About Bridges

Where calling becomes equipped leadership.

About Bridges

Where calling becomes equipped leadership.

What Happens When Conviction Meets Action

In 2015, three men saw a problem that shouldn't exist. Pastors felt the pull for more education but were locked out by cost. Aspiring ministers had to choose: answer the call or protect their financial future.


Dr. Richard Miller, Rev. Anthony Freeman, and Dr. Justus Freeman refused to accept that trade-off.



They didn't adjust the tuition. They didn't add more scholarships. They tore down the entire model and rebuilt it from the ground up.



They moved to New Orleans with 5 students and one unshakable conviction: theological education could be rigorous, accredited, Pentecostal—and completely debt-free. 



A decade later, here's what that looks like:

A fully accredited institution offering undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs

30+ ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED AND MISSION DRIVEN FACULTY PRACTITIONERS WORK TOGETHER TO COMBINE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH A HEART TO MAKE MINISTRY TRAINING AFFORDABLE.

100% of graduates since 2016 have earned their degrees without student loans

This is theological education built by ministers, for ministers. This is a sacrificial act for the body of Christ.

Our History

From 5 Students to a Growing Movement

2011 – The Beginning

Bridges Christian College was founded by Dr. Mike Rakes in Winston-Salem, NC. The first class graduated in 2012.

2015 – The Restart That Changed Everything

Dr. Richard Miller (President), Rev. Anthony Freeman (Provost), and Dr. Justus Freeman (Vice President for Academic Affairs) took leadership and completely restructured the institution.
The campus moved to New Orleans, LA, and restarted with just 5 students—and a bold vision.

2016 – The Commitment

The new, refounding leadership completely restructured the institution by developing a new vision, new mission, new academic programs, new board of directors, new administration, and new faculty.

2017 – Pursuing Accreditation

Achieved applicant status with the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE).

2021 – Candidacy Status

Advanced to candidacy status with ABHE—a major milestone toward full accreditation.

2023 – Fully Accredited

February: Achieved full/initial accreditation with ABHE.
June: Approved to offer master's degrees and officially became Bridges Christian College & Seminary. Also recognized as an affiliate member of the Assemblies of God Alliance for Higher Education.

2024 – Expanding Impact

May: Received full membership in the AG Alliance for Higher Education.
June: Approved to offer the first doctoral degree—Doctor of Ministry in Pentecostal Theology and Ministry.

2025 – Doctoral Growth

June: Approved to offer a Doctor of Philosophy in Pentecostal Biblical Interpretation.

Today – A Movement

From 5 students in New Orleans to a fully accredited seminary offering undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs – and we’re just getting started.

Our Mission

Every course. Every degree. Every interaction. It all points back to this.

Bridges Christian College and Seminary exists to cultivate hearts, to prepare minds, and to develop skills of Spirit-empowered leaders for practical and academic ministry to fulfill the Great Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions

How We Cultivate Hearts

GOALS:

  • Prepare students’ hearts for the oversight and development of God’s work
  • Develop Pentecostal students of spiritual discernment who model Jesus in their communities
  • Cultivate the hearts of students to desire the Pentecostal experience in their ministry contexts

HOW WE DO IT:

  • Recruit students who hunger for Pentecostal and biblical principles
  • Cultivate students’ hearts for their communities through chapels, classes, and practical ministry experiences
  • Exhort and encourage students to pursue the spiritual gifts in classroom, chapel, and ministry settings
How We Prepare Minds

Goals:

  • Prepare students’ minds to derive their spiritual disciplines and theology from the Scriptures
  • Establish a culture of assessment throughout the entire institution
  • Prepare students’ minds to lead others in biblical practices

How We Do It:

  • Teach students how to appropriately exegete the Scriptures
  • Develop an institutional assessment plan that will improve institutional effectiveness
  • Require students to apply biblical principles learned in the classroom to their ministry and academic contexts

How We Develop Spirit-Empowered Leaders

Goals:

  • Educate students to be Christian ministers and leaders who fully discern and engage their communities, bringing glory to God
  • Prepare students to face a society resistant to the Gospel and become instruments of change for their communities
  • Develop Pentecostal ministers who do not compromise biblical truth

How We Do It:

  • Teach students to implement Jesus’ Great Commission in their lives
  • Provide mentorship to develop spiritually mature leaders grounded on biblical principles and practices
  • Equip students to serve as leaders in church ministry and academia grounded on biblical principles and practices

Our Educational Philosophy: Why We Teach the Way We Do

At Bridges, education is discipleship. It always has been.

The ministry of teaching is woven throughout Scripture—from Moses to Paul, from Jesus' parables to the five-fold ministry gifts in Ephesians 4. We view our role as educators the same way: to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12).



Our teaching philosophy reflects our mission through diverse methods, unapologetic Pentecostal conviction, unwavering biblical authority, and a commitment to training leaders who engage the world with both compassion and truth.

Read Our Full Educational Philosophy

What We Believe

Our doctrinal foundation aligns with the Assemblies of God. Here are some of our core convictions:




  • The Scriptures are inspired by God and declare His design and plan for humanity
  • Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ restores fellowship with God
  • The Baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers believers for ministry, evidenced by speaking in tongues
  • Divine healing is provided through Christ's atonement
  • A mission of the Church is to to seek and save the lost


These various partnerships serve to help populate the body of Christ with unapologetically Spirit-driven leaders with a passion for the lost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read Our Doctrinal Statement
  1. The Scriptures are inspired by God and declare His design and plan for humanity.
  2. There is only one true God revealed in three persons…Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (commonly known as the Trinity).
  3. The deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.
  4. Though originally good, man willingly fell to sin – ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world.
  5. Every person can have restored fellowship with God through ‘Salvation’ (trusting Christ, through faith and repentance, to be our personal Savior).
  6. We practice two ordinances: 6.A Water Baptism by Immersion after repenting of one’s sins and receiving Christ’s gift of salvation, and  6.B Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper) as a symbolic remembrance of Christ’s suffering and death for our salvation.
  7. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a special experience following salvation that empowers believers for witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times.
  8. The initial physical evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is ‘Speaking in Tongues,’ as experienced on the Day of Pentecost and referenced throughout Acts and the Epistles.
  9. Sanctification initially occurs at salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy, but also a progressive lifelong process of separating from evil as believers continually draw closer to God and become more Christlike.
  10. The Church has a Mission to seek and save all who are lost in sin. We believe ‘the Church’ is the Body of Christ and consists of the people who, throughout time, have accepted God’s offer of redemption (regardless of religious denomination) through the sacrificial death of His son Jesus Christ.
  11. There is a divinely called and scripturally ordained leadership ministry that serves the Church. The Bible teaches that each of us under leadership must commit ourselves to reach others for Christ, to worship Him with other believers, to build up or edify the body of believers – the Church and to Meet human need with ministries of love and compassion.
  12. Divine healing of the sick is a privilege for Christians today and is provided for in Christ’s atonement (His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins).
  13. There is a blessed hope — When Jesus Raptures His Church Prior to His Return to Earth (the second coming). At this future moment in time all believers who have died will rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord forever.
  14. There will be a millennial reign of Christ when Jesus returns with His saints at His second coming and begins His benevolent rule over earth for 1,000 years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace.
  15. A final judgment will take place for those who have rejected Christ. They will be judged for their sin and consigned to eternal punishment in a punishing lake of fire.
  16. Believers look forward to the perfect new heavens and a new earth that Christ is preparing for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. We will live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on Earth. ‘And so shall we forever be with the Lord.
  17. Believers look forward to the perfect new heavens and a new earth that Christ is preparing for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. We will live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on Earth. ‘And so shall we forever be with the Lord.

What We Believe

Our doctrinal foundation aligns with the Assemblies of God. Here are some of our core convictions:




  • The Scriptures are inspired by God and declare His design and plan for humanity
  • Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ restores fellowship with God
  • The Baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers believers for ministry, evidenced by speaking in tongues
  • Divine healing is provided through Christ's atonement
  • A mission of the Church is to to seek and save the lost


These various partnerships serve to help populate the body of Christ with unapologetically Spirit-driven leaders with a passion for the lost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read Our Doctrinal Statement
  1. The Scriptures are inspired by God and declare His design and plan for humanity.
  2. There is only one true God revealed in three persons…Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (commonly known as the Trinity).
  3. The deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.
  4. Though originally good, man willingly fell to sin – ushering evil and death, both physical and spiritual, into the world.
  5. Every person can have restored fellowship with God through ‘Salvation’ (trusting Christ, through faith and repentance, to be our personal Savior).
  6. We practice two ordinances: 6.A Water Baptism by Immersion after repenting of one’s sins and receiving Christ’s gift of salvation, and  6.B Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper) as a symbolic remembrance of Christ’s suffering and death for our salvation.
  7. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a special experience following salvation that empowers believers for witnessing and effective service, just as it did in New Testament times.
  8. The initial physical evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is ‘Speaking in Tongues,’ as experienced on the Day of Pentecost and referenced throughout Acts and the Epistles.
  9. Sanctification initially occurs at salvation and is not only a declaration that a believer is holy, but also a progressive lifelong process of separating from evil as believers continually draw closer to God and become more Christlike.
  10. The Church has a Mission to seek and save all who are lost in sin. We believe ‘the Church’ is the Body of Christ and consists of the people who, throughout time, have accepted God’s offer of redemption (regardless of religious denomination) through the sacrificial death of His son Jesus Christ.
  11. There is a divinely called and scripturally ordained leadership ministry that serves the Church. The Bible teaches that each of us under leadership must commit ourselves to reach others for Christ, to worship Him with other believers, to build up or edify the body of believers – the Church and to Meet human need with ministries of love and compassion.
  12. Divine healing of the sick is a privilege for Christians today and is provided for in Christ’s atonement (His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins).
  13. There is a blessed hope — When Jesus Raptures His Church Prior to His Return to Earth (the second coming). At this future moment in time all believers who have died will rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air, and Christians who are alive will be caught up with them, to be with the Lord forever.
  14. There will be a millennial reign of Christ when Jesus returns with His saints at His second coming and begins His benevolent rule over earth for 1,000 years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel and the establishment of universal peace.
  15. A final judgment will take place for those who have rejected Christ. They will be judged for their sin and consigned to eternal punishment in a punishing lake of fire.
  16. Believers look forward to the perfect new heavens and a new earth that Christ is preparing for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. We will live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on Earth. ‘And so shall we forever be with the Lord.
  17. Believers look forward to the perfect new heavens and a new earth that Christ is preparing for all people, of all time, who have accepted Him. We will live and dwell with Him there forever following His millennial reign on Earth. ‘And so shall we forever be with the Lord.

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Whether you're exploring your options or ready to take the next step, we're here to answer your questions and help you discern if Bridges is where God is leading you.

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