Today we’d like to introduce you to Ross Manders.
Hi Ross, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My wife and I moved our family from Minnesota in 2012 to start Restoration Church. We had some connections in lower Bucks and saw the need for more churches so we started the process of starting Restoration. A church in Levittown closed their doors in 2013 and we agreed to take the building from them. We renovated it and made it our home base. We grew to nearly 400 on a Sunday until the COVID-19 pandemic essentially restarted us. In it’s wake we opened a coffee shop in Levittown called The Bridge: Coffee & Community as a way to (1) meet neighbors who wouldn’t normally step food in a church and (2) help the community be part of something bigger than themselves. We give away all our profits to local non-profits who are doing good for our community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We’ve had much to overcome. In 2015 one of our neighbors firebombed our property. He set a wood on fire on our lawn and burned several parts of our preschool’s playground. He also broke a window and threw a Molotov Cocktail into one of our bathrooms. It landed in a porcelain sink so the damage was contained but smoke it caused smoke damage throughout the whole building. I mentioned COVID-19 already – once the dust finally settled we were basically back to year one numbers (125 or so on a Sunday but with a higher online presence than before). But the community had changed drastically. As a body of people we’re about 75% different than we were before the pandemic and we have around 250 on a Sunday now (but with 40 families watching typically online). I try not to dwell in the numbers game. I trust God and minister to the people present. But we emphasize the fact that we’re a body at work. Every person plays an important part so the numbers are significant and important when each number represents a part of the body.
Starting any small business is not for the faint of heart and The Bridge was no different. Without going into too much detail, it was exceptionally challenging the first year. Every facet of it was hard (relationally, financially, publicly…) and there were MANY days we thought about throwing in the towel. But God’s hand was also all over it. Mathematically we shouldn’t have been able to pay our bills that first year but somehow we had enough to get by. The dream of giving back felt impossible but now we’re at a point where we’re able to fulfill our mission of supporting local non-profits. Plus we’ve won the Best of Bucks the last two years!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Restoration Church exists to help people become like Jesus and loving our community in his name. We are IN our community, FOR our community. We strive to be unconditionally generous. We do this through what we call “Be Rich” efforts. We’ve adopted 6 local elementary schools to love teachers and bless them in fun and practical ways throughout the year. Each year we buy out a laundromat and bless our community with free laundry. We care for the homeless and those in need on a regular basis through providing meals and our needs pantry get’s a lot of use (food, clothing, toiletries, etc.). We have given away tens of thousands of diapers to young moms. We’re planning a back to school event that will provide free shoes, clothing, lunch items, haircuts and more. We do two golden item hunts each year (a candy cane and an egg) worth $500 to the finder. All of this is because we are IN our community, FOR our community – not just talking about the love of Christ but living it outwards towards the world. We’re in the business of hope and life change through the gospel of Jesus. We’re casual and welcoming, down to earth and simple. We’re not flashy. We’re welcoming to anyone and everyone and want to meet people authentically where they are. We have a large population of those in recovery.
The Bridge is a coffee shop, like any other coffee shop. You’re not going to find Christian propaganda inside but you’ll find the kindness and the mission are worn on the sleeves of the employees and regulars. We strive to be generous too. We’ve given away thousands of dollars to local non-profits and are preparing to write bigger checks as we grow. We have a pay if forward board which is a great way for our patrons to help bless people on their heart (anyone can purchase coupons in $5 increments to be used by other guests). We have amazing coffee and food and the environment is comfortable and warm. It’s the type of place we encourage our community to make their living room or office. We have a community room where groups study, host work meetings, bible studies…or use it as a quiet room. It can be rented to be exclusive.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Hanging out with my parents as they taught me their “trade.” Making dinner with my mom or making a fire with my dad. Being near them, watching and learning as they went.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.restorationchurchpa.org; www.thebridge.coffee
- Instagram: restorationchurchpa; bridgecoffeepa
- Facebook: restorationchurchpa; bridgecoffeepa
- Youtube: restorationchurchpa
