Our Story
Bryan Community Church (BCC) has a beautiful story of how God brings diverse people together from various ages, stages, and places in their faith journey.
In December of 2022, a group of about 40 United Methodists gathered in the fellowship hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Bryan. There were toddlers and there were 90 year olds all excited about the possibilities to begin a church in which they could not only deepen their understanding of their faith but would be intent on putting their faith into action. With much prayer, humble hearts, and a whiteboard that would be used to write all the possibilities of a church name, Bryan Community Church was born.
The name said it all, BCC would be a church that took Christ's Great Commandment and Commission in the community of Bryan, TX, and the surrounding area seriously. Their mission and motto:
To Love God, To Love People, and to Share Hope
Since BCC’s inception, the people all lent a hand to worship on Sundays, host community groups, and reach into the community through service. People have and continue to step into various roles such as leading worship, Sunday School classes, youth groups, children’s ministries, and mission opportunities. The church is dedicated to serving not only one another but those in our local school districts, police departments, non-profits, and more. BCC continues to celebrate how God unites the church by their faith and by the support of so many people who believe in their mission.
The Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church has been a strong supporter of the new church plant as they have encouraged, prayed for, and offered resources to help get the church off the ground. In addition, the First Presbyterian Church and other pastors and community leaders have continued to pray for and encourage the ministry that God is doing.
What makes BCC’s story even more unique and a glimpse of God’s kingdom on earth is that this United Methodist Congregation is now made up of and hosted in a Church of Christ building. As BCC’s worship services and ministries were getting off the ground at the First Presbyterian Church, there was a need for it to find its own building or “mission outpost.” There was another church in the community that, too, had a heart to care for one another and their neighbors–Faith United Church of Christ (Faith). Faith was looking for a church to partner with them and approached BCC. Faith knew that they had a building, but were in need of people, and they knew that BCC had people, but did not have a building.
After a lot of prayer, meetings, and more prayer, the two churches merged the week after Easter in 2024 to become one. Faith’s ministry, which began 70 years earlier, and BCC’s ministry, which was just getting started, would continue to transform lives for the kingdom of heaven. God’s kingdom was shining bright, and God’s people were getting it right. God was demonstrating to everyone involved that we all need a place to belong, be cared for, worship, and be in ministry together. Since the merger, BCC continues to live into its mission to love God, love people, and share Christ’s hope with the world.
Today, there is one worship service that has a blend of traditional and contemporary music. The success of its ministry is all dependent on God’s work and God’s people’s willingness to step in and do the work that the church has been called to do. There are little bitty babies and incredible adults. Everyone has a gift, and everyone is encouraged to get involved. The pastor often is heard saying, “We do not gather on Sundays just to worship but also to be sent into the world in order to put our faith into action.”
BCC’s story will continue to evolve over the years. It is the call for the church to continue to reach more people with the love of Jesus. There is no telling what God has in store, but there is no doubt that it will be good, full of love, and life-giving. BCC seeks to encourage everyone to be humble in prayer and ready at the call from God to continue to grow in their love for God and others, and then reach out and serve when the opportunities present themselves.
If you wish to learn more, please do not hesitate to reach out at info@bryancommunitychurch.org. Our pastor and leaders would love to tell you more about the ministry and invite you to be a part of God’s work at Bryan Community Church.