Bridges Alliance Church: A Relaunch in Selinsgrove
Written by Andrew Brackmann, Church Planter
For the full story on why our district was seeking and praying for a church planter like Andrew Brackmann back in 2023, you can read this update.
Bridges Alliance Church in Selinsgrove is off to a great restart by God's grace and sovereignty.
A New Chapter Begins
Since 2017, God has been working in my heart towards church planting and redevelopment. After receiving clear direction along the way, He led my family to Eastern PA and the church planting residency at Lewisburg Alliance Church. Pastor Dave Muckel and the team are amazing builders and supporters, giving a perfect blend of guidance and autonomy to help the formerly Shamokin Dam Alliance Church (also known as Missio Dei) enter its new chapter.
In May, Lewisburg Alliance Church commissioned my family and a core team to launch Bridges Alliance Church.
Why “Bridges”?
The name "Bridges Alliance" emerged as a good place to start, as thirteen bridges are being built around the church's community as part of a massive highway restructuring project in Pennsylvania. It's perfect timing as the plan had been in talks for 66 years! More importantly, the name captures our mission of "connecting people with God and each other." We've already seen this mission land with people in the church and community.
I started running with a group of guys on Friday mornings, and one of them mentioned he hadn't been interested in church since his childhood. As we naturally talked about work and life, my work came up and I introduced our church's name and mission. Surprisingly, he showed up the following Sunday and was moved to tears as he felt God's presence during worship.
"It caught me off guard," he told me on our next run. "I couldn't make sense of it."
"I think God's Spirit is working in your heart," I replied. He's been back almost every week since.
Over and over, God is bringing like-minded people, families, organizations, and churches across our path. We see God building bridges for the Gospel just about every week! Please pray that our church will live out the mission of connecting others with God and each other as we rebuild this disciple-making community.
A Family On Mission
When God was first leading me towards church planting, I desired it would be a way to live more on mission as a family. I’m seeing it become a reality. At Bridges, my four kids and I planted a youth group made up of their friends! We're seeing 15-20 kids gather weekly to play, eat, read Mark's Gospel, and discuss it together. No sermons—just authentic questions and conversations. Watching my kids' faith and practice grow as they "own" this mission alongside my wife and me has been amazing. I thank God!
God's Provision
One final story demonstrates how God has paved the way for this restart. Our small core group of God's people has shown extraordinary financial generosity towards the church's work. They began with no debt and plenty of margin for taking faith-filled risks. Even before launching, they are tithing toward future church plants in our region. This month, we decided to tithe from our church's account towards missions, so I brought a $15,000 check to General Council for the Great Commission Fund Offering.
How amazing is God's provision and His work in His people!