Newsletter summer 2014

On July 19th the neighbor-hood association partnered with two other neighborhood

groups around this area to transform Cameron Street for a few hours. Cameron St used to be a main road in Lafayette before the interstate came to town. Hearing past stories of the great restau-rants, businesses, and gath-ering places that were here back then is energizing. The

plan was to slow down traffic, bring in business-es, and create an at-mosphere of fun and safety.

The city gave the group the go ahead to ignore all the rules, ex-cept for those on the road of course. This allowed the neighbors to show the city what they would like Cameron Street to look like. The street became two lanes instead of three so people could walk safely, local businesses set up for the day.

There was everything from restaurants to cloth-ing stores, with many neighbors selling their homemade sweets. The police brought out the horses, pictures of the past were displayed, with a canvas for people to

freely paint. The neighbors had a great time and were really surprised at how well it

turned out.

This was no surprise to Bridge Ministry, we know that when neighbors come to-gether and

with a similar mission any-thing can happen. This one day event has shown the city-parish government that the neighbors in this area have dreams and desires for their neighborhood; they just need some resources and support to make it happen.

Volume 10 Issue 2

Summer 2014

Our Vision Relationally Empowering

lives through

Spiritual Transformation,

Education, and

Neighborhood Revitalization.

The

Bri

dge

Bui

lder

B

RI

DG

E M

IN

IS

TR

Y

OF

AC

AD

IA

NA

.

Our Mission An interdenominational Christian

holistic ministry called to provide

1) relationship-based programs which

empower the under-resourced and

2) mobilize Acadiana Christians to

social responsibility. Page 1

Better Block Cameron

Mark your calendar and come Join us:

September 13th Run Upper Lafayette 5k

Pelican Park

www.bridgeacadiana.com

October 10th Golf Tournament

The Wetlands

www.bridgegolfclassic.com

Page 2 THE BRIDGE BUILDER

As Executive Director I am al-ways on the hunt to find methods to improve the efficiency of the ministry. A little over a year ago I became aware of different types of Women’s groups around Acadiana and the country that enhance the operation of their non-profit or-ganizations. At the same time, a group of five women had been meeting to help plan a large fund-raiser for the ministry. The plan-ning was progress-ing but there was a feeling of fear that kept coming over me as the group got closer to making final deci-sions for the fund-raiser. Knowing that God does not give us a feeling of fear, but one of peace, I knew it was time to step back and reconsider our plans. The decision was made to cancel the forth coming fund-raiser. It was time for me to pre-sent this idea of a women’s group to the ladies. With a feeling of un-certainty, I laid out the idea of how other non-profits had a similar group. Without a hesitation the response from the ladies was YES, this is what we need to do.

The next few months were spent talking about possible ideas of how to structure the group. Since it was-God’s plan - examples of how to make it happen dropped into our laps. The women’s group is called Amis du Pont, meaning “Friends of Bridge,” with a purpose to support Bridge and its participants. Amis du Pont allows volunteers an opportuni-ty to serve outside of youth pro-grams and be involved in many dif-ferent areas of the ministry. Women have compared the purpose of Amis du Pont to Aaron who sup-ported Moses in his mission to lead his people to the promised land. The group works to help Bridge Ministry of Acadiana as the ministry reaches

out to the neighborhood. Amis du Pont’s leadership team hosted a luncheon in February to invite other women to join. It was a great success with twenty women attending. When God is in the mist, everyone becomes so energized and excited to move forward. The heart of the women is to meet the ladies in the Bridge neighborhood and devel-op friendships.

The first weekend in May, Amis du Pont hosted a Mother’s Day Celebration Dinner inviting the mothers of the youth who attend Bridge. Child care was provided. There was great food, fellowship, picture booth, crafts for the kids, and a great message from Tonya Bolden-Ball. Tonya’s message was one of reconciliation. She focused on the mutual struggles we all have as women, pointing out that we have more in common with each other than we have different. The event only lasted a few hours, but women started talking and sharing with one another. Friendships were started that the group plans to grow through the coming months and years.

“There is so much that we can learn from

each other as we become friends.” This is the idea behind the group not only to support Bridge in its ministry, but to be a part of the ministry through friendship. If you would like to join this great group of ladies we meet the third Wednesday of the month at noon at 512 N. University. Written by Jennifer Reynaud

Mother’s Day Celebration Dinner

Page 3 VOLUME 10 ISSUE 2

A look at College and Career

Five Bridge high school youth spent a day of spring break seeing what college was all about. They went on a guided tour of North-western State University (NSU) and had all their questions an-swered. The first comment after the tour by the students was “college is expensive”. After the tour the youth got a chance to en-joy some time playing volleyball and Ultimate Frisbee with the NSU Chi Alpha group. This al-

lowed the Bridge youth a chance to meet some college students and experience the activities that take place outside the classroom.

Some fun on the sand volleyball court at NSU

As the group loaded the van to come home one of the young men said, “I can’t wait for high school to be over. I want to go to col-lege.” Then the group began talk-ing about what they might want to choose as a career and what col-lege they might attend. Following the conversation were questions about when they would be able to go see another college and which ones they could pick from. The excitement for continued educa-tion after high school was a joy to hear as the youth were sharing about their new future plans.

This was their first college tour, but many of them had joined a group of middle school youth earlier in the year to attend the LSU School of Veterinary Medicines’ Open House. This was a day that allowed the youth to see different aspects of the veterinary school and different animals. The youth got to see a variety of horses,

cows, dogs, and birds, along with x-rays, aquatic therapy, and many animal skeletons. The day was full of interesting things to see, and even though many of the youth were not interested in be-coming veterinarians it was a great experience that they don’t have everyday to see different types of careers.

These are just two examples of new ways of exposing the middle and high school youth to the op-tions they have in front of them. Thanks for making these experi-ences possible.

Middle and High School youth at the LSU Veterinary Open house. What a great experience.

Volunteers Serving April 2014 — June 2014

Dan Hughes

Jim Janes

Marion Janes

Shirley Jean

Vernon Jenkins

Kerrie Kulbeth

Michelle Langlinais

Thomas LaSalle

Linda Montalbano

Hillary Ozenne

Mike Prudhomme

Sue Prudhomme

Peggy Reeves

Jimmy Simon

Sheila Trahan

Hannah Thibodeaux

Jordan Vidrine

Gina Aswell

Carolyn Barker

Mike Bertucci

Debbie Blum

Aubrey Braithwaite

Charlie Broussard

Donna Bulliard

Elizabeth Callen

Dejuana Chevalier

Kay Cox

Denise Daigle

Tommy Daigle

Rachael Dial

Karen Dugas

Mindy Early

Jennifer Eisler

Martha Funderburk

Charlotte Henderson

Kathleen Hidalgo

Asbury United Methodist

Church without Walls

The Bayou Church

Episcopal Church of the Ascension

First Baptist of Lafayette

Holy Cross Catholic Church

Metro Church

Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church

Philadelphia Christian Church

St. Lucy Catholic Church

Trinity Bible Church

Vineyard Church

Organizations Volunteers Represent

Thank

you

for your

sacrifice

of time

P.O. Box 62029

Lafayette, LA 70596

Bridge Ministry of Acadiana.

Phone: 337-235-5565

Fax: 337-235-5563

BridgeAcadiana.com

Visit our Website

BridgeAcadiana.com

NON-PROFIT

US POSTAGE

PAID

LAFAYETTE LA

PERMIT NO 387

Board of Directors

Emilie Duhon Jennifer Reynaud Jules Edwards Bob Kulbeth Dennis Malcolm Keith Rodriguez Connie Sanders David Woods Patrick Trahan

Nelson Warner

Staff

Jennifer Reynaud Executive Director [email protected]

Tony Boutte’

High School Coordinator [email protected]

Joel Lee Middle School Coordinator [email protected]

Erin Greneaux Elem. Youth Coordinator [email protected]

Joslynn Stakes Church Liaison [email protected]

Jennifer Bourque Elem. Assistant

Toi James Middle School Assistant