Effective Bridge Events to reach your community

In this practical and timely webinar, Jeremiah Raible invites ministry leaders to reimagine how they approach community outreach. Too often, churches pour immense effort into large events that create momentary enthusiasm but little lasting connection. Jeremiah offers a compelling alternative: shifting from event-based ministry to **bridge-building**—intentional strategies that lead people from first contact to meaningful relationship and spiritual growth.

Drawing from his years of experience as an outreach pastor, ministry coach, and trainer, Jeremiah provides clear, actionable steps for cultivating an invitational culture, designing relational pathways, and creating next steps that actually help families and individuals move closer to Christ. Leaders will learn how to leverage seasonal opportunities, rethink traditional programs, and maximize the relational potential of every ministry moment.

### **What You’ll Learn**

* Why large one-time outreach events often fail to create long-term engagement
* What “bridge events” are—and how they differ from typical programs
* How to overcome the “stained-glass gap” that keeps people from returning
* Ways to create relational and spiritual on-ramps for guests
* How to use the “first date → second date → third date” framework for follow-up
* Steps for building a true invitational culture within your church
* Practical bridge-event ideas for kids, families, and NextGen ministries
* How to use social media and communication tools strategically

### **What’s Included**

* Seven essential ingredients of an effective bridge event
* Case studies from churches across Canada
* Practical planning and promotion tools you can implement right away
* Strategies for volunteer engagement and guest follow-up
* Interactive Q&A with Jeremiah Raible

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## **Resources Referenced in the Webinar**

### **Foundational Articles**

* Thom Rainer: *Why Guests Don’t Come to Your Church After a Big Event*
[https://churchanswers.com/blog/why-guests-dont-come-to-your-church-after-a-big-event/](https://churchanswers.com/blog/why-guests-dont-come-to-your-church-after-a-big-event/)

* *Rethinking Outreach: Why Connection Must Come Before Conversion*
[https://abnwt.com/articles/rethinking-outreach-why-connection-must-come-before-conversion](https://abnwt.com/articles/rethinking-outreach-why-connection-must-come-before-conversion)

### **Bridge-Building Webinars & Tools**

* *Building Bridges Into the Community* (Webinar)
[https://abnwt.com/training/building-bridges-into-the-community](https://abnwt.com/training/building-bridges-into-the-community)

### **Practical Outreach Articles**

* *Bridge Events: Building Bridges to Christ* (Canada Day Example)
[https://abnwt.com/articles/bridge-events-building-bridges-to-christ](https://abnwt.com/articles/bridge-events-building-bridges-to-christ)

* *4 Ideas for Outreach Into Your Community*
[https://abnwt.com/articles/4-ideas-for-outreach-into-your-community](https://abnwt.com/articles/4-ideas-for-outreach-into-your-community)

* *14 Christmas Outreach Ideas*
[https://abnwt.com/articles/14-christmas-outreach-ideas](https://abnwt.com/articles/14-christmas-outreach-ideas)

* *Engage Your Community This Summer*
[https://abnwt.com/articles/engage-your-community-this-summer](https://abnwt.com/articles/engage-your-community-this-summer)

* *Get Out of Your Office and Into Your Community*
[https://abnwt.com/articles/get-out-of-your-office-and-into-your-community](https://abnwt.com/articles/get-out-of-your-office-and-into-your-community)

* *6 Outreaches to Families With Children That You Should Do*
[https://abnwt.com/articles/6-outreaches-to-families-with-children-that-you-should-do](https://abnwt.com/articles/6-outreaches-to-families-with-children-that-you-should-do)

* *Transforming Communities Through Connection: A Kingdom Approach*
[https://abnwt.com/articles/transforming-communities-through-connection-a-kingdom-approach](https://abnwt.com/articles/transforming-communities-through-connection-a-kingdom-approach)

* *4 Fantastic Outreaches to Do in the Spring*
[https://abnwt.com/articles/4-fantastic-outreaches-to-do-in-the-spring] (https://abnwt.com/articles/4-fantastic-outreaches-to-do-in-the-spring)

* *Canadians Reaching Canadians*
[https://abnwt.com/articles/canadians-reaching-canadians](https://abnwt.com/articles/canadians-reaching-canadians)