Travel
Please plan to arrive at the conference by 5:00 pm on Monday, February 26 and depart anytime on Friday, March 1. On Monday, February 26 the first conference session will begin at 7:00 pm. Please plan your travel so that you can be in attendance. If you are flying to the conference, Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is your best option. You can depart anytime on Friday, March 1.
Registration and Cost
REGISTER HERE. The per person costs for 2-person rooms or for a couple is $399. The per person cost for 4-person rooms is $275. Please register by Wednesday, January 31. After that date the price will increase by $50.
Conference Hotel
Who Should Attend?
Everyone is welcome! BUILD is open to Cru staff as well. If you have partners or volunteers outside of Cru that you want to invite, please email dan.tietz@bridgesinternational.com first. In general, Bridges staff are required to attend. Interns and Part-Time Field Staff are very welcome to come but not required. For families with both spouses on staff and kids at home, one spouse (husband or wife) is exempt from coming. New staff raising support should talk with their MPD coach before making plans to attend.
Request an exemption from BUILD here.
Families and Childcare
We are already working on plans to provide childcare for kids 12 and under. It is our intention to have the childcare fully staffed with outside workers (not Bridges staff), but in the event that isn’t possible, please understand that we may have to ask parents to help serve for a session or two during the conference.
Welcome LEtter
Dear Bridges Staff Family,
We trust that you are doing well as you serve Jesus and the nations. We are excited that BUILD 2024 is less than three months away. The conference will take place February 26 to March 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Florida. We are excited to gather in a warm location.
BUILD is our Bridges national staff conference that exists to encourage and develop us as we pursue our mission of pointing international students to Jesus. At BUILD 2024, we hope to gain Christ’s perspective on our work and mission. Our theme is from 2 Corinthians 4:7: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” As we minister to international students from places unreached with the gospel, we are reminded that our treasure is from God and our ministry is for His glory! Our power comes from Jesus and not us!
We are pleased to share that one of our main speakers will be Dr. Jim Coffield. Dr. Coffield has spoken a number of times to our Bridges staff family. He has a unique ability to help us grow our walks with the Lord as he points us to Jesus and helps us reflect on our own personal wellbeing.
Like at previous BUILD conferences, we are inviting Cru friends who minister to international students with part of their time. We have also invited Power to Change international student ministry from Canada, now known as Bridges International Canada!
Please join us in praying for the conference. Pray that the Lord prepares our hearts for what He wants to tell us as a staff family! As we move into the future, our desire is that we can glorify God as we are a blessing to the nations! May the Spirit of God renew our hearts in Jacksonville at BUILD 2024!
With prayers and anticipation,
Trae and Dan
National Director and Chief of Staff
December 6, 2023
