Grand Rapids Bridge Year

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A Christ-centered bridge-year program for young adults.

“The power of the [Grand Rapids Bridge Year] experience is in the character and hearts of its leaders.”  – Raina
“This program equipped me to walk with Jesus, to engage injustice, and to cultivate a life of prayer and intentionality.” – Stephanie
“It gave me such a great biblical foundation to take into my career and life. I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything!” – RJ
“[Grand Rapids Bridge Year] gave me a solid foundation for living a life that is rooted in Christ and focused on loving and serving the people around me.” – Leah
  • Bridge Street

Phase 1 : Spiritual Formation + Local Mission

September – December

The primary focus of this phase is on spiritual development which happens through teaching, reflection, and application. There are 10-15 hours/week of topically based teaching led by a variety of qualified speakers from around the world. Weekly teaching topics may include: Biblical Worldview, Nature and Character of God, Inductive Method of Studying Scripture, Urban Missions, Global Missions, Community, Spiritual Warfare, Worship, Prayer, and more. All students live in the BSM neighborhood, and experience the richness and challenges of living in intentional Christian community. The learning experience is not limited to the classroom, but is taken to a variety of urban ministry settings where students have opportunities to tutor children, coach soccer, run after-school programs, serve coffee in the Pavilion Coffee Shop, etc.

Phase 2 : Global Mission

January – February

This phase gives students an experience of a life “on mission” in a foreign culture. All mission teams are sent to support and advance the mission of long-term missionaries around the globe. We work to build long-term partnerships so that our global efforts help to sustain and grow effective ministry among the people we are serving.

Phase 3 : Sending

March – April

The purpose of this final phase is to take everything that was learned and experienced during the first 6-months, and translate that into a strategic action plan to move forward. Every student is equipped with tools like the Strengths Finders assessment, a personality and cultural intelligence assessment, and a spiritual gifts assessment. Students also choose one of three focus tracks to provide more specific training in certain areas. The Leadership Track helps students develop their leadership potential in any setting. The Global Missions track helps equip students for cross-cultural mission work, especially among unreached people groups. The Community Development Track is for students interested in the type of urban ministry that BSM does in the West Side of Grand Rapids. By the end of phase 3, students have developed a comprehensive strategic action plan so they can be sent out to live a life of mission.

Earn credit at one of our partner colleges and universities.

Calvin University Logo

Calvin University

6 transfer credits
Fulfills the cross-cultural engagement requirement.

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Kuyper College

21 transfer credits

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Grace Christian University

18 transfer credits

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All credits are general education transfer credits and can be applied to any degree offered by the institution. For more information, please contact the admissions office of the institutions listed above.

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