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Our beloved co-founder Lila Jane Tibbitts passed away on January 6, 2021. 

Frank and Lila Jane founded Bridge Ministries Inc. They served as Missionary/Evangelists beginning in 1971, ministering throughout the United States; the United Kingdom; Canada, Bahamas; Philippines; Ghana, Togo; Nigeria; Liberia, India and Pakistan. They established churches in Northern Ireland; 52 churches in the Philippines; West Africa and Pakistan.

Bridge Ministries Inc. is a Non-Profit Corporation in the United States with 501 (c) (3) status and is registered with the SEC in Ghana, Togo and the Philippines.

Frank and Lila Jane were married for 65 years and have three children with families of their own. Frank attended Husson Business College, but discovered business was not what he wanted to do, so joined the USAF Security Service and had a distinguished Military Career, receiving many awards. While serving in the military, he became an alcoholic and during that difficult time was drawn back to the Lord. Lila Jane had no understanding of salvation, having been brought up in a very liberal church. The entire family came to know Jesus Christ as Lord in 1967, and He changed their lives. Lila Jane soon after coming to know the Lord, enrolled at Washington Bible College and Capitol Bible Seminary in D.C.  Frank was allowed to audit all of her classes while still in the Air Force. After that wonderful time of refreshing and excitement of knowing the reality of Jesus Christ, he received orders to serve his country in Viet Nam, and was able to minister to many while there. When he returned from Viet Nam, he and the family received an assignment to England. Frank was given License to preach in the Baptist Denomination both in England and in the United States in 1971 which he still holds. 

After retirement in 1973, they were appointed as pastors in a little Baptist Church, in Baring, Maine that had five members, on 1975, after receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the church grew to 85 and became a “Bapti-Costal Church.” Lila Jane was named Outstanding Young Woman of Maine in 1971, while Frank served in Viet Nam; and in England was named Outstanding United States Air Force Security Wife of the year in 1972. Lila Jane has been published in the Outstanding Book of Poets in 2004-5, and in 2007 became a published author, having written "Through the Eyes of a Child." They both were ordained by the Full Gospel Ministerial and Church Fellowship International and hold Lifetime Membership with them. This interdenominational fellowship was organized in 1939 and includes members in Canada and the United States. They are also members of Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministers International in Irving, Texas.

Frank and Lila Jane started the ministry in the Philippines in 1983, bought a headquarters building, and lived there for a number of  years. They periodically returned to make sure all was running smoothly. Lila Jane has taken ministry trips to Ghana, Togo, Liberia and Nigeria, sharing the vision of Bridge Ministries, Inc. with pastors and Christian Workers, helping them build spiritual bridges in West Africa. The ministry was later expanded to Pakistan, where we have seen over 210,000 people saved since February 2009.

Frank and Lila Jane were Songwriter-Composers registered with ASCAP, and have eight albums to their credit and those eight albums have now been digitally mastered to produce CD's. They have an excellent music ministry that is very personal, often referred to, as unique, they just aren't too sure what unique means!  If you would like a CD or a book, please send us an e-mail and we will get in touch right away.

There was a definite anointing on their ministry of preaching, teaching, prophecy, deliverance and music. They were down to earth and approachable. The Holy Spirit had liberty in their meetings. May the Lord bless you as you serve God and those the Lord has called you to minister to!