by Wayne Hannah
GBIM Asia Regional Director
Apparently the busiest bridge in the world is the Howrah Bridge in Kolkata (Calcutta), India. Approximately 60,000 vehicles and more than four million pedestrians (the population of Los Angeles) cross this 1500-foot-long bridge—every day!
We talk a lot about bridges here at GBIM. In fact, “Bridges” is the theme we will highlight at the FGBC National Conference this month. When we talk about “bridges,” we are talking about relational bridges—ways that one can connect with other people to build authentic relationships that lead to living and sharing his or her faith in Christ. Paul Klawitter, Europe Regional Director, lists 60 different relational bridges that the Europe Team uses in their various ministries. They include an Irish Felter’s club, fencing (like with swords), motorcycle club, Fair Trade Café, teaching English, a guitar guild, and Chinese classes. They are all serious, intentional, relational encounters with Europeans that the Europe team is using to bridge into others’ lives as seeds for the sharing of the gospel.
I once stood on the very edge of an interesting bridge in France. I had walked out onto this bridge from the shore behind me and was looking at the far shore. Strangely, the bridge stopped right where I was standing in the middle of the river. It was the Pont d’Avignon. This Bridge of Avignon has never been completed.
We could say the Howrah Bridge is pretty effective, but the Avignon Bridge not at all. As you pray for our bridge-building efforts around the world to be effective, perhaps you too could begin to build your own bridges right where you are.
