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April 9, 2010

Bridge shares faith, values with teens

By Rich Brown

rbrown@joplinglobe.com

Dan Mitchell wheeled around from his desk at The Bridge, ready for an interview, with a headline already in mind.

“The headline for our ministry in 2009 is we have found ourselves,” Mitchell said, founder and president of a teen-ministry complex that has seen noticeable growth since relocating at 3405 S. Hammons Blvd. four years ago.

“When you are a child, you know who you are. When you are an adolescent, you begin to find out who you think you are and there is a day when you realize, ‘Oh, this is who I am,’” Mitchell said. “The things you thought when you were a child are still true but there are some other things you discover that are additionally true. So I feel like we have come through the adolescence of our organization. We know exactly why we are here and what we are going to do.”

The Bridge, after celebrating its 10th anniversary last September, marked its fourth year on Hammons Boulevard on March 26. The ministry first started next to Connie’s Antiques and Flea Market at 3421 N. Range Line.

“When we moved out here it was like starting a new business again,” Mitchell said. “One of the neatest fiscal indicators of success for us is that in 2005 when we were still in that old building our yearly operational budget was about $878,000 and this year it will be about $858,000.

“Today we own 60 acres, we are on Interstate 44 and we have 64,000 square feet, so, in essence, we have trimmed the cost of having a place and a ministry like this at a much bigger place with 60 acres where we didn’t even have an acre at the old place.

“I think that speaks for sustainability. I think that speaks for the leadership here and the responsibility they take and the stewardship they have over this place.”

Reality check

Mitchell admitted he was a bit intimidated with the task of getting The Bridge started.

“When we first opened, the revenue stream that we needed to sustain such a place was so significant that we operated a little bit out of fear and we got a little off mission,” he said. “We always said teen, teen, teen but we want all ages and we are providing what teens want.”

Mitchell said that even today the biggest reality check for The Bridge continues to be that it is there for teens.

“We are here to share our faith and values with teens,” he said. “So when someone needs a space or wants to partner with us, our big questions are: ‘Are you helping teenagers and are you trying to share your faith with teenagers?’ ”

An example is the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which has been provided space for an office.

From its original one-building operation, The Bridge has expanded into three separate functioning units.

“One of the coolest new things we have done is to dedicate the middle portion of our facility, called The Bridge, with rock climbing, basketball courts, cafes, gaming centers and about 30,000 square feet, to junior high kids only every Friday and Saturday nights from 6 to 11,” Mitchell said. “We have realized that there are a lot of high schoolers in our community who say ‘I used to go to The Bridge when I was in junior high,’ and that is why we dedicated The Bridge space to junior high. We realized that junior highers are teenagers and they need a program for them.”

The Foundry

Realizing, then, that a space would be necessary for high school and college students, Mitchell helped establish The Foundry, to the right of The Bridge, which had previously been used as an all-age music venue.

“There is a Sunday night college night that is free,” he said. “We are having an event coming up with 100 college kids coming, with coffee brewing and live music on stage. There is no alcohol.”

In addition to what Mitchell estimated as five or six Xbox systems with a big screen, there are couches stationed throughout The Foundry.

“It can function as a music hall but, also, as a coffee house, a place where kids can relax and hang out,” he said. “We are looking for kids who want to champion that. We don’t even want to run it ourselves. I think you can still go around town right now and teenagers will say there is nothing for them in Joplin, so if those same teenagers want to do something about it, they could approach us here and The Foundry space as long as we are talking about age 14 and up.

“We want to create a student council and we want to create opportunities for kids to create a safe environment for their own peers.”

The third unit occupying The Bridge grounds is the Autumn Ramp Park.

“Our ramp park has been the longest and strongest performing ministry that we have,” Mitchell said. “We have had skating since day one. Our skate park is recognized around the world. About eight years ago we had a five-year plan with our vision to be recognized worldwide as one of the premier skate-park providers. About three years ago BMX Magazine had an article where it was stated from an outside person that our skate park is one of the most progressive skate parks in the world and that has been stated over and over by world-class riders.”

Jeremiah Anderson is the ministry director for Autumn Ramp Park, as well as being second in command at The Bridge. Ministry coordinator for the junior high operation is Stephanie Pittman, an Ozark Christian College student. Mark Russow serves as the assistant for The Foundry.

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