Pastor Joe Bridger joined Bayside Community Church in May to fill the role of children’s pastor, replacing LuAnn Buff who worked with the church for 10 years.

He brings a diverse background from Spokane, where he helped start Relevant Life Church. Bridger also worked for the only homeless shelter for families in Snohomish County, and through faith-based, non-profit development, worked to prevent homelessness. A former foster child, he got his start in development while working as clinical director of a group home for foster kids in Seattle’s Central District and also in South Seattle through the Union Gospel Mission.

Bridger has also served in addiction recovery as intake and education director for Spokane Teen Challenge.

While committed to bridging his sense of community responsibility outside of the church, he served in tandem in churches for 10 years in children’s and family ministry. He has been married for almost seven years to his wife Dorothy and has two little boys who daily teach him how to connect with the needs of children. Bridger is also currently studying religion and philosophy at Northwest University in Kirkland.

“ Bayside is made up of diverse people from all over the Kitsap Peninsula. We have young families and young-at-heart seniors and everything in between,” he said. “We have people not only from Kingston but from Silverdale, Bremerton, Hansville and all over. It is a great community of faith.”

He is excited to be a part of the Kingston community and enjoys serving the children and families of Kitsap County.

Bayside has a congregation of about 400 with up to 70 children participating in children’s programs. For more information, go to www.baysidecommunitychurch.org or call (360) 297-2000.