by Before a Christian university in Kentucky drew national attention last month with 24-hour prayer services, a spiritual revival was felt on the Jersey Shore. Every summer for nearly two decades, families have flocked to the Jersey Shore to experience Bridgefest’s annual celebration of bringing people closer to the Lord through teachings and worship music.
Known as “God’s Square Mile,” Ocean Grove, New Jersey is a place Bridgefest has called home for many years and has been a popular Christian meeting place dating back to the 1800s. This summer, the two-day Christian festival will be held and back to this historic seaside town on June 23rd and 24th.
Bridgefest is hosted by The Bridge Christian Radio, a radio ministry from Calvary Chapel Old Bridge, New Jersey.
Bridge Christian Radio went live for the first time on June 27, 2003 and since its first broadcast, has been sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The station reaches 7-8 million potential listeners in the tri-state area, including New York.
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Since its inception in 2005, Bridgefest founder and senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Old Bridge, Lloyd Pulley prayed and envisioned a gathering of people at the Jersey Shore.
Pastor Lloyd Pulley and his wife Karen Pulley at Bridgefest 2021 (Photo courtesy of Bridgefest)
“About 20 years ago we felt that a gathering of all listeners for a two-day festival of food and music and teaching would unite like-minded people who see the powerful and personal and relevant impact of the Bible,” Pulley told Fox News.
Pastor Lloyd Pulley, along with his wife and children, took a leap of faith in obedience to God and moved from California to New Jersey to found Calvary Chapel Old Bridge in 1984. The church is affiliated with the church movement Pastor Chuck Smith’s Calvary Chapel that sparked one of the greatest spiritual awakenings in American history in Southern California during the 1960s and 1970s. The hit movie “Jesus Revolution” was released last month recounting these events.
“Newsboys” perform in concert Friday night during Bridgefest 2017. (Courtesy of Bridgefest/Stan Berger)
Bridgefest attracts families, pastors and congregations from across the tri-state area and across the country to hear the Gospel of Jesus. During the festival, Bridgefest visitors experience Bible teachings, boardwalk games, food trucks, children’s activities, a Friday night concert and more.
This year’s concert will feature two-time Grammy-nominated and three-time Dove-winning band, We The Kingdom and will take place in the 129-year-old Great Auditorium. Bridgefest has hosted other prominent Christian musicians at previous events including Jeremy Camp, Phil Wickham and the Newsboys.
Pastor Garid Beeler of Vision City Church in Irvine, California, is scheduled as the keynote speaker at the Friday Night Summer Concert.
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Bridge Christian Radio director Robert Baltodano told Fox News he expects to see many lives changed this summer.
Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California speaks to the 2016 Bridgefest crowd. (Courtesy of Bridgefest/Stan Berger)
After the concert and a message from Beeler, there will be an invitation to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In past years, Bridgefest estimates “several thousand” people have responded with about 150-200 showing up each year, according to Baltodano.
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On the final day of the event, hundreds of people flood the beach, where they gather to witness the baptism of the beach as many publicly proclaim their inner transformation.
Bridgefest has recorded about 3,000 publicly professed baptisms over the years, Baltodano told Fox News.
A number of religious leaders shared their Bridgefest experiences with Fox News and what the celebration means to them.
“Bridgefest is a wonderful event that has been going on for years and is for all ages. It’s a time where thousands of people come together for a two-day family festival to worship the Lord, hear God’s Word and enjoy food, fellowship and games,” Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Southern California told Fox News Digital.
“If you’re in the Ocean Grove, New Jersey area, you don’t want to miss Bridgefest as you won’t be disappointed,” Hibbs said.
View of the cross at Ocean Grove Beach at sunset. (Fox News Photo/Joshua Comins)
Pastor Johnny Zacchio of Calvary Chapel Grace and Truth in Yonkers, New York shared how Bridgefest affected his family.
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“My family and I have been attending Bridgefest since the beginning, and participating in Bridgefest as a Distinguished Teacher for the past 12 years has only added to the joy of being able to meet so many people who listen to our show…”
To stay updated and learn more about “Bridgefest 2023,” visit bridgefest.org.
