Mission Team Visits The Bridge in Gadsden

Ministry students from around the world converged on Gadsden between February 24 and March 2, 2010 to spend time with teen clients in each of the programs at The Bridge.

Although the students are based in Redding, California, some of them came to the United States to study from Norway, New Zealand, Great Britain, and various states within the U.S. Ben Runciman of New Zealand, leader of the group, was kind enough to allow me to sit in with several group meetings. I got to watch the initial feelings of uncertainly give way to trust, sharing, and friendly discussion as each group began to ask questions, share common experiences, and learn about each other and different parts of the world.

One member of the team, when asked why he chose this mission trip, commented that he came to Gadsden to share his own experiences with new people and added that they are “all good hearted kids.” He said it was the goal of the mission team to simply tell them that they truly care about them.

Clients often comment about the positive experience they encounter at The Bridge. A sense of caring is often the first step on the road to recovery. Each student raised their own funds for the trip and The Bridge appreciates the sacrifice each of them made in order to visit us and we thank them for affirming The Bridge's mission with us this week.

- Terry Schrimscher, Marketing and Communications Coordinator