Building Bridges Worship Experience: Building What We Hope to See
There are moments in life that remind you why you started.
This past week, Ejiro and I had the privilege of hosting the Building Bridges Worship Experience 2026, and as I sit and reflect on the evening, one word keeps coming to mind:
Gratitude.
Not because everything was perfect.
Not because of numbers.
Not because an event simply took place.
But because for a few hours, I saw people from different backgrounds, churches, families, and experiences gather in one room around something bigger than themselves.
I saw worship.
I saw prayer.
I saw connection.
And I saw a glimpse of what community can look like when people intentionally come together.
The Vision Was Never Just a Worship Night
As I opened the evening, I shared the heart behind Building Bridges.
The vision has always been bigger than a single gathering.
It has been about bringing together churches, business leaders, government leaders, families, and communities around shared purpose and shared hope. We intentionally centered the evening around unity, prayer, and intercession for Arizona.
In many ways, worship was the gathering point.
But connection was the deeper goal.
Because bridges matter.
Bridges close gaps.
Bridges create access.
Bridges allow people who once stood apart to move toward one another.
And our world needs more bridges.
What We Prayed For Says Something About What We Value
As I looked back through the prayer focus areas, I realized they reflected more than topics.
They reflected burdens.
We prayed for:
Unity across churches
Healing divisions
Families and marriages under strain
Identity and protection for young people
Government leaders and wisdom
Business leaders and stewardship
Arizona communities and revival
Restoration and healing across households
When you step back, these are not disconnected issues.
They are connected.
Strong communities are not built by addressing one area while neglecting another.
Communities become stronger when faith, family, leadership, and service begin working together.
A Personal Reflection
One thing I noticed throughout the evening was that many of the people in the room came through existing relationships.
Friends.
Church family.
People who have walked alongside us.
People who believed in us enough to show up.
And initially, I found myself wondering:
“How do we reach even further?”
Then I had another thought.
Most things God builds begin with faithful people simply saying yes.
Movements usually do not begin with crowds.
They begin with people.
Seeds become trees.
Conversations become relationships.
Relationships become communities.
Communities become movements.
Maybe bridges are built the same way.
One connection at a time.
This Is Only the Beginning
I was grateful to see leaders, friends, and supporters present throughout the evening, including Pastor Mike, who helped set the tone through prayer and exhortation.
I was grateful for volunteers, worship leaders, prayer leaders, and everyone who invested their time and energy into making the night possible.
Most of all, I was grateful for every person who walked through those doors.
Because the truth is:
The goal was never to create a moment.
The goal has always been to cultivate a movement of connection and leadership that outlives us.
As I often say:
“Strong communities are built when people connect, leaders grow, and opportunity is shared.”
And after this week, I believe that even more deeply.
This is only the beginning.
— Bus Obayomi
President & Founder, Building Bridges Leadership Foundation
Connecting Community. Empowering Leadership.