Bridge Builders

A Vineyard ministry for people affected by disabilities.

Missions Statement:
  • A ministry to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ by sharing in His acceptance, His respect, His comfort and His purposes towards all people affected by disabilities because of whose they are, made in His image, not based on their appearance, abilities or social position.
  • To equip the church with education, information and ministry opportunities.
  • To encourage each person with a disability to identify their gifts and minister with these gifts to the body of Christ and to the community.
  • As a team, we desire to prepare the church's "Welcome Mat" architecturally, socially, educationally and spiritually by identifying and removing barriers which hinder persons with disabilities from meeting Jesus.
Historical Timeline January 1996 Began a class called TenderCare with two children w/ special needs.
January 1997 Offered a once a month outreach called RESTORE to parents/caregivers of people with special needs. We had a Christian guest speaker and offered free childcare as a ministry.
Late summer of 1997 Bridge Builders began to grow as a ministry using this name.
Fall of 1997 BB first child got baptized after he said "I want to walk to Jesus." Usher/Greeter guidelines were developed to welcome all who enter into the auditorium.
January 1998 Acquired Deaf ministry for structure. Vicki Miller was instrumental in getting this ministry to grow and prepared the schedule for interpreters. Outreaches included a Bible Study at Columbus Colony Nursing Facility for Deaf Adults and a deaf children's class on Saturday nights during the service. A Sign Language Club at Tree of Life Christian Schools grades 4-6 led by a deaf person.
Various talk radio with WCVO Brunch Bunch to share about Disability Ministry.
Fall of 1998 Bridge Builders first newsletter distributed in the secular services in a disability-related field.
First Church Training Center "Barrier Free Friendships".
February 1998 Barb and Howard Skubovius started Healing4Kids prayer teams that would visit Children's' Hospital(CH). At the parent's approval, used a confidential email list for those who want to pray for sick children at CH. August 1999 - Vineyard sponsored a Lunch/Workshop designed to connect secular organizations with churches. Offering inclusion ideas within the church and ways for churches to approach a church to promote better inclusion. There were 12 county run institutions present some came with a local chaplain/pastor.
Fall of 1999 Resting Place was birthed from RESTORE. This was a Bible group for women who have a child with disabilities. This was initially led by Alison Kitchen and then mother Cherie Morrow led for 4+ years. The group stopped as parents wanted to be integrated with typical small groups. That's a good thing.
Fall of 1999 Baker's Delight started as a ministry to support Bridge Builder outreaches to Ronald McDonald House, Children's Hospital and later an outreach called Joyful Noise. Leanna Maxwell began the team, then Ann Holden and now Mindy March.
Debra spoke to a Newark Pastors Breakfast on Disability Ministry.
Healing4kids web page
Healing4kids- Barb and Howard Skubovius created the "Faith Card" which was a business card with Faith Skubovius's picture on it and a phone number a family could call if they wanted prayer for their child.
Bridge Builder Email Newsletter
Bridge Builder Website created. www.bridgebuilders.4mg.com
February 2000 Debra spoke at a Pastor's Breakfast about Disability Ministry at Worthington Christian Church. 35 Pastors attended
Deaf small group for women whose child is deaf or hearing impaired.
Began worship songs in Braille and large print. Braille is no longer available.
Silent Breakfast was sponsored by Gary Looker for deaf families and those who are learning sign language to practice their skills. Only sign language or writing on paper were acceptable forms of communication.
Began our Deaf Kids class on Saturday night led by Carolyn Looker.
Summer 2000 Offered a Sign Language class at Vineyard as a summer program.
August 2000 Vineyard was the hub site for a Joni and Friends Wheels for the World wheelchair Collection.
TenderCare was moved to Sunday Morning and then cancelled when we started a Buddy Program.
2001 Through the Roof Program for Children's Ministry was held under a canopy for 2 weekends. This was a disability awareness program with hands on challenges of having specific disabilities.
Fall of 2002 Began Joyful Noise a small group Church Without Walls outreach to an Franklin County MRDD adult residential facility. These were held the 4th Wednesday evening of each month. Supported by Baker's Delight.
2003 Began Body Builders a Bible class for teens/young adults with cognitive delays.
2003 Began our annual Special Olympics connection with Vineyard volunteers.
October 2004 Debra Petermann began employment with Joni Eraeckson Tada's International Disability Ministry as the Through the Roof Program Coordinator. My responsibilities are to assist Christ-honoring churches begin and develop disability ministry in a four state area (Ohio, Michigan, Northern Kentucky and West Virginia)
Vineyard generously offered a space to house the Joni and Friends Columbus Extension Office.
2005 Buddy Connection began children with special needs that can do well in a typical Vineyard Children's Ministry Program.
2006 All Special Need Programming is at the 9:15am service
NEW-Began Sensory Break Room - a unique program to help children with sensory integration issues, primarily autism, to be part of the church community. This works in conjunction with the Buddy Connection. It is being led by volunteers Marla Hester (a Spec.Ed Teacher), Carol Huntzinger (a Spec Ed aid), Beth Frech (an Occupational Therapist) and Vicki Baertsche (a Speech Pathologist). Julia Desert, a parent, is coordinating the Buddy Connection Schedule. We currently have 8 children that we serve and 4 on the waiting list for a Buddy. Buddies can serve 1x a month or more. Training is done in the Sensory Break Room.
NEW - Beginning a small group outreach called EMBRACE. Many families with children with special needs cannot be a part of a small group because getting appropriate childcare is always an issue. EMBRACE is a way for a small group to adopt a family and be with their disabled child in a children's program while their parents attedn the service. All we do is hold these little ones under 3 yrs of age.