BUILD Conference - Bridges International

On-Site Information

Pre-Conference Details

Travel

Please plan to arrive at the conference by 5:00 pm on Monday, February 28 and depart anytime on Friday, March 4. On Monday, February 28 the first conference session will begin at 7:00 pm. Please plan your travel so that you can be in attendance. If you are flying to the conference, Orlando International Airport (MCO) is likely your best option. You can depart anytime on Friday, March 4.

Registration and Cost

REGISTER HERE. The per person costs for 2-person rooms or for a couple is $185. Please register by February 4. After that date the price goes up by $50.

A registration type for virtual participants is now available. Choose “Virtual Participant ” from the first screen you see at the link. The cost is $160 per person. We recognize that this cost is higher than previous virtual conferences, but this helps to cover shared conference costs unrelated to housing and meals.

Conference Hotel

As you plan for your travel, please make arrangements to arrive at the hotel by 5:00 pm ET. The conference will take place at the B Resort and Spa near Disney Springs (1905 Hotel Plaza Blvd, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830).

Ridesharing

Looking for other staff to share a ride from/to the Orlando Airport and the conference hotel? Sign up here with your info and check back to see others with similar arrival/departure times to contact about sharing rides. Ride sharing is optional of course and any arrangements made will be on each person’s own initiative.

Optional Time at Disney World

On Wednesday, March 2 everyone will have the option of visiting one of the Disney parks at a 50% subsidized price of $71. We will be free after a short morning session that day. The options will include Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You will select which park you want to attend in your registration. The subsidy does not apply for kids or non-staff spouses.

We realize that you may not want to visit Disney. We do plan to offer one other option in the Orlando area at no additional cost. If you are interested in this, select “I’m interested in a different touring option” for the Disney question and we will follow up when there are more details.

Please note that in order to comply with tax rules, the whole cost of the fun day will be a taxable expense. This will happen automatically in your staff account.

Who Should Attend?

Everyone is welcome! BUILD is open to Cru staff as well. If you have partners or volunteers outside of Cru that you want to invite, please email dan.tietz@bridgesinternational.com first. In general, Bridges staff are required to attend. Interns and Part-Time Field Staff are very welcome to come but not required. For families with both spouses on staff and kids at home, one spouse (husband or wife) is exempt from coming. New staff raising support should talk with their MPD coach before making plans to attend. Please hold you questions regarding exemptions until after our next communication in December.

Exemptions

Request an exemption from BUILD here. Staff who are required to participate in BUILD and receive an in-person exemption should plan to fully participate in the virtual conference. More details will follow. For a refresher on who is required to participate in BUILD, click here.

COVID-19 Precautions

We will take the following precautions:

Required Pre-arrival testing. The process will be the same as for Vision. We strongly encourage you to use a home antigen test in the 48 hours before you arrive and not travel unless you have a result.
Masking in our meeting spaces. Orlando does not have a mask mandate but we still think it’s prudent for us all to wear masks while in our meeting spaces.
Self-screening for symptoms before and during the conference.

Families and Childcare

We are already working on plans to provide childcare for kids 12 and under. It is our intention to have the childcare fully staffed with outside workers (not Bridges staff), but in the event that isn’t possible, please understand that we may have to ask parents to help serve for a session or two during the conference.

Welcome LEtter

Dear Bridges Staff Family,

We trust that you are doing well as you serve Jesus and the nations despite the global pandemic. We are excited that BUILD 2022 is a little more than three months away. The conference will take place February 28 to March 4, 2022, in Orlando, Florida. We are excited to gather in a warm location. And we are delighted to share that we plan to enjoy a local theme park during our time together.

BUILD is our Bridges national staff conference that exists to encourage and develop us as we pursue our mission of pointing international students to Jesus. At BUILD 2022, we hope to gain Christ’s perspective on our work and mission. We will gaze upon His beauty and the power of His gospel going to all nations! Like in the past, we are inviting Cru friends who minister to international students with part of their time. We have also invited Power to Change international student ministry from Canada.

In light of the pandemic, we recognize that some of you may not be comfortable attending in-person. We are making arrangements to offer a simultaneous virtual option as well.

Please join us in praying for the conference. Pray that the Lord prepares our hearts for what He wants to tell us as a staff family! As we move into the future, our desire is that we can glorify God as we are a blessing to the nations! May the Spirit of God renew our hearts in Central Florida at BUILD 2022!

With prayers and anticipation,

Trae and Dan

National Director and Chief of Staff

November 15, 2021