About Us
Leadership, 2008 Ministry Chairs:
Moderator: Marlin Mansfield
Secretary: Jill Stever
Deacons: Jack & Norma Stombaugh
Youth: Nate Lewis (Associate Pastor)
Team Engage:
Stewardship Ministry: Rod Bruot
Outreach: Jim Fetzer
Service: Jim Manning
Transformation Team:
Education: Kathy Nicholls
Fellowship: TBA
Worship: Julie Bromagen
Our Mission:
to honor God and encourage each other
as we commit to grow, serve and reach others for Christ.
Our Vision:
The vision of the Bryan First Brethren Church
is to see a new day of transformed individuals
resulting in a transformed congregation
whose mission is the transformation of our community
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our Ministry Flow:
For an explanation of this ministry flow, read about it on our Outreach Campaign page, email us with your questions, or read the book "Simple Church" by Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger which, we have found, discusses most of what we are doing with this ministry flow.
To acquire a document with more information about our church,
please
email us.
It includes the following topics and more:
- Denominational Affiliation
- Our Heritage
- Our History
- Our Beliefs
- Our Scriptural Motivation
- Our Mission Statement
- Our Vision
- Our Core Values
- Our Strategy
- Our Ministry Flow
- Our Organizational Flow
- Our Structure
- Ministry Opportunities at Bryan First Brethren Church
*Our church website is going to be redesigned soon (yippee!). Some pieces are no longer available. For information on anything else regarding our church, feel free to contact one of our staff members or someone you know who attends our church regularly.
Meet our Staff
(All office hours are weekly estimates. They are subject to change from week to week, depending on visiting schedules and out of office meetings. Hours listed are general hours when it's most likely to find a staff member at the church.)
Sr. Pastor: Sam Shultz
Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 10:00am-5:00pm
Sam began serving the BFBC June 26, 2005, having previously served the Garber Brethren Church in Ashland, OH in various capacities as an Associate Pastor. Sam brings a passion for helping people get connected with Jesus Christ in a way that makes sense to them and helping them find joy while participating in the Lord's work. Preaching from an educational background, Sam often uses tangible illustration pieces to help us learn important biblical truths.
Sam grew up in a rural Amish community in Goshen, IN. He graduated from Anderson University (B.S.) and Ashland Theological Seminary (M.Div). Sam was ordained in 2006 by the Brethren Church. While in Seminary, Sam wrote a book called Journey: Taking a Step Toward Spiritual Maturity. Though currently unpublished, it has been studied by several churches across the country and China. Sam has also written various curriculum for youth and adults.
Sam is married to Nicole who is in nursing school completing an RN degree. Sam and Nicole have two daughters: Abigail, born November 2, 2006, and Hannah, born January 17, 2008. Sam enjoys spending time with his girls, camping, playing drums, playing XBox, softball, cooking, fishing, gardening, playing with his dog, Chloe, as well as watching NFL & Notre Dame football on the weekends.
Sam's life verse is Habakkuk 3:2. Motivation for ministry comes to Sam from the Great Commission and the Great Commandments.
Associate Pastor: Nate Lewis
Office Hours: M-Th 10:30am-5:00pm
Nate joined BFBC January 1, 2007. Nate has a background with Christian camping (Summer's Best Two Weeks), coaching track & football, and working with troubled teens. Nate brings a passion for worship and helping young people grow in their relationship with the Lord. From his camp background, you will often find Nate doing new and exciting things with just about anybody!
Nate enjoys whitewater rafting, rock climbing & rappelling, watching Mel Gibson movies, hunting & fishing, snowboarding and camping.
Nate grew up in Juniata County, PA, in the valley of Licking Creek. In high school, Nate was involved with track, football, and farming. After high school, Nate attended and graduated from Penn State University.
Nate's life verse is Colossians 3:23.
A scripture that motivates Nate is 1 Corinthians 9:21-27.
Church Secretary: Jill Stever
Office hours: Monday-Tuesday 10:00am-4:00pm
Thursday 3:00pm-6:00pm
Friday 10:00am-3:00pm
Jill has attended Bryan First Brethren since childhood and has served as secretary of Bryan First Brethren since December 1992. She and her husband, Tony, have been married for 30 years and have two sons and two delightful daughters-in-law: Andrew and Jessica, living in Columbus, OH, and Daniel and Abbie, who live in Toledo, OH. Jill enjoys spending time with her family, playing piano and fiddle, listening to music, sewing, dancing, and reading. She hopes to continue serving as secretary at FBC for many more years, and looks forward to being a grandmother someday.
Jill began playing piano for the adult choir when she was in the 6th grade and has continued using her gift of music at Bryan First Brethren since that time. She currently serves as pianist on the Worship Team. Over the last several years she has come to realize that “worship” is so much more than music – it’s your spirit responding to God’s Spirit, delighting in God, and recognizing and acknowledging Him in everything!
Two of Jill’s favorite scriptures are: Romans 8:38-39 and Joshua 1:9