“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” We have all heard that particular adage used countless times referring to restaurants, people, and, of course, books. Concerning people, the proverbial cliché could not be more true when referring to Bob Hulett. At first blush, Bob, if one were to pass him in the hallway, comes off as a quiet, reserved individual. One might even guess that his life’s work is in some kind of paper pushing, cubical dwelling, monotonically numbing job. If one makes those presumptions, he or she could not have weighed this tome more incorrectly.
So who is Bob Hulett?
Bob Hulett is a man who has found, especially in recent days, it increasingly necessary to become a “jack of many trades.” Over the past decade Bob has experienced a wide spectrum of “jobs,” and the emotions that accompanied each position.
Currently, Bob is putting down roots in the Downingtown, Pennsylvania area. Not too long ago, Bob and his family were “living the good life” in the sunny Cape Coral, Florida area, pasturing a fast growing congregation. When Bob arrived in Florida, the church attendance was above average, when comparing across the fellowship, but there were some serious changes that needed to be made for the congregation to move forward in Christ. The church, at the beginning of Bob’s ministry, was inwardly focused; the congregants were more interested in the experiences of their faith than spreading their faith. Those issues, along with some other serious financial and moral problems within the church, caused Pastor Hulett to take immediate action. As with many leadership and philosophy changes, a number of individuals resisted the change, and took leave of the church; this is a reality true in the church and the marketplace. Undaunted, Bob began to rebuild the church from the inside out; he fired the staff that needed fired, and hired those that needed hired. Bob also realized that the church, even though people were “experiencing,” individuals were not growing as healthy Christians.
Bob describes himself as a “Methodist” living out a “Pentecostal” life. He says that he thinks very “Methodically” about the church, and he loves systems. It was with this mindset that Bob approached the lack of spiritual growth in Florida. Bob and his staff realized the necessity for a traceable system of development in their congregation. One should be able to see the “signs” of a healthy developing Christian, and this became the framework for the “method.” Obediently following God’s call, seeking God’s will, and boldly leading the church, the Cape Coral congregation began to flourish.
Perhaps one of the most powerful changes Bob implemented was both action and philosophical in nature. Bob believed, and still believes, that the surrounding community is an immediate mission field. The church began to become an important piece of the surrounding area. This was accomplished not only through big outreach “events,” but also through supplying the public school teachers with supplies, scholarships for graduating seniors, and coaching sports teams.
No longer residing in Florida, Bob and his family are in a new chapter in life. 1600 miles, a handful of life experience and God’s divine leading has landed Bob Hulett in southeast Pennsylvania. Although he is in a new location, Bob did not forget to bring the innovation and work ethic that served him well along with him. On November 14, 2010, Bridge Community Church will launch under Bob Hulett’s leadership. Bridge Community, a church plant, will no doubt be a church like none other. Community outreach and cooperation are already part of the master plan; an example of connecting with the community is a continuation of the teacher supplies ministry and the possibility of a “drop and shop” center for parents to drop-off their children in a safe location while shopping in the area. The need for a strong discipleship structure is viewed as a necessary element for this new congregation; people will know, because they will see the growth in Christ. One change that has spawned from Bob’s experiences is his necessity to “hire to [his] weaknesses.” Bob says that in the past, he hired people he liked, or were at least like him; now Bob realizes he needs to surround himself with individuals that are “good at the things he is not.”
Talking with Bob Hulett is an interesting experience; this seemingly calm man becomes quite animated and excitable when talking about the passions of his heart. He is passionate for Jesus Christ, he is passionate in reaching his community for Jesus Christ, and he is passionate for Bridge Community Church. Bob believes it is imperative for churches to meet a need in the community, and he asks this question: “If your church were to close tomorrow and leave, would the community even notice?”
For Bob Hulett, church planting is not just “planting in a community”, it is planting a church “for” community.
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