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BRIDGE BUILDING FUND

The Bridge Building Fund (BFF) is a special fund designed to support, invest in, and fuel the kingdom influence that Jesus has entrusted to me, Andy Searles. 
My life’s purpose is to bring God’s kingdom into our culture as a bridge-building connector between many of our society’s influential sectors, leaders, and organizations. Within many different relationships and spheres, I build bridges of grace that are strong enough to carry the weight of truth.

When segments of our lives and society are siloed or isolated, threats increase, and potential decreases. Conversely, when we build bridges that allow people to work together, threats are minimized, potential is maximized, and the kingdom of Jesus can advance more strategically and powerfully.

I am honored to be the pastor of Church Together and am deeply committed to continuing to love and lead in this beautiful expression of the body of Christ. As a Shepherd, seeing how our church is actively transforming lives and the Casselberry community brings me great joy.
My Spheres of Bridge Building

Beyond that, I continually offer pastoral, transformative, and missionary leadership within our broader society, and ministering in these areas requires resources.
My voice, leadership, and influence currently extend within the following spheres.
Professional Sports
Regional Influence
Church & Society
Encouraging Pastors & Ministry Leaders
For more details of my work in these spaces, please keep scrolling.
The Call to Bridge Building
 
Reflecting on my ministry adventures over the past thirty-plus years, I see that three common threads have consistently shaped who I am and what I have done.
Looking to the future, these three things will define my call as a bridge builder. The three consistent threads are that…

I care for people – The context of care encourages people to begin bridge-building work.
I bring people together – Bringing people together is the work of bridge-building.
I help transform spaces – This is the result of bridge-building.
The Costs Involved in Bridge Building

While Church Together deeply supports and encourages these endeavors, I do not want to remove resources from our church’s primary vision and focus on our local community as my influence in the broader community continues to expand. I don’t receive compensation for any of these projects beyond Church Together, and there are many related costs. To offset these projects' costs, I ask a few friends, like yourself, to donate to the Church Together Bridge Building Fund, which furthers ministry within these spheres.

I seek to raise around $15,000 a year to help cover the costs associated with these projects. This figure includes expenses such as ministry activity and resources within these spheres, training and development in emerging leaders, travel, hospitality, event activation, hosting and facilitating, and numerous other expenses that arise as I seek to fulfill my calling.

This fund has been established to allow a small number of trusted friends who believe in my ministry calling to invest in these kingdom projects.  To fuel these projects, you can give an annual gift (suggested levels are $5,000, $2,500, or $1,000) or a monthly recurring gift. Checks can be written to Church Together, with the name “Bridge Builder” written in the memo line, and mailed to:

Church Together
Re. Bridge Builders
PO Box 180356
Casselberry, FL 32718

Or given online below (all gifts are tax-deductible and safely administrated through Church Together Ministries)

My Specific Work in Bridge Building

Professional Sports
Regional Influence
Church & Society
Encouraging Pastors & Ministry Leaders
I serve as the team chaplain at Orlando City Soccer Club, where I influence disciples and mentor professional athletes in Orlando and around the country. An outgrowth of this work is the formation of the Pro-Soccer Chaplains Association, which seeks to unite, accredit, and equip chaplains in professional soccer across the US and Canada. Because of this, influential athletes are impacted by the power of the gospel.
By God’s kindness, I am often asked to provide pastoral support and counsel to many regional leaders in local government, law enforcement, public education, media, and spaces where leaders and influencers frequent. These relationships are a sacred stewardship & responsibility. Because of this, Christ-centered values are being ministered and built into some of our region's core decisions and future direction.
As the Chairman and Board Member of Nayba US, I serve with this global ministry to advance its mission to measure, quantify, and communicate the churches' impact in the social spheres of society. This work allows churches to interface and interact better within our secular society and provides churches with vision and resources to increase that influence through the three-step “Nayba Journey.” Because of this, churches are learning to have more impact and influence within their communities, and best ministry practices are being identified and shared.
The pressures, politics, and pain that often accompany leading a local church or ministry make it challenging today. However, the church remains central to God’s redemptive plan. I am honored to be invited into many conversations and opportunities that bring together and extend support to pastors and ministry leaders. Because of this, pastors and ministry leaders are experiencing support and feel encouraged that they are not alone in the vital work of strengthening Christ’s church.
Learn More About My Bridge Building Work
I’d love to chat and share more specifics about how I am fulfilling and fueling God's work in and through me in this space. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to discuss this further.

Personal Cell – (407) 405-5055
E-Mail – Andy@OurChurchTogether.com

I am so grateful for your partnership in the Gospel,