Bridgeway Ministries | Frequently Asked Questions

Bridgeway is pleased to announce our first-ever New Year's Kick-Off Retreat!

"What Makes A Superhero?"

This Bridgeway Retreat will feature guest speakers, great food, amazing fellowship, and an intense focus on God’s plan for you in this upcoming New Year. The retreat will be held December 27th - January 1st at Sunriver Resort in Bend, Oregon, near beautiful Mt. Bachelor.

This 6-day retreat is open to any and all interested persons. The cost will be $275 per person, and includes food, lodging, and transportation once you reach Portland International Airport. This does not cover your airfare to Portland, however, nor any personal costs such as snow sport rentals, lift tickets, and other related items.

We can accomodate up to 30 attendees and will accept your registrations on a first come, first served basis. We will require a $75 deposit to secure your spot on the trip. Please contact Weston by phone or e-mail quickly!

The theme of this retreat will be the question: What Makes a Superhero?

Our focus will be on Psalm 138:8, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever…”

I’m interested in a missions trip! What do I do first?

Your first step: Contact us! We will give you the latest information on upcoming trips, as well as direction on how you can either build a team from your church or area, or join an existing team.

Bridgeway Ministries works on a team-by-team basis. Some teams are made up of members from one church. Some are assembled from a certain geographical area. Still other teams are formed by individuals gathering from around the country.

How is a team assembled?

These teams are determined and built through communication between interested persons and Bridgeway’s ministry coordinators.

When a team is from one church or one group from the same area, a team director (also a member of the team) may be determined.

In the event that a team is made up of unrelated individuals from around the US, one of Bridgeway’s ministry coordinators will take the team director position. Your Bridgeway ministry coordinator will also be present on the trip, giving leadership and direction throughout.

What are the team director’s responsibilities?

A team director will be responsible to do the following:

Communicate logistics with your Bridgeway ministry coordinator.
Plan pre-trip team meetings utilizing the Preparation for Ministry booklet provided on the RESOURCES page of this website.
Make travel decisions and finalize itinerary for your team in accordance with dates/times communicated by your Bridgeway ministry coordinator.
Gather and send applications, Preparation for Ministry worksheets, deposits, and trip payments to Bridgeway at specified deadlines.
Be in clear and direct communication with team members, relaying to them any changes or other pertinent information received from Bridgeway.
Be in clear and direct communication with Bridgeway ministry coordinator, relaying to them any changes or other pertinent information received from your team members.
Please note that the greater part of your responsibility as team director will be completed before the trip begins.

What is the cost of a mission trip with Bridgeway?

Bridgeway's cost per team member is $675.00 USD. For families of five team members or more, or with children under 2 years of age, please contact Bridgeway for trip-specific pricing.

What is included in this price?

This price is set on an 8-day/7-night mission trip. It includes all food, lodging, and transportation once the team arrives to Monterrey, Mexico.

What is NOT included in this price?

The flight to Monterrey, Mexico. Each team member will pay for his/her flight into Mexico.

How long is an average trip?

8 days and 7 nights is the usual length of a Bridgeway trip.

Where in Mexico does Bridgeway serve?

The DeHoyos family (the ministering family we have identified to work along-side) lives in Hualahuises, Nuevo Leon, which is approximately two driving hours southeast of Monterrey. Therefore, our center of operations is anywhere between Hualahuises, Linares, and the smaller outlying pueblas surrounding them. Click Here to view a map of the area.

In what types of ministry might I be involved?

Bridgeway ministers to the Mexican people in the area under the direction of the local authorities. In the cities and small towns, we are given opportunities to serve the poor and helpless. Our main focus is on construction of homes. However, we are also able to serve in many other areas such as maintenaince and repair of health centers, teaching in the public schools and orphanages, food distribution, medical/dental/vision clinics, sharing in local churches, etc. The projects which any given team will accomplish are planned according to the skills, resources, and talents of the team matching up with the needs and opportunities in Mexico.

It is not uncommon to be given a sudden opportunity to teach or share during the course of our trips. Because of this, we must always be prepared to testify of the marvelous works of God in our lives!

What is this new housing project that I've been hearing about?

Bridgeway has teamed up with the local governments in a new construction project. We are working together to build 12'x12' styrofoam homes. A concrete floor is poured, and styrofoam walls and roof assembled. The styrofoam is then covered in a thick cement plaster. Once completed, these homes will stand up even under level 3 hurricane conditions!

How can I contribute to this project?

Currently, $1,200 will build such a house. Please contact us if you are interested in contributing.

What kinds of accommodations can I expect?

Our accommodations vary, depending on the area in which we will be ministering. Most often, we utilize a comfortable local hotel with four to a room and hot and cold running water.

What is a day working in Mexico like?

Because we only have a about one full week with each of our teams, our days are long and fulfilling. Usually breakfast at 8:00, work for the day until dinner, which is 6:00.

Will I need to know Spanish?

A few words are helpful to know, but it is not necessary that you master the language. The love for Christ and His people transcends on language barriers.

What is the weather like in Mexico?

The climate in Monterrey and the surrounding areas changes rapidly. Keep up-to-date on the weather in Linares through weather.cnn.com. Click here for the current conditions.

Does Bridgeway enforce a dress code?

Yes. Please download and refer to our Dress Guidelines.

What if I have health needs/concerns?

We are happy to interview each member individually should you have particular health questions that you would like answered.

Will I need immunization shots?

Immunizations are not needed in order to cross the border.

What papers or forms are required to cross the border?

When crossing the Mexican border by land, a valid passport is necessary for each traveler. No longer is a birth certificate accepted in place of a passport. When flying into Monterrey, a valid passport is necessary. The flight attendants will distribute customs forms (one per person) and declaration forms (one per family) for you to fill out during the flight.

If you do not yet have a passport, please look into applying for one now, as they do take some time. Click here to visit the U.S. Passport Services site.

I'm under 18. What do I need?

Minors traveling outside the US will need a notarized permission slip signed by BOTH parents. This is even necessary when the minor child is traveling with one parent. Please download, sign, and have notarized the applicable minor traveling form on the RESOURCES page of this web site. The notarized form will be required upon check-in at your departure airport, and possibly again at Customs (Aduana) upon arrival to Mexico.

Minors traveling without parents will also need to download, fill out, and bring with them the Minor Medical Release form also on the RESOURCES page of this web site.