View source for Bridgeport Gospel Hall, MI

As per BGH's [https://bridgeportgospelhall.com/what-we-believe website], open brethren Robert and Alexander McDonald were carrying on a testimony for the Lord in 1887 in Saginaw, in the Central-East Lower Peninsula of [[Michigan]]. In June of the next year, [[Thomas Donald William Muir]] of Detroit came with a gospel tent, and the assembly was formed the subsequent fall.

In 1890, the U.S. Religious Census indicated the presence of an open brethren assembly in Saginaw Co., with 20 meeting in a rented hall with a capacity of 100. It was known +1897-1904+ as the West Side Gospel Hall in Saginaw, but also +1901-1943+ as the Saginaw Gospel Hall. The earliest known commendation was of [[John Govan]] in the fall of 1919.

The assembly met in a number of rented locations on the west side of Saginaw including Hamilton & Cass Sts. in 1897, and Cleveland & Webster Sts. in 1904, before purchasing a lot on Madison & Porter Sts. in 1944, and pitching a gospel tent there where David Octavius Calderhead (1897-1980) from the old Mansfield Gospel Hall (+1936-1947) of [[Ohio]] preached a season, which resulted in professions and baptisms. In 1945, they erected a building on the purchased location, and met in their first owned location on Feb. 28, 1946. As per their website, the following Sunday, Mar. 3rd, the gospel was preached by William H. Ferguson, who had visited the area for many years.

The formal opening date was Mar. 17th, 1946 with 75 met to remember the Lord, and 200 in the afternoon and evening, with special ministry from Peter J. Pell from Grand Rapids, as well as [[Cyril Harry Brooks|Cyril Brooks]] (who married this writer's parents in the [[Philippines]] in 1953).

From 1963-1973, there was a hive/split from this assembly that met in Saginaw, known as [[Saginaw Gospel Chapel, MI|Saginaw Gospel Chapel]] that met from 1963-1966 at 446 Stoker Dr. with a correspondent of W.W. Lentz, and in the home of Maurice E. Layer, 1925 Robinwood from 1967-1973. See the link for more detail.

The Gospel Hall had a "gospel booth and trailer" at the [https://www.saginawcountyfair.org/ Saginaw County Fair] for many years, distributing thousands of Walter Kember's framed [https://www.dailyencouragement.net/resources/kember_scripture_prints.html scripture texts]. In 1974, thru a contact made from that effort, a six month gospel series was initiated in Chapin, Marion Springs and Fenmore, Michigan with fruit. The assembly also held a Friday night children's neighborhood outreach, using a school bus for transportation from the Bridgeport area and elsewhere. From 2002-2011, the assembly hosted a booth at what was then known as the [https://mmogta.org/ Oakley Tractor Show] with giveaways of gospel magnets and calendars.

On Oct. 1st, 2007, a celebration of 120 years included a special afternoon meeting from David Nicol, Donald LeCureaux and Dan Shutt who presented assembly history and the gospel. It was noted also on the [https://bridgeportgospelhall.com/what-we-believe website] that in July of 2015, a university student from [[Nepal]] attended the Sunday evening gospel meeting, which resulted in 38 other students attending subsequent meetings.

As per the [https://truthandtidings.com/2024/12 Dec. 2024] Truth & Tidings, the assembly relocated to Bridgeport due to a "deteriorating neighborhood", and challenges to accommodating those with physical disabilities. The new hall is also closer geographically to where most of the believers reside. Their first meeting in the new hall was held n Oct. 20th, 2024 with Paul Barnhardt as a special speaker.

=Locations=
* Saginaw:
** S. Hamilton & Cass Sts. +1897+
** Cleveland & N. Webster Sts. +1904+
*** see BGH's [https://bridgeportgospelhall.com/what-we-believe website] for a picture of this rented hall.
** 521 Cleveland St. +1936-1943+
** 502 N. Porter St. 1946-2024
*** Throop & N. Porter Sts. 1946-1950; Madison & N. Porter Sts. 1951-2024
* Bridgeport:
** 6785 Dixie Hwy. 2024-current

=AKA=
* West Side Saginaw Gospel Hall 1888-1904+
* Saginaw Gospel Hall 1888-2024
* Madison Street Gospel Hall 1951-2024

=Early Correspondents=
* Edward S. Williams +1927-1955
* Thurman Taylor 1956-1960
* Donald L. LeCureux 1961-1999
* Dr. Robert Dennison 2000+

=Meeting Times=
* +1936-1950: Sun Breaking of Bread 10:30am, Sunday School 2:30pm, Gospel 7:30pm
* 1951-1952+:changed BB to 10am & SS to 12pm; added Prayer & Bible Study on Thu 7:30pm & Fri Children's meeting 7pm
* +1954-1955: changed Thu P/BS to Wed 7:30pm
* 1956-1960: changed SS to 11:45am.
* 1961-1962: changed SS to 11:30am and added Bible Class; changed Fri children's meeting to 7:15pm (Oct-May)
* 1963-1968: changed Fri Ch. meeting to Oct-Apr
* 1969-1978: removed children's meeting
* 1979-1988: added children's meeting Fri. 7:15pm
* 1989-1999: changed G to 7pm & P/M to Thu 7pm; removed children's meeting;
* 2000-2008: changed P/M to Wed 7pm;
* 2009-2020+: change G to 6:30pm;
* +2025+: Sun BB 10:00am, SS/G 11:45am; Wed P/BS 7pm

=Also See=
* [[Who's Who at Bridgeport Gospel Hall, MI]] notable alumni
* [[Visiting Ministry at Bridgeport Gospel Hall, MI]] conference news, etc.

=Sources=
* 1897-2016 AAB's
* [https://bridgeportgospelhall.com/ BGH's website]
* Truth & Tidings (T&T): [https://truthandtidings.com/2024/12 2024-12]