Hello and welcome to our inaugural monthly newsletter! If you’ve ever registered for updates on my website or if you have already registered for the Old Testament study beginning later this month, you are on this distribution list 😀 . Thanks for reading and thanks for being so gracious as I have worked to launch this offering 😀 .

Recently I watched a documentary about a young man from Norway called The Remarkable Life of Ibelin. The film details the story of Mats Steen, who tragically died at the age of 25 from a degenerative muscular disease. By the age of 10, Mats was wheelchair bound, and by the time of his death he could barely move his fingers. His parents mourned the life they thought Mats would never be able to have – a life filled with friendship, love, and opportunities to meaningfully impact the world. They saw a sweet, kind, wonderful son who was trapped in a body that was shutting down. So, to provide Mats with some sort of joy and interaction, they allowed him to play computer games more regularly than they would have wanted had Mats been able to physically interact with the world. Although they did not love the fact that Mats increasingly became lost in this world of online gaming, they understood that it was an escape he needed. What they didn’t know until after Mats died, was that the gaming world was so much more. It became a fully supportive, loving, and genuine source of community and connection. When his parents posted to his online blog that Mats had died, they were flooded with messages from his gaming friends. They learned that his online friendships were as genuine and deep as any that he might have had in the physical world. At his funeral his dad said, “Mats proved us wrong. He did have friendship. He did impact the world in a profound way. And he even had love.”

In an interview, one of Mats’ gaming friends noted that he believes that in time people will cease to question whether online communities can provide genuine connection. They will simply know that it is true, and people will no longer make the distinctions we tend to draw between “online” and “in-person.”

I imagine that as well. Not just for the gaming community, or for places of business, but for our faith institutions. Although at the moment an online church is still a bit controversial and certainly something that exists on the fringes of what we think of as faith communities, I sense that one day online churches will be embraced as a legitimate option alongside brick-and-mortar places of worship.

As many of you know already, several years ago God began working on my heart – calling me to this path that, quite frankly, sounded a little terrifying at the time. As I took my Bible study offering online during the pandemic (discovering, along with many of you, things like Zoom), God gave me a vision for more. I began to wrestle with a call to start an online church. But I reminded God that I had already confidently asserted to several people that I knew God would never ask me to plant a church (knowing that I would be way too shy for such an endeavor). I also reminded God that I am not technologically gifted! In fact, I didn’t have a clue about where to even begin. But as God does, he patiently and graciously showed me the way. And here I am, not only starting a church but starting one that sounds just plain weird to a lot of people! (Maybe one day I will learn to NEVER say never to God ).

The result is this community which I’ve named The Bridge. My prayer is that it will be a conduit of authentic, transformative spiritual growth for all people. A “bridge” to connect people to God, the Bible, and one another. And although I know many churches offer online worship, a lot of those services are simply livestreams or recordings of an in-person worship service. As I’ve said on my website, that can make one feel like he or she is on the outside looking in. So, with The Bridge, I’ve sought, with the help of our community, to embrace a different type of service. One that can utilize the advantages of online worship, crafting something that feels intimate and participatory.

A small group of us quietly started up in January allowing us the time and space to develop via the guidance of the Holy Spirit (and allowing me the chance to figure out the technological side of things!). My goal each week has been to connect our study of the Bible (or during the summer our study of “spiritual disciplines”) to our weekly service of contemplation and communion such that what we’ve learned becomes a conduit to a fuller awareness of God’s presence in all aspects of our daily life. Via the suggestion of one of our community members, we’ve been studying the book Sacred Pathways this summer, which has been so helpful in teaching me about the myriad ways that we human beings can find meaningful connection with God. It has helped me to fully embrace this online calling because as the author points out worship is not just something that happens one hour a week when we gather in person in a brick-and-mortar building. Worship truly, as the Apostle Paul teaches, can be all the time and anywhere … all that we do becoming that which makes us more aware of God’s presence and more in awe of Him. Each of us gravitating towards different pathways of connection that are meant to collectively enrich our understanding of what it means to worship God.

All this to say, I stand amazed at what God has done and continues to do via The Bridge. I stand amazed at God’s grace and goodness in helping us embrace this new way of seeking spiritual growth. A way that does not denigrate in-person services or brick-and-mortar faith institutions. Those are and always will be valuable and meaningful points of connection between us and God! The Bridge, and I hope other online faith communities, stand alongside these more traditional churches offering another option. Offering what can be a spiritual lifeline to those who for whatever reason cannot or do not want to attend an in-person service or institution. Or offering an additional pathway for those who want to engage with God in new and fresh ways as they seek to grow deeper in discipleship.

So now? I’m finally taking The Bridge “public.” Extending an invitation to all of you to join us in our weekly service of contemplation and communion, and to connect with us in other ways as we seek to walk together behind the feet of Jesus. What’s more? I’d love for you to expand our reach and share this newsletter and our community with others. Because I know that God is at work – I feel the Spirit moving so strongly amongst us – and I know that there are people “out there” who are looking for connection. Who are looking for God.

In addition to our services of contemplation and communion, I’m excited to embrace the pathway of “intellectual worship” this fall as we embark on a 9-month study of the Old Testament. We are going to read through it in chronological order (to the best of our ability – it gets a little complicated in the OT, but we can do it!) because this will give us fresh perspective into the words of the OT. God chose to reveal himself via history – in a specific time and place and to a specific group of people, and I think a chronological reading will honor that form of revelation while helping us to understand it better (and hopefully alleviate some of the confusion that naturally occurs when we read the books of the OT).

I’m also going to be adding some fellowship opportunities into our community as I seek to expand the offerings of The Bridge.

For now, worship occurs via the Zoom platform right before our online Bible study discussion groups (so Friday mornings and Sunday evenings). But as we grow and as God leads, I remain open to adding additional services and using venues other than Zoom. Please know that if you wish to join us for worship only that is perfectly fine! You do not need to turn your camera on if you want to remain anonymous and you are welcome to just try it out and see what you think – zero commitment required. I post the worship services to my YouTube channel and link them on the website so you also can watch and worship on your own at a time that is convenient. Likewise, you are welcome to only join our Bible study. For that, you have the option of participating in one of our online zoom discussion groups (again held Friday mornings and Sunday evenings), or you can follow along via the website and YouTube studying independently or creating your own discussion group.

All this information and more can be found at www.kimberlyconstantministries.com, where you also can register for the Old Testament study, “Adonai” (look for the tab that says “Bible Studies: Registration and Info”).

In addition, you’ll see an invitation via this newsletter to attend a “coffee chat” this month where you can say hi, ask me any questions about the study, The Bridge, or anything else related to faith and the Bible, and meet some of our other community members.

In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions. And please, if you will, pray for The Bridge and our community.

Finally, I want to extend the deepest, most heartfelt thanks to those of you already participating in The Bridge. Thank you for your willingness to embark on this new road of faith with me and thank you for extending SO much grace and kindness as we find our footing. Thank you for blessing me with the gift of serving you as your pastor. Truly, it is the deepest of honors to walk alongside you as we follow Jesus.

I end echoing the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians:

“I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participating in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:10-14).

God bless you always!

Kimberly

I am so excited about our Bible study for this year — Adonai. We will be diving into the Old Testament, reading it (as best we can) in chronological order to try to get a sense for the unfolding historical events that underscore God’s revelation via ancient Israel.

In this course we will use a weekly study plan that includes readings from Scripture, video/audio lectures, and discussion questions to use for your own reflection, with your small group, or in one of our online zoom meetings. No Bible study experience is necessary and people can register at any time. You may choose to join one or both of our zoom discussion groups, which meet Friday mornings and Sunday evenings. We begin our time with a service of contemplation and communion that allows us to reflect on the material via worship before engaging in discussion and prayer. You also can choose the independent study option if you just wish to receive the materials. You are welcome to switch up your attendance from week to week as well! Cover to Cover is designed to be flexible so as to allow students to jump in whenever they can!

The course materials are provided free of charge, but donations to offset the cost of maintaining this ministry are appreciated. All written materials will be provided in PDF form so that you may download and print them if you wish. Please note that you may use any translation of the Bible for this class. I teach from the NIV, but also personally use several other translations in my time of study.

To learn more please CLICK HERE.

To register please CLICK HERE.

**** I will send out an email NEXT Monday, August 11 confirming registrations and providing instructions before the study begins.

Each year I want to feature a different mission that allows this community the opportunity to offer financial support, volunteer our gifts and time, and support them with our prayers. This year I’m choosing Hope Heals!

Hope Heals was started by Katherine and Jay Wolf to provide resources, support, and education in the disability space. Per their website, they seek to “disrupt the myth that joy can be found only in a pain-free life.” In particular, I want to draw your attention to their Hope Heals camp which offers week-long retreats, resources, and relationships to families experiencing disabilities. I believe volunteer sign-ups will open in January for the 2026 summer camps. I plan to register to be a volunteer and I would love for some or all of you to join me!! I’ll let you know when I sign up.

Also, as some of you know already, I offer Bible study and community resources for free, but I do appreciate donations to help offset the cost of running Kimberly Constant Ministries. So, in addition to featuring Hope Heals this year as our highlighted ministry, I pledge to give 15% of all money donated to Kimberly Constant Ministries this year to support Hope Heals camp.

Have questions, want to connect, have a prayer request, or in need of pastoral counseling? Send me an email and we can set up time to “meet!”

May God bless you and keep you, may God make his face to shine upon you, and may God grant you peace.

Kimberly