Ministries

Ministries that are held at or sponsored by The Bridge:

• Library and Literacy Center

  • With a generous grant from an anonymous donor, a large section of the main building has been transformed into a library and literacy center for youth who live in the nearby barrios. In this airy space, volunteers bring opportunities for learning to students of all ages. In addition to reading programs, utilizing our collection of Spanish and English books, the space is available to visitors working with the community in a variety of programs, including literacy classes, English as a second language and tutoring. In addition, it offers an ideal location for various retreats and workshops for neighborhood churches lacking sufficient meeting space of their own.
• Young Life (Vida Joven)
• • In 2008 theBridge helped to bring the first Vida Joven (Young Life) club to Granada. Club meets at theBridge every Thursday evening, hosting as many as 100 young people from the surrounding barrios. Additional Club activities such as bible study, prayer meetings and participation in The Jicaro Project craft production take place throughout the week, extending outreach to the youth in the community.

• • Also, The Bridge has been instrumental in finding funding to keep Vida Joven open, including development of the annual Vida Joven 5K Fun Run in April of each year and bazaars in the barrio. The success of Vida Joven in the Santa Rosa barrio at the Bridge has helped to launch a second club in El Escudo barrio, near the cemetery, in one of the poorest barrios of Granada. By all accounts, the local population has seen a positive change in the youth participating in the program.

• Solo Por Hoy

  • Solo Por Hoy (Just For Today) is a group that ministers to addicts and alcoholics. The group teaches its members about freedom from life-controlling addictions through prayer, the power of the Holy Spirit and the support that comes from sharing struggles and victories within the group. Solo Por Hoy uses the 12 Steps of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) as a tool to help teach people how to become responsible members of society. Transformation is possible one day at a time.

  • Nicaragua House of Prayer

    • Located in a quiet corner of the El Puente property, visitors and staff alike can find a beautiful retreat for prayer and contemplation. This House of Prayer was the brainchild of the 2008/2009 Awakenings team, who lived and worked at the base for nine months. Upon moving into the team house, they adopted the roofless, floorless ruin as their own sanctuary for worship and prayer. Over the months of their stay, we began to transform the building, finishing out walls, adding a traditional “rancho” style thatch roof and a rustic hand-made tile floor.From the beginning, the team’s vision has been for a 24/7 prayer center on the basic lines of the famous Kansas City House of Prayer. Although not quite there in terms of ‘round the clock use, the Casa de Oration, as it is known locally, has hosted groups from neighboring churches, some in weeklong prayer vigils, and serves as a gathering spot for anyone wanting a quiet place to enter the presence of God. Almost everyone comments that this is a truly special place for prayer and reflection.

  • Barrio Street Outreach

    • Granada is a city with many troubled zones where drugs and alcohol define a lifestyle, and people have a hard time finding a way out. Crack houses and drug-dealing corners seem to be everywhere. With the help of local pastors close to theBridge, we make weekly visits to several of these spots, bringing simple refreshments and offering friendship. Initially, we were warned to stay away by the local drug dealers who didn’t want to see their business decline. But, over time, friendships have grown. In one particularly bad spot, called La Jungla (the jungle), we have even been asked to start a Bible study two doors down from the crack house. Although participants are not always clear eyed, some are wanting to change their lives. Several have prayed to accept Christ, and many of the guys have started coming to church and are now bringing other family members including sisters, cousins and girlfriends.Like many ministries out of theBridge, much of the hard work is done by brave young interns answering a “call” they couldn’t have imagined before coming to Nicaragua. Seeing well educated young men from the ‘States with everything in front of them, standing next to the most hopeless cast-offs from La Jungla on Sundays will expand your understanding of God’s kingdom and His work among us.

  • Dump Ministry

    • Like most major cities in Nicaragua, Granada’s dump is home to a community who rely on the leavings of everyone else in town for their livelihood. By the time the city’s trash makes its way to the dump, it has been systematically picked over by street people and by the men who pick up the trash, both looking to salvage anything worth selling. It’s hard to see what remains of value, but the dump community is able to scrape by on the odd bits.Overlooked by other aid organizations, we found a hard working group of people, including their children, working in flip flops or barefoot. They are so eager to find whatever has value in the refuse that at first they were hesitant to stop even for the food we began bringing. Believe it or not, they have great dignity, working harder than many people in town, and they are not looking for handouts or pity.Over time, we have established an outpost with these wonderful folks, bringing them hot meals to ease their days, singing with them, sharing the Bible, and bringing medical teams. Many have begun attending our twice monthly church services, and where we initially saw distrust, we now see smiling brothers and sisters. We have come to love this community, and every group who visits them comes away blessed by the experience.

  • Community Garden

    • Although malnutrition is rampant and food expensive, the average Granadino usually doesn’t think of turning their unused yard into a garden and thus a source of food. With almost two acres of open space at theBridge, we are hoping to reverse the perception that gardening is just not possible in the barrios. Undertaken as a pilot project by the AIM 2009/2010 Novas team, we have constructed raised garden beds and begun raising vegetables using organic gardening principles. In addition we have planted and are maintaining multiple fruit trees.It is our hope to transfer this concept and thereby introduce barrio families to small-scale horticulture and provide training on how they can reduce family food expenses, with the added benefit of increasing their intake of fruits and vegetables. As part of the program we have begun composting and worm “ranching” initiatives, to help provide healthy soil for gardeners. We would welcome any intern or guest horticulturalist to help us expand this project within the barrio.

  • The Jicaro Project

    • Offers training, employment and community to the youth and single mothers of Granada’s poorest barrios. Specializing in the design and production of quality artisanal handcrafts, the Project combines sustainable local resources with Nicaragua’s greatest treasure, the hand labor of its people. Proceeds from sales help to support these struggling families and youth, and provide funds for the Vida Joven Youth Clubs in Granada and other community improvement projects. Products are available for sale through the El Puente base shop, local gift shops in Granada, and a growing network of boutiques in the United States. Web purchases may be made through the Ojala! line at Opportunity International.
    • Click here to view our brochure

  • Torre Fuerte Barrio Feeding Program

    • Pastor Flores of Torre Fuerte church, also located in the Santa Rosa Barrio, provides hot meals to the poorest citizens of the barrio. Volunteers help to prepare and serve the meals, and entertain the children who gather for their meals. A second feeding program in a rural location outside of Granada is being conducted in preparation for a new church plant.

  • Corazon Contento Disabled Children’s Center

    • Volunteers can help at the center in a variety of ways. Whether helping to feed the children, conduct craft projects or just spend time with them, this is one of the most beloved programs for involvement in the lives of the less fortunate.

  • Hogar de los Ancianos Nursing Home

    • Volunteers with a heart for the elderly can serve by helping with domestic chores such as cleaning, or by being a friend to the frail and often lonely residents.

  • Hogar de Ninas Girl’s Orphanage

    • In Nicaragua, many children become economic orphans, meaning that they have been put out by families unable to care for them, or taken away when it is clear that life at home is unsafe. Volunteers at this Catholic home spend time with the girls, doing skits, crafts, or just playing.

  • Luz Del Mundo Church

    • This small church in the Santa Rosa barrio welcomes volunteers to assist with its children’s program and music program. Pastor Michaelangelo is active with our Barrio Street Outreach as well.

In addition to the programs directly offered through El Puente, we routinely assist unaffiliated initiatives throughout Granada, and often send volunteers who may be visiting our base through short term mission trips. Outside Projects we work with include: