Big Bear 2025

This March, we had the privilege of taking our Bridges UCSD and Bridges SDSU teams on a special retreat to Big Bear. While our group was smaller than usual, the impact was immeasurable. We intentionally shortened the trip to just two nights and three days, making it a more focused, intentional experience.

Each evening, we watched an episode of The Chosen, which provided a creative and engaging portrayal of Bible stories. The next morning, we dove deeper with a Bible study based on what we'd watched. This approach proved to be incredibly effective, especially since many of our international students are new to the Bible. Instead of spending time on background context, they were already familiar with the characters and stories, allowing us to focus more on the deeper spiritual truths.

Even with a packed schedule, our students remained eager to engage. During one of our final Bible studies, we were concerned about time and fatigue, but our students wanted to dive deep into the material, engaging in thoughtful discussion and reflection. One student, Elle, who is not a Christian, stood out. She showed remarkable insight and understanding of the Bible, even helping other students grasp the true essence of the stories we discussed. It was a beautiful moment of spiritual growth and maturity.

Outside of the studies, we had fun exploring Big Bear, hiking, renting a boat on the lake, and sharing delicious meals. Our time together, both spiritually and recreationally, was rich and meaningful. A special thanks to our friend Yash, who joined as a volunteer and helped facilitate the trip.

We are incredibly excited to see how God will continue to work in the lives of these students, and we're eager to see the seeds we planted grow. Please continue to pray for these students as they continue their journeys of faith.