The following story was posted on the website for the Anglican Diocese in New England. The story traces how the Rev. Gabrielle and The Rivers family have played an integral part in calling the city of Bridgeport to prayer and loving action.
The Story Of Bridgeport: How The Rivers Is Seeing Their City Raised From The Ash Heap
Anglican Diocese in New England
“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Eph. 5:14
Ephesians 5:14 was a foundational scripture for The Rivers (formerly known as Mary of Bethany) as we prayed daily for two years prior to moving to Bridgeport, Connecticut, a city known by many for its darkness, death, violence, poverty, and hopelessness, and disdained as the “ash heap” of Connecticut.
We arrived in Bridgeport in 2015. We knew God had called us to the city and His presence was with us, but we didn’t know how He wanted to move nor how we were to join Him in His work. So, we continued to pray. We walked the streets and prayed. We visited churches and prayed. We talked to businessmen and women, to parents and children, to those experiencing homelessness on the streets, and prayed. We listened to their stories, held their brokenness before God, and cried out to Him to save, heal, and deliver the beautiful people of Bridgeport.
We gave heaven no rest as we asked God to give Bridgeport beauty for ashes, hope over despair, and life and wellbeing over death and adversity.
It was in the spring of 2015, that the miraculous response of God began to break through. We heard that the Palau Association was planning to bring CityFest, a huge evangelistic outreach, to New York City in the summer of 2015, and we asked, might they be willing to come to Bridgeport? By the time they said “Yes,” we had less than two months to invite people to a 7,500-seat arena in a city where we were virtually “unknown” and “unvetted.” In the end, God brought 50+ local churches together and practically filled the arena.
The miraculous and favor of God continued:
In 2016, we were given the free use of a stadium to stake a 1,000+ seat tent in their parking lot to pray for Bridgeport non-stop for ten days! Eighty three-hour prayer sessions were led by pastors and prayer leaders around the clock, and a billboard went up on I-95 inviting over 450,000 people to pray for Bridgeport as they drove by.
In 2018, we felt led to start a 90-day Citywide Rotational Fast & Prayer Initiative. Churches throughout Bridgeport fasted and prayed for God to continue to move upon our city from Lent to Pentecost. 50-60 pastors and their churches from different denominations and racial backgrounds came together for a unity service on Pentecost. Longstanding curses were broken and relationships among pastors deepened throughout the city.
In 2019, Rise To Read was created to combat early childhood illiteracy, as 76% of third graders attending public schools in Bridgeport were unable to pass a third-grade literacy test. Churches were mobilized to teach children how to read by using the Bible as the primary primer. To date, thousands of children in Bridgeport have received free age-appropriate bibles, and hundreds have attended Rise To Read literacy camps and centers.
In 2021, Saturate Bridgeport was launched to mobilize the churches to present the gospel of Jesus Christ to every man, woman, and child in Bridgeport through gospel proclamation, door-to-door engagement, prayer walking, block parties, neighborhood camps, and food and clothing drives. To date approximately two-thirds of the residents in Bridgeport have been presented with the gospel.
In 2022, we held a Citywide Prayer Walk covering the 1,100+ streets of Bridgeport in three hours. The Mayor of Bridgeport attended the closing ceremony and had such a profound encounter with God that he dropped to his knees twice in repentance. After his experience, he began to regularly host prayer breakfasts for Bridgeport pastors at City Hall.
We have witnessed more miracles in Bridgeport than we have space to tell. The journey has not always been easy, but it has always been worth it! We’ve suffered disappointments, and violence, crime, and poverty are still a problem, but the atmosphere has undeniably changed! Hope now fills the hearts of many, the urban blight is being replaced by vibrant businesses, beautiful murals are being painted throughout the city, and Bridgeport is becoming known as the entertainment mecca of Connecticut!
When asked if what we’ve experienced can be replicated elsewhere, our answer is a resounding, “Yes!” Where there is a willingness to humbly pray for the people, to serve and love the people, and be the answer to the heart cry and brokenness of the people through the power of the Holy Spirit, God will raise up the cities and towns from the “ash heap” as the love of Christ shines upon them.
In His great love and service,
The Rivers
Bishop Drew commented, “the Rev. Gabrielle and The Rivers family have played an integral part in calling the city of Bridgeport to prayer and loving action. They continue to lead the way with the child literacy program, “Rise to Read” – a program that engages and equips young people to read with church mentors and using, in part, a beautifully illustrated children’s Bible. All around the church premises are newly painted murals and a painted staircase leading to city hall. All of this speaks to a rising sense of new life in Bridgeport.
I stand in awe of what Rev. Gabrielle and her church have done and are doing. In fervent prayer, love and humility they have played a central part in bringing the body of Christ together and in partnership with the city’s government in the activation of Jesus’ greater hope for Bridgeport. In prayer and in service they are bringing renewal. There is still much to be done – but there is undeniably beauty rising from the ashes. You can see it and feel it everywhere you look. Where else can you eat great cake and share the Gospel until 2:00 in the morning! The light of Christ burns brightly in this beautifully luminous and loving family.”
