The Lutheridge bRIDGE program aims to equip and empower parents and caregivers to make faith formation a part of their family culture. bRIDGE does this by building a bridge to overcome the distance between camp, the congregation, and a family’s daily life. Gone are the days when a camper has to wait until next summer to “go to camp” again. bRIDGE extends Lutheridge’s faith formation expertise, creativity, joy, and fun to participating congregations and families year-round.
St. Michael Lutheran Church in Greenville, South Carolina has been involved in the bRIDGE program since 2024 and the experience has been transformational for many of their church families. St. Michael member Ann DiAntonio and her family were eager to be a part. “We were leaving camp a few years ago and our son said in a sad voice, ‘I don’t understand why church can’t be more like camp!’ My husband and I knew these were formative years for his faith and didn’t know what to do. We heard about the bRIDGE program a few weeks later and knew it was an answer to our prayer.”
Pastor Andrea Bates from St. Michael says bRIDGE has been a gift to the culture of St. Michael. “As a pastor, one of the greatest joys is making space for families to form relationships with one another. Through bRIDGE our church parents have had a chance to share life and parent together. It’s been a great way for new families in the congregation to connect with other people in the same stage of life.” Pastor Andrea also says that because of bRIDGE many children and youth enjoy coming to church more than they previously did. “The friendships developed in our retreats have led to more boisterous gathering times on Sunday mornings,” Andrea says.
Ann recognizes that their bRIDGE involvement has not only been a blessing to her son, but also to her and her husband as parents. “Raising a child isn’t easy but bRIDGE gives us a chance to fill our cups, talk about wins and the challenges with other parents, and learn skills to support his ongoing faith formation at home. He has re-engaged with church in a way we didn’t know to hope for, and we will be forever grateful for the bRIDGE that made it possible.”
As we enter into the summer and fall of 2026, Lutheridge wants to invite more congregations and families to participate in the bRIDGE program. For congregations who are interested in bringing bRIDGE to their church once a month from September to May, reach out to Pastor Sara Yoos for more information (SYoos@NovusWay.org, (828) 209-6333). For families interested in participating in a retreat to experience the joy of camp, connect with other caregivers, and gain practical tools for strengthening faith formation in the home, register for the bRIDGE Family Camp this summer (July 19-22) at Lutheridge.org.
