Rejoicing in Our Present: Spiritual Formation
The three foundational pillars of BBC’s missional goal as a church are to love, grow, and share.
- To love God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves
- To help one another grow into the full likeness of Jesus
- To share the good news of Christ’s Gospel to the ends of the earth. The spiritual formation core ministry is specifically focused on the second pillar, helping to equip and encourage people with the disciplines and practices needed to follow Jesus in a world so desperately needing him.
Small Groups
Our church is proud and deeply encouraged by the fact that we have over twenty active small groups made up of over three hundred people regularly meeting to pray together, examine God’s Word, and discuss what it looks like to be what Pastor John Stott calls the “contemporary Christian” in our modern world.
Among them are groups specifically designed for women, groups specifically designed for men, those which meet both in-person and online, and those whose sole purpose is to pray for our church: its body, its leadership, and its people.
BBC prioritizes small groups because, in many ways, it is the oldest and most effective way to “make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything [Jesus] commanded [us]” (Matthew 28:20). The early church met in houses, often with a maximum capacity of under twenty people.
But yet, within a century, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread thousands of miles, and ultimately transformed the very fabric of Roman life, and eventually the world.
We believe that, through the ministry of small groups, people can come to know one another with a love and intimacy seldom found elsewhere.
Small groups are a place where the highest joys and most painful lows of life can be shared, all under the unifying presence of the Holy Spirit, who guides us together toward the loving arms of Jesus, who teaches us how to live, and live well.
Donna Potter, a faithful volunteer and leader of a women’s small group, expressed that she has had the “privilege of seeing lives transformed by the power of God’s Word and prayer” in her group.
“We each bring unique and honest insights to our discussions,” she said, “and the long-standing connections formed and sisterly support through crisis have enriched all of our lives. The commitment has shown me the profound impact that a small group can have when we come together to learn, encourage, and grow in God’s love and truth.”
Donna Potter
“Reimagining the Church” Series
If you have not yet experienced the potentially transformative impact of being a part of a small group, then joining one for the duration of our current “Reimagining the Church” series is a great place to start.
Throughout the New Testament, there are many poignant images used to describe the role and function of the church.
Whether it be the Body of Christ, the Temple of God, or a Household of Justice, these images have been used to reimagine what following Jesus looks like in the contemporary context believers have found themselves in for centuries.
Following each Sunday sermon, many of our small groups are diving deeper, asking themselves the question of if these images accurately reflect how we presently follow Jesus at BBC, and what we can do to make those images a greater reality in our congregation if they do not.
If you would like to join our small groups in asking these important questions, feel free to sign up for a small group in the church lobby!
Spiritual Formation Leadership
Because of the essential nature of Christian discipleship, and our church’s commitment to prioritizing the spiritual care and development of its people, we would be remiss if we did not also acknowledge that over the past year, a dynamic group of new leaders have been appointed to help oversee this ministry.
Rev. Ramzy Asfour and Rev. Nancy Asfour
In March 2024, Reverends Ramzy and Nancy Asfour were appointed to be our Core Ministry leaders.
After twenty-five years serving as missionaries in the Middle East and Europe in the Assemblies of God denomination, Ramzy and Nancy came to BBC in 2015, through an invitation Nancy received to attend one of our weekly women’s small groups. Soon after, Ramzy began attending the Men’s Bible Study and they decided to make BBC their new church home.
In addition to leading their own weekly small group in their home, the Asfours are directly involved with the Adult Sunday school class, and many of the men’s and women’s small group opportunities our church offers.
When asked about their small group, Nancy stated, “The original participants did not know each other, but over the years the group has doubled in size and established a bond of friendship and caring for one another. Many in the group are now serving the church in a variety of other ministries.” We are grateful that the Lord led Nancy and Ramzy to us for the glory of his kingdom.
Rev. Nate Ryan
In late-August 2024, BBC also added to their pastoral staff, hiring the Reverend Nate Ryan to help oversee both Spiritual Formation and student ministries.
Nate grew up at BBC and credits the grace of God and the loving support and mentorship he received throughout his teen years as the reasons he’s a follower of Jesus today. After graduating from Nauset Regional High School in 2015, Nate attended Gordon College, where he received his bachelor’s degree in biblical studies and Christian ministries. From there, he spent two years pursuing a master’s degree in theological studies from Boston College, where he focused on church history, spiritual formation, and ecumenical dialogue.
After three years pastoring West Springfield Baptist Church in West Springfield, PA, Nate returned to BBC, eager to serve the Lord in the place he calls home.
Nate is passionate about equipping others to better recognize the signs of God’s kingdom all around them.
At the core of Nate’s philosophy of ministry is allowing God’s Word to shape and form his people to seeing themselves as active participants in his redemptive story. From the call of Abraham onward, God has called a People to himself, to share a collective story that gives them a sense of identity, purpose, and belonging. Helping others to adopt this narrative as their own story, so that they might better love God and love their neighbor, is at the heart of Nate’s mission here at BBC.