of special programs and expect community to happen.

But what if church and community could unite together? That's our dream at BridgeWay242, a church community.

To build authentic biblical communities where people can be real and experience Christ's love through one another.

To go where the people are, live out what we believe and be known by the love of God as we start church communities in the Arlington area and beyond.

We pursue our vision by ...

• ...demonstrating God's love to all people irrespective of their life story.
• ...encouraging people to discover their God-given purpose in life.
• ...moving followers of Christ toward spiritual maturity through intimacy with God and community with each other.
• ...showing people that Jesus Christ is the One who can meet them where they are and spur radical, spiritual change in their lives.
• ...creating authentic worship environments where people can express their gratitude to God for who He is.
• ...embracing people of all cultures.
• ...applying God's truth with love in all facets of life.
• ...thinking and acting beyond the conventional church box.

The 242 in our name is from the Book of Acts in the New Testament chapter 2, verse 42 which says, "They committed themselves to the teachings of the apostles (the first followers of Christ), the life together, the common meal, and the prayers." This is a simple picture of the four purposes of a New Testament church: worship, community, personal spiritual growth and outreach.