Who We Are
We’re a church passionate about Jesus and passionate about our local community.
Find out more about us and what we believe below...
The Heart
On the 6 September 1992 Bridgeman Baptist was birthed. Founding Pastor, Peter Sweetman recorded these words in his journal based on his reading that day from Ps 69:34-36.
“God will save his people and build cities ‘then people will settle there and possess it, the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there.’ Oh Lord, may we be a people who dwell together in love and joy, who have a desire to be a city of God where people are drawn to you in peace and freedom, where burdens are lifted, people healed, and where the gospel is made known.”
The God who promised blessing when Psalm 69 was written, is the same God who has so graciously blessed us as his people here at Bridgeman. Jesus has helped us to possess and settle in this unique location, through his great grace we have dwelled together in love and joy for decades, we have seen burdens lifted and lives healed again and again, the precious gospel has been made known to so many, and another generation has inherited what God began in 1992. We give all the glory to our mighty God!
The story of Bridgeman is really a prayer story. It’s a story of humbly crying out to Jesus, year after year, decade after decade, asking Him to help us to abide in Him and asking Him to show us the way we should go. He has so graciously answered, forgiving us, healing wounds, filling us with his love, and empowering our service and witness. Jesus has most certainly gone before us, making a way again and again, even when there was no way. We shout the praise of our Saviour and King!
There is one special prayer we have prayed earnestly since this church began. We believe God has promised to bring a great reviving work to our community, city, and nation. As we press on we pray that our faith will be like that of Abraham, who was commended with these words,
“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised,” (Romans 4:20)
We cry with faith, ‘Revive our land!’
Values
Our genuine desire is to be a church which is passionate about our relationship with Christ, and obedient to the direction of the Holy Spirit. As a group of God’s people, we want to live humbly and be known as a church where everyone is accepted, loved, served and encouraged.
Prayer
Prevailing Prayer: Our heart is to be a praying church. We know that with much prayer there is much power but with little prayer there is little power. We seek to be a church that prays fervently and with faith. We believe that when we pray things shift in the spiritual realm and the flood gates of heaven open. We know that without God we can do nothing (John 15:5) and so prayer is the foundation of all we do. We believe that as we seek God together He speaks and leads us as His church.
Word
Living According to God’s Word: We know that the word of God is powerful, inspired and active. (Hebrews 4:12) We believe that the bible is the number one way God speaks to us and is the ultimate guide for our lives. Our heart is to be a people devoted to God’s word, humbly seeking to live according to its instruction. (James 1:22-25)
Humility
Servant Hearted Humility: We seek to be a church the lives humbly before God and others. We value servant hearted leadership. We know that man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. Our heart is to be faithful in the small unseen things so that His Spirit can move in power and the name of Jesus is lifted high. Our prayer is “less of us and more of You”. John 3:30
Grace
Grace Filled Community: We want to be a grace filled community because of the undeserved grace and love God has shown to us. Just as we have been forgiven we want to be quick to forgive others. (Ephesians 4:32) We are aware that we are all sinners saved by grace and long to show this same grace to others. (Colossians 3:12-14) We know that none of us is perfect but on a journey of becoming more like Jesus. We pray that through our lives people would see and experience the grace and love of God for them.
Welcoming
Welcoming and Caring Family: We know that every person has incredibly value and worth. (Genesis 1:27) and that we have been created to live in relationship with others. (Genesis 2:18) Jesus welcomed the crowds (Luke 9:11) always including people from every background and social status no matter what their journey of life and faith had been. (Matthew 11:19) Our heart is to be a welcoming family where people can experience a community filled with God’s love and belong before they believe.
Faith
Bold and Courageous Faith: We believe we serve a big God and that He is the God of the miraculous and the impossible. We know that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6) and that we have been called to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). As a church we long not just for good stories but for God stories. We want to see God receive all the glory by trusting Him in faith for things only He could accomplish. We want to be a people who are ready to step out of our comfort zone and into the faith zone. Our prayer is that we will have stories we can share with generations to come of His amazing power and faithfulness.
Passionate
Passionate Worshipers: Our heart as a church is to be a people who worship God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. (Mark 12:30) We want to express through our worship, prayer and daily lives our whole hearted devotion to Jesus. We want to be a passionate people, ready to pour out our praise because of who God is and all He has done for us. (Psalm 150:1-6)
Generous
Generously Compassionate: We know that our God is a generous God who has poured out His blessing on us. (2 Corinthians 9:8) We also know that God’s heart breaks for the needs of our world. He calls us as His people to have a heart of sacrificial generosity and compassion to care for the poor, marginalised, oppressed and forgotten. (Deuteronomy 15:10). Our heart is to be a people who reflect God’s heart of generosity and compassion to our community and world.
Outreach
Compelled to Reach Out: Our heart as a church is always to be outward looking. The love God has shown to us compels us to share the good news of the gospel with our community, city and world. (2 Corinthians 5:14) We believe that Jesus is the hope of the world bringing healing, purpose and life. He has called us to be His light shining in the darkness and to share with others this life transforming message of His love and saving power. (Matthew 5:14)
Empowering
Empowering Every Believer: We know that every believer has been called and uniquely gifted by God to be part of His kingdom mission to our world. (Ephesians 2:10). We believe that we are all ministers of God’s good news and that there is no greater joy than discovering this calling and experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit working through us to bless others. (1 Peter 2:9) Our heart as a church is to see every follower of Jesus empowered, equipped and released for God’s kingdom plans and purposes.
Thankfulness
Overflowing with Thankfulness: In response to the amazing grace and love God has shown to us we want our lives to overflow with a heart of gratitude to God and those around us. As a church we want to be known as a thankful people who are encouragers, always seeking to build others up. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Growing Deeper
Devoted to Growing Deeper: Having discovered new life in Jesus we are called to keep growing deeper in our relationship with Him. (Philippians 3:12-14) We long for more of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives to keep transforming us in holiness to be more like Jesus.
Meet our Pastoral Team
Nathan Harris
Senior Pastor
Andrew Carnell
Lead Ministry Pastor
Peter Sweetman
Founding Pastor
Jodi Traves
Women & Bridgecare Pastor
David Twigg
Outreach Pastor
Jono Harris
Creative Pastor
Tyrone Thomas
Kids & YA’s Pastor
Dan Moura
City & Discipleship Pastor
Travis Grainger
Youth Pastor
Tamara Courtice
Welcome & Young Adults Pastor
Neil Bernard
INSPIRE & Pastoral Care Pastor
Sara Millard
Kids & Families Pastor
Emily McLeod
Pastoral Intern - Planting
What We Believe
God
We believe in one God in three persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, co-equal and existing forever in unity, creating and ruling the universe, all powerful, all knowing, present everywhere, completely just and full of love.
Key passages: Genesis 1:26,27;3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Romans 11:33-36; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 4:8,11
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus, the Son of God, came to this earth as both God and man. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He rose from the dead, ascended to heaven and will come again to judge the world and reign as King and Lord of all.
Key passages: Matthew 1:22,23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Cor.15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Tim. 6:14,15; Titus 2:13
The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit is a person co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is present in the world to convict people of sin and of their accountability to God. He gives new life to all who turn from their sin and receive Jesus as Lord. He lives in believers from the time they turn to Jesus and works to make them holy. He empowers them for Christian life and service, and gives them understanding of spiritual truth and guidance to do what is right. He gives spiritual gifts to all believers for the building of the church (the body of Christ).
Key passages: 2 Cor.3:17; John 16:7-13; 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Cor.2:12; 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; 5:18; Galatians 5:25
The Scriptures
We believe the Bible is inspired by God and without error in its original form It is our authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
Key passages: 2 Tim.3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Tim.1:13; Psalm 12:6; 119:105,106; Proverbs 30:5.
Humanity
We believe people are made to live in relationship with and dependence on God. Through our rebellion and self-dependence (sin) all people are separated from God and face God’s judgement. In this state, people remain under the control of the person of Satan.
Key passages: Genesis 1:17; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; 59:1-2; Romans 3:23; 1 John 5:19.
Salvation
We believe we cannot make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. We are saved when we turn from our self-ruled life (repent) and receive Jesus as Lord by faith. When we are saved, our rebellion and failings are forgiven and we are adopted into God’s family forever.
Key passages: Romans 6:23; Ephesians. 2:8-9; John 14:6; Titus 3:5; Gal. 3:26; John 10:28-29; 2 Tim.1:12.
Marriage
We believe in the Biblical definition of marriage as being the union between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life.
We affirm the Australian Baptists Ministries Statement regarding Same Sex Marriage Relationships and the Queensland Baptists Position Paper on Sexuality and Marriage.
The Future
We believe people are created to live forever. Everyone will be judged by Jesus for what they have done on earth. Those who have received Jesus as Lord will live with Him forever (heaven), and those who have rejected Christ will be separated from Him forever (hell).
Key passages: John 3:16; 1 John 5:11-13; Revelation 20:12-15; Matthew 24: 30,31; Matthew 25:41,46.
