Bridge City Update June ‘25

Greetings from Cincinnati!

Are you familiar with the expression “God is never late, rarely early, but right on time?” I have been reminded of this truth countless times since planting Bridge City Church.

A common thread within the story God is writing for us, has been the long periods of time that pass between when we throw seed and when we see fruit. In the beginning, the lack of fruit would lead me to wonder “if” God would bring the results. Now I don’t wonder “if” He will do it, but expectantly anticipate “when” He will produce fruit.

Let me give you two recent expressions of God bringing results after long-term investment.

First, we have been trying for four years to make a meaningful connection with a local elementary school. In March, the PTO of an elementary school asked if we would again provide coffee and donuts for teacher appreciation week. We agreed although in years past, nothing had come of it. This year, while dropping off the goods, I bumped into the principal. Later that day, I emailed her to express thanks for the opportunity to love on the teachers, and expressed our desire to help her school be successful. She responded with an invitation for a meeting to discuss practical ways we could help. Two weeks later, we met and I got to share our heart to help. She gave us open-invitation to communicate care to teachers and is allowing us to paint two classrooms for a special project this summer.

We’ve been waiting for a school to give us a chance to communicate care and now that we have it, we are giving them our best effort!

Second, two years ago I met a guy named Matt, whose son was on my baseball team. After the season, we started meeting for lunch every now and then. Our lunch visits eventually became a regular occurrence and he started attending a men’s book study at Bridge City. In October of last year, his family began attending Bridge City. About a month ago, Matt received Jesus as His Lord and Savior!

Galatians 6:9 says And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Two years feels like a long time, but it is but a moment to God. We continue to throw seed and do good because we look forward to the day “when” God brings the harvest.

Thanks for being a part of the team.

Let’s Win Cincinnati!

Jonathan Howard