About Bridge International
Our Identity:
The International Director, Ruth McClintock, arrived in Zambia in
March 2002 from Romania. By 2003 we were registered as a ministry
under a different name. Through a series of unforeseen
circumstances we needed to change the ministry name, and it began
operating under the name of Bridge International in February
2005.
Bridge is a faith-based organization engaged in the process of
Transformational Community Development. Our vision includes the
entire nation, and our target group are those living in the bush
areas where few travel to provide help of guidance of any kind, as
well as to orphans and vulnerable children, and those who have no
voice in society.
Our Methodology:
Any project that Bridge undertakes in an underprivileged community is:
- Transformational – Our goal is true community transformation that is systemic and sustainable.
- Bible Based – We address physical, spiritual, relational, economic, political, social, educational, environmental – and other issues as needed.
- Community-owned – Our development projects are initiated and owned by members of the community itself.
- Sustainable – Solutions must be sustainable by the community without depending on long-term support from outside professionals or resources.
- Realistic – We understand that no single individual or agency has all the answers, and that prosperity alone does not make a community healthy.
- Networked – We work with local and national governments, educational institutions, NGOs, church and mission groups, development professionals, the business community, and more.
- Global – Our process principles are designed to work within any national or cultural context.
- Accountable – Measurable objectives are agreed upon and are continuously assessed, evaluated, and re-evaluated.
Our 5-Fold Platform:
- Restored relationships – Our view is that poverty is caused not merely by a lack of resources or skill sets. Rather it appears related to a combined and interrelated series of failed relationships that rob the disadvantaged of their ability to break free from their circumstances. This includes relationships with God, family, neighbors, community, nation, and environment.
- Developing agents of transformation – One of the detriments of outside efforts is the continuous ‘us’ and ‘them’ perception that tends to evolve when effort is made on behalf of a community. Our approach – in an effort at multiplied impact – has been to train teams that work directly with the community. Our long-term, multi-generational approach to community involvement must incorporate persons from within the community to not only drive the process, but own it as well.
- General well-being – This is a combined tension between a felt needs lack of resources and skill sets, and the creation of a self-sustaining ability that empowers for permanent solutions and avoids dependency models. The transformational process goes beyond issues of relief, and redirects social action initiatives towards a community participation learning exercise.
- Creating sustainability – All marginalized communities will require some outside assistance in the process. This is especially true in areas of education and economic development. A large part of our process is to assist the community by teaching them ways and methods, as well as facilitating the relationships mentioned in number 1 above.
This takes the form of workshops, ongoing classes, and one on one mentoring, as well as practical help with school fees, food, etc. as we are able.
Further, we do partner with other similar organisations that also are willing to help. Examples would include those who would help us with drilling a well for clean water, government agencies to upgrade entire communities and build schools, etc. - Systems and structures – Any work of gospel application and witness among the poor must take a holistic approach that recognizes the need for redemptive influence in social, religious, political and economic systems. We wish to have Kingdom influence in areas of oppression and injustice through advocacy, as well as capacity-building within the community.
Our Process:
Effective, Bible-based development is predicated on a proper definition of church that goes beyond a local congregation. Our goal is to establish relationships within communities, which results in residents of the community working in process with staff.
Employing the theology of development, we utilize a number of development tools which are all pare of strategically walking the community through various applications of a 4-phase process identified as Discovery, Dream, Design and Delivery.
This process is not merely a series of events, but is rather a comprehensive and committed approach to bring the salt and light of the gospel message into any given community.
The result is a relevancy on the part of the church beyond the norm that will provoke questions to which the proclamation of good news becomes the answer. The spoken gospel and the love of God becomes demonstrated through lifestyle evangelism – with no agenda beyond improving the quality of life among the poor…or to put it in biblical terms, loving your neighbor as yourself.
It is a long-term, multi-generational approach that does not look for instant gratification, short-term relief, or quick fix projects. In most communities it will represent several years of commitment, and require dedication, training and patience.
In the end, we believe our efforts will produce a Kingdom community that is able to sustain itself, as well as succeed in creating a well-established church.
You may read about our progress to date by going to Track Record.
You may read about our staff by going to Staff Information.
You may read about our calling by going to Vision.
You may read about where we are working by going to Communities.
We sincerely hope you enjoy the website and that you are not only informed, but blessed, as you read about what God is doing in this part of the world.
