LINDA WALKER (FORMERLY CHAMAGNE)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & PASTOR
In 1997, when the Lord set me free from many destructive behaviours, I received the experiential knowledge of His love for me. From then on, my heart’s cry was to be used by Him to share that truth and love with others without hope. When the Lord impressed upon my heart the vision of the Bridge “to meet the people where they’re at and accept them as they are” for God’s body to share His unconditional love, it was an answer to my prayers. My passion is to see God’s Kingdom come right here, right now! To empower and release those in our community and beyond, with God’s hope and purpose. I am continually blessed and honoured to serve in this ministry.
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Ryan Falk
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & WORSHIP MINISTRY LEADER
I felt a strong call to come to the Bridge in December of 2012 after a period of waiting on the Lord for direction. I’ve now been here for the past six years and through those years, I have seen God transform and touch many different lives, mine and my family’s included. The line we often say as a staff team here is, “we get to” and this I think summarizes how I feel about my time here at the Bridge. Every day I get to see God move in some way, and every day I get opportunities to share the love of God with those that come in. The Bridge is an amazing ministry God is using to impact our city and I’m so privileged to be a part of it!
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Carla Seib
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
I feel very blessed to be working at The Bridge. I became aware of The Bridge through my local church and developed a desire to support the work of ministering to hurting people. A diversity of people gather at The Bridge and I find it exciting to get to know those who visit, volunteer, and work here. It is a fascinating journey to grow in our faith in Christ and our love for one another. I look forward to working as Volunteer Coordinator, partnering with the present staff and volunteers, and welcoming new people to be involved in the ministry through The Bridge. It is a fun place to be!
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Scott Wood
floor supervisor
I believe that God has given me a passion for youth and people in difficult and hurting situations. My wife, Heather, and I had been volunteering with the Bridge youth group for two years when the opportunity arose for me to join the team full-time. I am excited and privileged to see the love of Jesus bring freedom and joyous life to the youth and for them to fall in love with Him. I love seeing our youth family play games, share meals and experiences, build friendships, encourage each other, and grow together. I know that the Father will empower these beautiful hearts to bring about lasting and life-giving freedom to their families and communities.
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akay bespflug
youth and young adults coordinator
The resurgence of many racial injustices and COVID-19 in 2020 caused me to reflect deeply on my vocation and the work I was doing at the time as a medicinal chemist. I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to align my passions with my work, engaging my heart with the work I do, not just my brain. In this season of my life, I feel invited to use my gifts and experiences to partner with God in justice and advocacy work for children and youth in Saskatoon's inner city. I have a passion to see kids, youth, and young adults live good and abundant lives like Jesus spoke of in John 10:10. I loved seeing God bring immense transformation to my heart and the youth at The Bridge over the last 5 years as a volunteer. I am excited for this opportunity at The Bridge to work with kids/youth and leaders who care for kids/youth. I believe that God's heart is to provide a safe, healthy, belonging, and supportive community for our kids/youth, which is our hope at The Bridge. I long to see our kids be radical lovers of Jesus, others, and themselves because I have experienced this transforming love of God, and it changed my life!
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Luis Estrada
FLOOR intercessor
It has been a privilege for me to be part of The Bridge Fellowship Centre. For many years I have served in this ministry using various skills and I have had the opportunity to meet many people with diverse backgrounds. Seeing beauty in all of God’s people, I have been blessed to passionately serve and it is my desire that Christ will be known in our community.
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Kris Vanderlinde
KITCHEN COORDINATOR
It gives me great joy to serve the community, especially the children who come into our building, providing them with good, healthy meals. The Bridge has been called to serve the people, meet them where they are at and accept them as they are. We do our best to get to know the people, encourage them towards living a healthy lifestyle, speak the truth of God's Word and share His unconditional love. I love the relationships that I have with co-workers and community members. It's awesome to be a part of God's work.
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Ian Mochar
director of discipleship
My wife and I are excited to see the heart of the Lord as He expresses His love for His people. As I work with the Men’s Ministry, it is exciting to see men healed, restored and freed. I am grateful to be a part of a community who brings hope to the hopeless. I sincerely appreciate those who partner with the Bridge to serve God’s people.
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Niomi Klassen
FREE STORE COORDINATOR
God has grown in me a desire and passion to serve and love the broken-hearted and hurting of this city. From my very first overseas mission’s trip at the age of 16, God has taken me on a crazy journey and placed a strong call on my life to serve Him in full time ministry. I never knew what that might look like, but over the years I’ve seen my love of people from different cultures and backgrounds, and my love for my community collide. I have every confidence that God has directed my steps to the Bridge! I felt unqualified and unequipped for the position, but applied regardless in a leap of faith. It’s amazing how, as the Free Store Coordinator, God has given me the opportunity to express my love language of giving by handing out physical gifts to people in need, and also to give of myself through loving and encouraging those He places in my life! I’m so excited to be part of such an amazing team and be a part of sharing God’s unconditional love with the visitors of the Bridge!
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Shane Strong
MINISTRY ASSISTANT
I finished high school in 2017, with the mind set of not knowing where to go. I have always felt a call into ministry but had little idea of how that would play out. I heard about the Bridge through my aunt, and started interning at The Bridge in fall of 2017 with the mind set of only 2 months. As time passed I grew closer to the community and staff and couldn't leave. After ten months of interning I was asked to come on staff. I've started on staff in Sept 2018, I have always loved to serve and show love to people. As time passed I grew closer to God and learned more about His love for me. As well as grew closer to the staff and community and just couldn't leave.
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Vicente Salgado-Cortes
MINISTRY ASSISTANT
When I was in my addictions I never thought I’d live past 25. And going to college was only something I saw in Hollywood movies. This year I turned 31, I graduated from Bible College and I’ll be sober 6 years. To God be all the glory! I believe God has called me to The Bridge to meet people where they’re at, and to share the hope I found in Jesus. It’s an honour to be a part of what God is doing here at The Bridge on 20th.
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Barry Hansen
MINISTRY ASSISTANT
I first came to The Bridge as a volunteer with Teen Challenge. After graduation and returning to my business, I could feel myself slipping back and knew I needed help. Frustrated and looking for "family", I accepted an invitation to join the Encounter, Experience, & Equip 8-month internship here at The Bridge. Through the healing I received and the family community I was a part of, I also saw the great need in a community of people who I could relate to. So, when I was offered the opportunity to join the staff team, I was excited to be able to use what Jesus has done for me to help others.
"And they overcame the enemy because of the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death" (Revelation 12:11). |
Kent Peters
MINISTRY ASSISTANT
I have been on the ministry team at The Bridge since October of 2012. The Lord began to stir my heart for the people living in the 20th Street community many years ago. Before I came on to the team I was in prayer and told the Lord I wanted to serve Him, and be used by Him. Blessed be the name of the Lord!
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Go Edlyn Utami
receptionist
My heart’s desire is to please God’s heart by following Him wherever He wants me to go. I want to help people to know who God is by building relationships with them. I believe that God aligned my vision for the Body of Christ with The Bridge’s foundation, mission, and core values. As The Bridge welcomed me to their team (or as the staff calls “family”), God has been enlarging the capacity of my heart to love people unconditionally. I believe that the compassion that I have right now is the result of God’s work through the staff and the community.
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Pat Dergousoff
FINANCE / Bookkeeper
I first connected with The Bridge soon after we moved to Saskatoon, cut to the heart during a Bridge Awareness Night. After that I started helping with breakfasts which then led into a time serving on the Board. And now I’m back… but this time I get to be on staff! I say “get to” because that’s just how I feel. I get to come alongside a gifted and passionate staff team as together we each do our part to serve and pour into the visitors that join us here. Thank you to everyone who supports this vital ministry in so many ways.
Bless you all! |