The Bridge Community Church serves Adams County from two campuses in Decatur and Berne, holding identical Sunday services every week at 9:30 and 11:00 AM. More than two decades after its earliest days, the church describes itself as "a church for people at every stage of faith," rooted in the conviction that "Jesus changes lives" and in the vision of "reaching every man, woman, and child in Adams County and the surrounding area with the good news of Jesus."
Two Campuses, One Mission Across Adams County
The Decatur campus sits at 1403 Winchester Road and serves as the church's central hub, complete with an on-site coffee shop and the Bridge Café. The Berne campus, at 406 East Parr Road, is deeply tied to the local community and offers the same teaching in a setting built around relationships and connection. Both campuses hold identical Sunday services at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM, share the same mission and values, and welcome visitors with free coffee and donuts.
The two locations together form a single church with a stated purpose: "to inspire this generation to become totally devoted followers of Jesus Christ." Each campus is led by its own community pastor (Dave Hill at Decatur and Eric Lehman at Berne) under the leadership of Lead Pastor Dave Fox.
A Sunday Morning at The Bridge
Visitors are greeted at the door by a team ready to help them get oriented. A Bridge Information station answers questions before and after services, and a dedicated safety team works to keep the environment secure. A typical Sunday gathering runs about an hour and includes meaningful modern worship and a practical, Bible-rooted message. The atmosphere is intentionally relaxed and come-as-you-are, with most people dressing casually. Guests are not asked to stand, introduce themselves, or give money, and they are free to observe as much or as little as they like.
The Bridge livestreams its services through an online campus for anyone unable to attend in person. A messages archive makes recent sermons available, and separate message note pages keep notes for the Decatur and Berne services.
Bridge Kids from Birth Through Fifth Grade
The children's ministry, known as All Stars, creates safe and engaging environments for kids from birth through fifth grade during every Sunday service. Children are checked in at the Bridge Kids Check-In station, where background-checked volunteers guide families through a secure process and direct them to age-specific classrooms. Teaching is designed just for kids, with the goal of helping them grow in wisdom, faith, and friendship. Parents can also access lesson videos at home and faith-at-home conversation starters through the Parent Cue App, and a dedicated Facebook group for each campus keeps families in the loop.
On Wednesday evenings during the school year, Club All Stars gathers preschoolers through fifth graders at both campuses from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. The midweek program is designed to take what kids learned on Sunday to the next level, with an hour packed full of games and activities built around five faith habits (Discover, Pray, Worship, Live, and Share) aimed at "discipling kids to be the next generation of totally devoted followers of Jesus." A free Vacation Bible School runs each summer at both campuses.
Students and Young Adults
Middle school and high school students have their own environments designed to help them build friendships, ask real questions, and grow in their faith. The student ministry gathers during the week at each campus and runs trips and retreats throughout the year, including an annual Cedar Point day for incoming sixth graders through graduating seniors.
For young adults ages 18 to 25, the Bridge Young Adults ministry offers Gather Nights and a "How to Read Your Bible 101" series designed to help newcomers and longtime believers alike grow in confidence reading Scripture. Other events include an annual men's camping and fishing trip at J.E. Roush Lake and small group studies. The ministry's stated purpose is "so that all 18-25 year olds in Adams County and the surrounding areas have the opportunity to grow in their relationship with God, become life-long disciples of Jesus, and find authentic community." A text thread keeps young adults connected to upcoming events.
Small Groups and Discipleship
The Bridge believes life was not meant to be lived alone, and the small groups ministry is built around that conviction. Groups meet in homes and other gathering places and typically consist of four to seven married couples or eight to twelve individuals of the same gender. Each group is given an initial study from the church, and groups are encouraged to balance relational connection with Bible study and prayer. Following each Sunday message, discussion questions are made available so groups can dig deeper into the same passage together.
For those wanting a more intentional next step, Lead Pastor Dave Fox leads a five-week Discipleship Class at both campuses each winter. The class is designed for anyone who wants to grow deeper in their faith and better understand what it means to follow Jesus, whether they are new to faith or have been walking with Christ for years.
On Sunday mornings at the Berne campus, an Adult Bible Class meets from 8:15 to 9:00 AM. The current study walks through the book of Galatians, taking an in-depth look at the Apostle Paul's argument that a person is saved by grace through faith and not by works.
Women, Men, and Marriage
Women's ministry at The Bridge is shaped by Women's Ministry Director Missy Fox, who has served at the church for over twenty years. A Women's Discipleship Cohort called Ecclesia offers a committed environment for spiritual formation, accountability, and growth, beginning each year with an informational meeting at both campuses.
Other women's gatherings include a quarterly carry-in breakfast at the Berne campus and the Adams County Chosen Women's Event, a daylong conference with worship, teaching, fellowship, crafting, and local vendors.
For mothers, the Wednesday night Mom Life group at the Decatur campus meets during the school year from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, coordinating with the Club All Stars schedule. The group offers fellowship, encouragement, and conversation around the realities of motherhood.
Marriage ministry centers on the annual Adams County Strong Marriage Conference, hosted at the Adams County Fairgrounds Expo Center and featuring guest speakers for couples. Childcare is provided during select portions of the weekend.
Men are also invited into community through events like the annual Young Adult Men's Fishing Trip and other gatherings.
Sports, Worship Nights, and the Church Calendar
An Athletic Pastor leads sports ministry at The Bridge, building community around games and outdoor activity. An annual Golf Outing at Wabash Valley Golf Club raises money for the Hot Shots Sports Ministry, and teams of four can sign up to play or join as free agents.
Several times a year, the church gathers for an evening Worship Night centered on extended worship and prayer. The format is intentionally simple: come expectant, lift voices in song, lean into prayer, and create space to encounter God together. A Night of Prayer is held annually at the Berne campus, walking through four movements of prayer: Rejoice, Repent, Request, and Renew.
Missions and Community Outreach
The Bridge's vision names Adams County and the surrounding region, and that focus shows up in a steady stream of outreach. Each fall, the church partners with Project 216 for a meal packing event where volunteers fill thousands of servings of rice meals that are shipped to Mission of Hope in Haiti.
Extreme Makeover Adams County is the church's annual community service week, sending teams out to complete home repair and improvement projects for neighbors in need. Bridge of Hope Gala is a separate outreach partnership hosted in Bluffton that creates a formal "prom" experience for individuals ages 14 and older with disabilities. Described as "a formal celebration of diversity as uniqueness is not only valued, but recognized as one of God's blessings," the gala draws over a hundred volunteers from area churches and uses Hope Missionary Church as its venue.
A year-long initiative called the Every Story Campaign is focused on expanding ministry opportunities through facility improvements, increased accessibility, and investments in the next generation. The campaign name reflects the church's belief that "every person has a story, and every story matters to God."
What The Bridge Believes
The Bridge's beliefs are rooted in Scripture and centered on Jesus Christ. The church affirms belief in one God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and in Jesus Christ as fully God, born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life, died for sin, rose again, and will return as King. The Holy Spirit is believed to indwell every believer, bring about new birth, and give spiritual gifts for the building up of the church.
The Bible is held to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God. Salvation is understood to be by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. The church practices baptism by immersion as an outward symbol of an inward decision to follow Jesus and observes communion as a remembrance of Christ's sacrifice. The church also affirms the priesthood of all believers and teaches that every follower of Jesus has direct access to God.
Six values shape the church's life: evangelism and mission, education and discipleship, worship, ministry and service, fellowship, and a heart for community. Scripture references for each value are listed throughout the church's teaching materials.
Giving, Online Tools, and Facilities
Online giving is available, and the church teaches that tithing (giving the first ten percent of income) is a Biblical practice. A short PDF is available for those who want to learn more about Biblical generosity.
The Bridge maintains an online campus for livestreamed services, a messages archive for catching up on recent sermons, and e-news signups for updates on events and ministry opportunities. Merchandise is available through an online store, and a digital communications team keeps the church's social media and online presence active.
Both campuses make their facilities available for celebrations, showers, family gatherings, and other meaningful moments through a Building Use Application process.
The Pastors and Staff Leading The Bridge
Dave Fox has served as Lead Pastor of The Bridge, joined by his wife Missy. Eric Lehman is the Community Pastor at the Berne campus, and Dave Hill is the Community Pastor at the Decatur campus. Cieara Wengerd serves as the Connections Pastor in Berne. Rocky Evans leads worship at Berne, where he has led worship in the community for over twenty years, and Dustin Wagner leads worship at Decatur.
Among the next-generation pastors, Ethan Davis is the High School Pastor at Decatur, Tim Willborn is the Middle School Pastor at Decatur, and Tony Mosser is the Youth Pastor at Berne. Maria Sprunger is the Young Adults Pastor. Jake Snider leads Children's Ministry at Decatur, and Tami Heimann, who has been part of The Bridge from its earliest days and became one of its children's pastors in 2002, leads Children's Ministry at Berne. Caylee Sharp oversees Preschool Ministry in Berne and Annette Gower oversees Preschool Ministry in Decatur.
Lucas Harvey serves as the Athletic Pastor. Missy Fox directs Women's Ministry, Leesa Huston directs Care Ministry, and Kaylea Baker serves as Digital Media and Communications Director.
Together, this team oversees a church that meets in two locations, runs programs for every age from nursery through young adults, and extends its reach through outreach and missions across Adams County and beyond.