LifeBridge Opens Doors to Its New Home

   The Israelites wandered the wilderness for 40 years before entering their homeland.  LifeBridge Community hasn't exactly been in the wilderness, but we've certainly dealt with many obstacles and experienced our own complicated journey to where we are today - a place we can finally call home.  We are certainly grateful for those facilities

New LifeBridge Home 626 Main Street, Beech Grove

provided for us in the past.  But after six years of temporary meeting rooms, of hauling supplies back and forth, of not being able to personalize by painting or hanging photos and of having our office separate from where we hold our programs, LifeBridge has opened the doors to our own building.

   It was only in early August that the building became available for lease to LifeBridge.  The facility had great potential, but some major renovations were needed to make it fit our needs and get it ready for fall programs.  "How in the world are we going to get this done - both with labor and financially?" wondered LifeBridge Community Director Mike Crosley.  The answer came in some surprising ways.

Artist Lynda Wilson painting beautiful murals for the building

 

HELPING HANDS

   Day after day, volunteers gave their time and talents.  From painting, cleaning, drywall repair, laying tile and carpentry work to electrical, plumbing, computer, engineering and mechanical expertise, well over 100 volunteers helped to transform the building.  On some days, over 50 people came forward to help.  "It is absolutely overwhelming.  There have been times that I had to just walk away because I would get emotional about it," said Crosley.  "Many days people showed up who I didn't even know.  It really touched my heart.  I'd just step back and think, 'How cool is that?'"

   Beyond the hundreds of hours of donated labor, materials and financial donations helped tremendously.  As needs arose, people responded - with paint, floor tile, tables, plumbing supplies and much more.  "Just like many remodeling projects, we had a lot of unexpected expenses.  I was really sweating it," recalled Crosley.  "But a significant contribution came in that really helped, along with people coming through for us time and again, and it just reminded me that God is with us and God is in this." 

[Read MIKE'S BLOG about the miraculous ways God moved during our extreme makeover]

Tay'Shawn, Jorden and Xavier in the new library-recreation area

 

A NEW CHAPTER

   On September 26, after five weeks of remodeling, LifeBridge began a new chapter in our mission to help children in need and for the first time began after-school programs in a building of our own.  The new facility will have a big impact on the kids we serve and the community where we are located.  Staff and volunteers can focus their efforts on working with children, instead of dealing with logistics and moving materials and equipment.  With our new location and through a strong partnership with Beech Grove Schools, buses are transporting most kids directly to LifeBridge, freeing up huge amounts of time that can be spent helping the children.   

Madisyn enjoying dinner at LifeBridge

   Locating to downtown Beech Grove brings other benefits.  "We were kind of invisible before.  People didn't know where to find us.  Now we're centrally located and visible to the community which brings a lot more credibility," said Crosley.  "It's opened up a lot of doors.  We're more available to people.  Not a day goes by where someone doesn't come in - some wanting to know more about us, some even looking to volunteer." 

   Looking ahead, our hope is to utilize the building on weekends for group mentoring and other projects.  In the future we want to use our facility to increase family ministries.  This new home, quite simply, is a major step forward in helping LifeBridge to better serve and impact children and families in our community.  

   Our building has been remodeled (mostly) and we've started after-school programs, but we still have many ongoing needs in order to serve children and families in our community.  Your cash gift or your donation of simple items can really help us.

Make a cash donation:

Wish List

(We'll live without it, but it would be nice)

                    · New carpet for the building

                    · Large flat-panel TV

                    · Wii game system, Wii exercise and entertainment games

                       (child-friendly rating), such as Dance for children 

 Visit our website