BRIDGE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

BRIDGE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. After using five different locations for worship since it was founded in 2001, the Bridge Christian Church announced a permanent home in January, 2012. (1) The congregation purchased the century-old building at the corner of Bluff and Ninth that had once been the home of FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST in Dubuque. This was the newest chapter in a congregation which had held services at the DUBUQUE RESCUE MISSION, the former DUBUQUE CHURCH OF CHRIST. CINEMA CENTER 8, BELL TOWER THEATER and then Blades Chapel at the UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE. (2)

At an open house held on January 29, 2012 visitors found many changes from the restaurant that had once been located in the building. In an article appearing in the Telegraph Herald, Rev. Travis Roehm stated that the church was especially reaching out for the "unchurched," those with no church home, and the "dechurched," those who had turned away from their church. The largest group in both categories were men between the ages of 18 and 39. In the past, the church sponsored such male-oriented activities as lumberjack competitions and chili contests.

At the time of the open house, the nondenominational congregation was in the process of changing its name to Bridge Christian Community. Rev. Roehm stated that scouts, civic groups and other community organizations would be welcome to use the building's spaces. (3)

In 2018 LeRoy Bush, a member of Troop 11, in fulfillment of his Eagle Scout project moved concrete and landscaped the front of the church in Dubuque. He also added a handicap parking area. (4)

---

Source:

1. Nevans-Pederson, Mary, "After A Span of 10 Years, Bridge Finds a Home," Telegraph Herald, January 27, 2012, p. 3A

2. Nevans-Pederson, Mary, "Come as You Are," Telegraph Herald, November 27, 2004, p. 1

3. Nevans-Pederson

4. "Eagle Scouts," Telegraph Herald, March 17, 2018, p. 9