About Us

What Does BRIDGE Mean?

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Our Mission

BRIDGE exists to provide gospel-centered books, Bibles and resources to instruct children, disciple growing believers, guide parents and educate the body of Christ within Christian community. We want Christians to have trustworthy and straightforward access to biblical teaching in English and Spanish so that they know what they believe and why they believe it. Our prayer is that our resources would enable Christians to explain and proclaim the gospel to the lost. 

Statement of Faith

We believe in the one self-existent, infinite, unchangeable God–one in essence yet three persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  He is the Creator and Lord of the universe who governs all things in accordance with the counsel of His will.   (Phil. 3:20; 2 Tim. 4:1; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 21:1-8)

We believe the entire canon of scripture–both Old and New testaments–to be the only written word of God, divinely inspired by Him and the only source of special revelation. (Phil. 3:20; 2 Tim. 4:1; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 21:1-8)

We believe Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God, the only propitiation for sin and Saviour for mankind.  He is one person yet two in nature–truly God and truly man.  He is the only mediator between God and man, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (Phil. 3:20; 2 Tim. 4:1; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 21:1-8)

We believe that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone and the only basis for assurance is because the penalty for sin has been paid for all who believe in the substitutionary and atoning death of Christ on the cross. (Phil. 3:20; 2 Tim. 4:1; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 21:1-8)

We believe in the physical return of the Lord Jesus Christ and His judgement of the living and the dead.  The saved are resurrected unto eternal life and will dwell with God forever and the lost will be shut out from the presence of the Lord unto eternal punishment. (Phil. 3:20; 2 Tim. 4:1; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 21:1-8)

Meet The Staff

Steve denHartog

Founder & President of BRIDGE Ministries
Email: steve@bridgeminlaredo.org

Steven denHartog is one of the founders of BRIDGE Ministries.  Prior to BRIDGE he served as a missionary in Mexico, teaching at a YWAM base and an orphanage for boys.   Before that he worked for a mail order company in Holland, MI.  He was a member of Vriesland Reformed Church in Zeeland, MI and served as elder.  He is currently a member of Grace Bible Church in Laredo.  He and his wife Leigh Ann have been blessed with three great kids—Joshua, Anna and Sophie.  One of his greatest joys is to see them walking with and growing in the Lord day-by-day.

Steven enjoys reading and studying theology (especially systematic theology) and teaching in Bible study and small group settings.  Favorite theologians are John Calvin, RC Sproul, John Frame and DA Carson.  Some favorite recent reads are Worldly Saints (Michael Wittmer), Evangelical Reunion (John Frame) and Seven Days That Divide the World (John Lennox).

When he’s not reading he enjoys hunting, fishing and taking trips with the family.

Leigh Ann denHartog

Co-Founder of BRIDGE Ministries
Email: leighann@bridgeminlaredo.org

Leigh Ann is a co-founder of BRIDGE Ministries. The journey started in West Michigan with a love of teaching, mentoring, and reading.  After teaching in public schools, church, and home, she moved to Mexico at the young age of 44.  Again, she was called to teach in multiple settings like a YWAM missionary school, orphanage, in-home Bible studies/prayer groups, and home schooling.  And then God led them to Laredo…

After opening BRIDGE Ministries, Leigh Ann once again found herself teaching and mentoring.  She is thankful to the women who poured into her life so that she can now give to others.  She loves how amazing and trustworthy the Word of God is.  Recent reads this summer have been The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield and Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia by John Dunlop, MD.

When she has free time, Leigh Ann enjoys cross-stitching, arranging and pressing flowers for crafts, making things using recycled materials and nature items, studying science, tutoring, and… reading! She would enjoy gardening but it is too hot here in Laredo. She feels blessed to have all her children here and the older two’s spouses in Laredo for this season of life.  She and Steve celebrated their 31st anniversary on June 20.  To Him be the glory!

Julio O. Rodriguez

I.T. & Marketing Director | Host of BRIDGE Radio
Email: julio@bridgeminlaredo.org

Julio O. Rodriguez was born and raised in Texas.  Ever since he was a child, he not only had an unusual curiosity for science and philosophy but also a deep love for his state.  In his Sophomore year of high school, he was invited by friends to a church youth group service and ever since then his life was never the same.

At the age of 23, after reading R.C Sproul’s What is Reformed Theology? and The Holiness of God, Julio’s affections and desires to know God more deeply began to flourish. His early morning and late-night readings of John Calvin’s Institutes of The Christian Religion and Dr. James White’s The Forgotten Trinity ignited a passion to not only study Reform theology but also to teach it.  Today, if Julio does not have his head in a book studying theology or is teaching in a Bible study, he is behind a microphone hosting BRIDGE Radio—the latest Reformed Christian podcast.  Among his favorite pastors and theologians are Charles Spurgeon, John Calvin, R.C Sproul, J.C Ryle, and Greg Bahnsen.  His favorite hobbies include playing guitar, making music, shooting guns, and fishing,

Julio is now in full pursuit of his love for ministry by beginning his master’s degree in Biblical and Theological studies at Knox Theological Seminary. He is the leader of BRIDGE Ministries high school Bible study over the fundamentals of the Christian faith.  He hopes to use his education to steer today’s youth to love God with all their heart, mind, and strength.

Joey Velasquez

Photographer & Videographer
Joey Velasquez is the newest member of BRIDGE Ministries, applying his love for photography and videography in Christian service. He was raised a Jehovah’s Witness and was saved by grace through faith in Christ at 21. Joey loves to make jokes, especially funny ones. Sometimes he’ll get a laugh or two.
 
Growing up Joey never liked school. He would skip so much that he was rejected from getting a driver’s license twice because they “don’t give licenses to dropouts.” But you can’t drop out if you never show up. Ironically, when God saved him, he started spending most of his time reading (along with eating and spending time with friends). He only reads Scripture and any books he’s bought at BRIDGE. His favorite Christian book is Jesus > Religion by Jefferson Bethke. His favorite Bible text is 1Timothy 1:15. He never knew Jesus came to save sinners. In fact, he believed that Jesus hated sinners and was going to come to get all the “good” people in the world to take with him to Heaven. When God’s grace was revealed to him, he couldn’t help but fall in love with Jesus. 
 
Joey now enjoys working at BRIDGE Ministries because he gets to share his testimony with others through BRIDGE Radio and also through meaningful conversations with fellow believers in Christ who come and visit our bookstore. He loves meeting new people and hopes you’ll be one of them someday! 

Daniella Villagran

Daniella Villagran graduated from Texas A&M University with her doctorate in pharmacy on May 2018, and she is now waiting to take her upcoming license exam.  She is currently a member at Grace Bible Church in Laredo, Texas and serves in the infants ministry every other month on Sunday mornings.

Her favorite hobbies are reading, reading, reading:  be it for her license exam, God’s Word, Bible studies, or the multiple books bought at BRIDGE Ministries awaiting her attention on her bookshelf.  She is currently reading The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield, and All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot. Her most recently finished reads include Openness Unhindered by Rosaria Butterfield and Chosen by God by R. C. Sproul.

She also enjoys crocheting on her spare time, playing fetch with her furbaby Winter Belle, and painting her nails. You can always find her sitting at the table by the window with her nose in her RX Prep book studying for her license exam, or around the store attending customers or serving drinks if she’s on the clock.  But on or off the clock, if BRIDGE is open she is there.  Otherwise, she is most likely spending quality time with her grandparents and taking them to their doctor appointments.

Kayla Martinez

Kayla Martinez is a California native who recently moved to Laredo and serves as BRIDGE Ministries’ barista. She grew up in a Christian home with a close knit family who she certainly has to attribute her faith to. Her grandparents, as well as her parents and siblings were each a big part of her spiritual growth. However, Kayla’s passion for Christ really took off after coming to Texas. BRIDGE has been a large part of that growth, providing a spiritually nourishing environment and deep, enriching conversation.

Outside of BRIDGE, Kayla takes interest in any soft science including English, philosophy, history and the arts. She is a college student aspiring to become a professor of Literature, a lover of all things associated with theatre, and a writer from childhood. When she is not in a stage production or classes, she is reading. She takes a special interest in fiction and nonfiction concerning Biblical women. Some of her favorite authors are Francine Rivers, Jill Eileen Smith and C.S. Lewis — respectively the authors of Redeeming Love, Bathsheba and The Screwtape Letters.