Tim Whipple leads worship at Bridgepoint. Photo courtesy of Bridgepoint

ATLANTA – On any given Sunday in Pinellas County, Fla., seven out of every 10 people are not attending church. But Bridgepoint Church in St. Petersburg is finding ways to connect with the disconnected.

"The vast majority aren’t looking for a church," said Tim Whipple, one of three pastors at the new church start. "You really have to work hard to create a place where people can at least entertain the thought that there is some value [to being part of a church]."

Whipple, Damian Gerke and Dwight Erwin decided to start a congregation that would reach out to residents of the area who were skeptical about church. All three are bi-vocational pastors, working full-time jobs to support themselves while starting the church.

The pastors worked with Phil Hester, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s specialist for new church starts, to formulate a strategy for the church.

"God is more concerned with who we are than what we do – that’s the main message we try to convey," said Gerke. "It wipes the slate clean and gives us an avenue to talk about God."

After a year and a half of meeting and building relationships with people in the community, the church had its official launch on Feb. 11. More than 230 adults and 40 children attended the celebration at the high school auditorium the church uses on Sundays for worship. Whipple said the vast majority in attendance every week have no previous church connection.

"Bridgepoint is succeeding because the starters recognize the importance of bi-professional ministry and that outreach relevant to the community is as important as Christ centeredness in the initial formation of a new congregation," said Hester.

In addition to Hester’s counsel, CBF also provided the church with money and assistance in raising funds.

Gerke, who served on staff with Whipple and Erwin at First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg, describes the church starting process – from the initial calling to finding a building to locating resources – as a "manna experience."

"God was putting on all three of our hearts the need to plant a church like Bridgepoint. God has asked us to be involved, to take a step of faith," Gerke said. "He provided for that day, and then provided for the next step."

For more information about Bridgepoint Church, go to www.bridgepointonline.org. To learn more about how you can partner with CBF to support new church starts, call Hester at (800) 352-8741 or phester@thefellowship.info.

CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.