Bible Fellowship Church of Newark (BFCN) sits on Old Baltimore Pike in Newark, Delaware, where a community of believers gathers around a simple motto: a place where faith and fellowship create a family. The congregation is part of the Bible Fellowship Church denomination, an evangelical family of churches that traces its origins to 1858 and today includes roughly seventy congregations across seven states and Mexico. At BFCN, that broader fellowship takes the shape of a busy Sunday morning, a children's wing humming with AWANA clubs on Wednesdays, an Upward Flag Football field each fall, and prayer partners walking the sidewalks around the building on a Saturday morning.
The church describes itself as a place where faith and fellowship create a family, where people are not just a face in the crowd or a number on a roll. Members come from Newark and the surrounding area to study the Bible, serve one another, and welcome neighbors who are exploring who Jesus is. Whether someone walks through the doors on a Sunday morning or connects through a Growth Group, a women's Bible study, or a youth night, the rhythm of the week at BFCN is built around the conviction that followers of Christ grow best in close community.
Sunday Mornings on Old Baltimore Pike
Sunday School classes meet at 9:00 a.m. in classrooms throughout the building, and the main worship service gathers at 10:00 a.m. A Connection Corner and a Connection Card help first-time guests introduce themselves, and the children's ministry uses a computerized Planning Center Kid's Check system at the lobby outside the children's wing to register children for the morning. Children's programs run alongside the worship service, so families do not need to choose between them.
The worship service itself follows the church's commitment to expository preaching, teaching through books of the Bible one passage at a time. Recent sermon series have included walks through Judges, Psalms, Colossians, and Habakkuk, with regular preachers including Lead Pastor Andrew Hebel, Discipleship Pastor Jon Limm, Bruce Hebel, and Harrison Clark. Services are livestreamed on Vimeo and the church's YouTube channel, and audio recordings are posted to the sermons archive each week for anyone who missed a Sunday.
What BFCN Believes
The church holds to an evangelical statement of faith centered on the Bible as the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God. Members believe in one God eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, ascension, and personal return.
Salvation, in the church's teaching, is by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross and resurrection from the dead, apart from human works or merit. The Holy Spirit is confessed as fully God, indwelling, sanctifying, and empowering believers for worship, service, and ministry, while recognizing that some miraculous gifts of the Spirit, including tongues and prophecy as ongoing practices, are understood as no longer normally operative today. Believer's baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper are observed as two ordinances commanded by Scripture, baptism as a public identification with Christ and communion as a memorial of His death.
The church also confesses the bodily return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead, final judgment, eternal blessing for the saved, and eternal punishment for the condemned. Doctrinally, BFCN shares the Bible Fellowship Church denomination's emphases on salvation through the death and resurrection of Christ, the new birth by the Holy Spirit, the authority and trustworthiness of Scripture, the second coming of Jesus, and the shared life of the church with every-member responsibility for evangelism and missions.
Mission and Core Values
The mission of BFCN is to develop followers of Jesus Christ who are growing to maturity in what they believe and how they live, so that God's character is displayed to the world through their lives wherever He places them. The church pursues that mission by preaching and teaching the whole counsel of God's Word, promoting meaningful worship individually and corporately, practicing fellowship that displays the love of Christ, preparing believers to serve in the church and world, and proclaiming the gospel in evangelism.
A follower of Jesus Christ who is growing to maturity is described as one who loves sacrificially, obeys carefully, serves joyfully, and witnesses boldly. The list of core values is long and detailed. The Bible is honored as the authority for belief and life, with a commitment to expository preaching and personal study. Prayer is valued as essential to personal and corporate spiritual vitality. Meaningful worship, whether individual or gathered, is treated as the normal experience of a growing believer.
The church values the spiritual gifts of every believer, authenticity in relationships with one another and with God, grace and forgiveness as the path to restoration in a broken world, and genuine spirituality above outward conformity. Plurality of leadership is expressed through an elder board, compassion is practiced both inside and outside the church, and the whole family, including singles, is ministered to at every age. Stewardship of time, talents, and resources is taken seriously, growth is welcomed, excellence is pursued, and unity within the body is held alongside diversity in its membership. A connectional relationship with other Bible Fellowship Churches and other Bible-believing congregations is part of the church's identity.
ARK Kids: From Nursery to Fifth Grade
ARK Kids is BFCN's children's ministry, and it operates from the conviction that parents are the primary spiritual leaders in a child's life while the church partners with them in discipling their children. The acronym stands for Ambassadors Representing the Kingdom, and the verse that anchors the ministry is Deuteronomy 11:18: write God's words on your hearts, teach them to your children, talk about them at home and on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. Volunteers working with children have all undergone a criminal background check and application process, and the children's wing is equipped with a computerized check-in system to keep every child safe and accounted for.
The youngest children, ages zero to eighteen months, are cared for in the nursery during both the 9:00 Sunday School hour and the 10:00 worship service, where nursery volunteers rock, sing Bible songs, and tell simple Bible stories. Toddlers eighteen months to two years move up to the Terrific Toddlers class, where parachute play, bouncy balls, tumble mats, and bubbles accompany an introduction to structured Bible teaching from the Big Picture Story Bible. Children who are potty-trained and three or four years old join the Praising Preschoolers Beginner Church Time, working through the Growing with God series.
The Pre-K/K Krew is designed for four-and-a-half to kindergarten-aged children and uses the God's Great Big Picture and Me series alongside The Gospel Project materials. Children in third through fifth grade are dismissed after the opening prayer of the worship service to attend Kid's Church, where they enjoy Super Book Academy material, games, memory verses, and interactive lessons. On the first Sunday of each month, K through sixth graders gather for Kidz Klub, a missions-focused class taught by Jim Kramer, a resident missionary and church member who has visited and ministered to children in Zambia, India, West Virginia, and other places around the world.
AWANA on Wednesday Nights
AWANA meets every Wednesday night during the school year from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. and is one of the busiest hours of the week at BFCN. The acronym stands for Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, taken from 2 Timothy 2:15, and the program is designed to reach boys and girls with the gospel of Jesus Christ and train them to serve Him. The 90-minute evening balances games with scripture memory and scripture-related activities.
Three clubs run at BFCN. Cubbies is the preschool club for three- and four-year-olds, with the requirement that children be three by August 31. Sparks serves kindergartners through second graders, building on the Cubbies material and taking youngsters a step deeper into God's Word. Truth and Training teaches third through sixth graders the truth of God's Word and trains them to follow Him in their daily lives. Registration opens each fall with a kickoff picnic night, and a registration form is available from the church office or from Children's Director Dawn Wallace.
ARK Youth: Grades Six Through Twelve
ARK Youth meets on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and exists to help students grow into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and with other teens. The name stands for Ambassadors Representing the Kingdom, and the ministry sees itself as a place for students to be loved, to find their identity in Jesus, and to learn the truth of God's Word. ARK nights include games, snacks, hangout time, teaching, and small group time. Throughout the year the group also heads off campus for camps, beach trips, and other outings.
The youth ministry's stated philosophy is to walk alongside the lives of teens and help them deepen their relationship with Jesus. Adult leaders partner with parents, modeling spiritual maturity and encouraging teens toward a deeper walk with Christ, while recognizing that parents remain the primary spiritual influence. Middle and high schoolers gather in the Upper Room for Sunday school at 9:00 a.m., where they watch biblical video content and follow up with discussion led by Mark Chandler and Harrison Clark.
Upward Sports: Every Child Is a Winner
Upward Sports is one of the most visible ministries of BFCN, drawing hundreds of children from Newark and the surrounding communities. The program is for boys and girls from kindergarten through high school, with age divisions depending on each sport. Upward Flag Football runs in the fall, Upward Cheerleading debuted alongside flag football as a new offering, and Upward Soccer takes the field each spring.
Upward's mission is promoting the discovery of Jesus through sports, and every league is built around five values: the expectation of God moments, the life of integrity, the opportunity to serve, the discipline of excellence, and the priority of children. The premise of every game is that success is not measured in wins and losses but in how coaches and parents convey salvation, character, and self-esteem to each child. Scores are kept in flag football and soccer, but no division standings are maintained, taking the pressure off young athletes.
Before every game, referees lead both teams in prayer at midfield. Every player plays offense and defense. Every child receives game-day stars at the end of each contest: a blue star for best effort, a gold star for best sportsmanship, a gray star for best offense, a red star for best defense, an orange star for best leadership, and a white star for Christlikeness. The cheerleading program adds its own stars, and cheers are always designed to encourage both teams. Coaches deliver a short devotion at every practice and lead Scripture memory with their teams.
Encore: Theatre That Teaches the Bible
BFCN Encore is a drama ministry for children and adults, ages 5 to 105, who are interested in the arts. The group's mission is to give children a way to express themselves artistically while learning biblical principles and experiencing God's love along the way. Encore produces two shows each year, performing for the church and the public, with auditions and rehearsals before each production.
Cast and crew do more than learn lines. They participate in prayer and biblical teaching, and play games that promote teamwork. Performers and behind-the-scenes helpers of any experience are welcome, and the ministry has become a creative complement to the church's other discipleship offerings.
Women's Ministry
The women's ministry exists to encourage and equip women in Christ through fellowship, Bible studies, support groups, and service projects. A full slate of daytime and evening studies meets throughout the week. On Tuesday afternoons, Judy Cox leads a seven-week study of Luke in the Land, walking with Jesus in His first-century world. Wednesday mornings find Chris Bekowski and Karen Green guiding a study of Proverbs through the teaching of Dr. David Jeremiah. Wednesday evenings during AWANA, BFCN Moms gathers in the Corner Cafe for an inductive study with Terrence Hebel, with treats and open-and-go fellowship for moms of young children.
Thursday mornings bring a study of Romans led by Evelyn Cowdery on the first and third Thursdays of the month, with childcare provided. Thursday evenings feature a rotating menu of studies. Cindy Thayer has been working through Behold Your God by Myrna Alexander, and Karen Green and Cindy Thayer lead a video-and-workbook study of Jesus and Women by Kristi McLelland. Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m., Karen Heald walks women through the Psalms using the 7 Arrows study method.
Beyond Bible studies, the women's ministry coordinates Prayer Partners, a prayer walk on the last Saturday of each month around the memorial benches in front of the church, a Women's Fellowship that meets the first and third Tuesdays in the Corner Cafe, a Meals Ministry for church families during illness or after childbirth, a Church Decorating team, and Prayer for the Generations, a monthly gathering for women praying for children, grandchildren, and prodigals.
Men's Ministry
The men's ministry gives the men of BFCN regular connecting points to encourage one another in Christ. A weekly breakfast meets every Thursday at 6:30 a.m. at Bear Diner in Bear, Delaware, offering encouragement, accountability, Bible study, and prayer with a close-knit group of guys. The men also gather for monthly Saturday breakfasts for special events. On Sunday mornings, men can join the Men's Study of 1 Samuel in Comly 2, learning from the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David alongside Allen Yandell, Jeff Dixon, and Stoney Stonebraker.
Young Adults and BFCN Moms
The Young Adults Ministry gathers adults ages 18 to 30ish, whether college students or young professionals, for prayer, worship, Bible teaching, and the simple joys of community. The group carves pumpkins in the fall, hosts road trips and game nights, and follows John 10:9-10 in seeking the abundant life Jesus promised. They keep in touch through a Signal group chat and an Instagram feed. Jon and Linsey Limm lead a Sunday school study on The Good Life in the Corner Cafe during the 9:00 a.m. hour.
BFCN Moms welcomes any interested mom, no homework required, for an inductive Bible study during the Wednesday night AWANA schedule, with snacks, fellowship, and childcare available. Children under the age of two who are not yet in AWANA are welcome with their moms, and the Thursday morning ladies study is also open to BFCN moms with childcare provided.
Prime Timers, We Care, and GriefShare
Prime Timers is the name for adults 55 and older, and the ministry exists to encourage one another in the walk with Christ, reach out to the community with the gospel, and enjoy the life Christ has given. Regular lunches happen on the first Wednesday of every month, and the ministry also schedules outings such as concerts, sporting events, and service opportunities.
We Care is BFCN's pastoral care team. The group visits those in the hospital and those in need at home, encourages members by phone, cards, texts, and emails, and shares the love of Christ in whatever form works best for the person in front of them. No experience is required, and team members can do as much or as little as they feel comfortable doing.
GriefShare is a thirteen-week, Bible-centered program that helps people learn to grieve in healthy ways after the loss of a loved one. A new session meets on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Comly 4, with DVD viewing, a workbook, and group discussion. The workbook costs twenty dollars, and scholarships are available. The church asks GriefShare participants to use the right-side entrance near the speed bump.
Growth Groups and Sunday Discipleship
Growth Groups are BFCN's small groups, and the church invites everyone to consider being part of one. The premise is simple. People feel like part of the family when they share life in a smaller setting, understand the Bible more clearly when they wrestle with it alongside others, find that prayer becomes more meaningful when others are praying for them, and discover that small groups are the best place to develop lasting friendships and leadership skills.
Sunday morning discipleship classes meet at 9:00 a.m. and offer something for every age and stage. Adults can choose from a verse-by-verse study of Galatians led by Steve and Jes Morrow, a sermon-discussion class called Digging Deeper, a men's study of 1 Samuel, a marriage class called Building a Better Marriage, or the Young Adults study in the Corner Cafe. Children meet by age in ARK Kids, and youth gather in the Upper Room for ARK Youth.
Leadership at BFCN
Andrew Hebel serves as Lead Pastor and is the primary preacher, with more than 180 sermons in the archive. Jon Limm serves as Discipleship Pastor and preaches regularly. Harrison Clark serves as Youth Director and oversees ARK Youth and the Upward Sports programs. Dawn Wallace serves as Children's Ministry Director and oversees ARK Kids and AWANA. Mike serves as Communications Director.
The church is governed by a board of elders. Andrew serves as Chairman. The current elders are Ron, Mike, Mark, Ken, Ken (also Treasurer), Dominic, and David. Together, the staff and elders shepherd the congregation and oversee the ministries of the church.
Connection, Giving, and the BFC Family
Visitors who want to learn more can fill out a Connection Card online, attend Sunday morning Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. or worship at 10:00 a.m., or stop by the Connection Corner when they arrive on Sunday. Sermons are livestreamed on Vimeo and posted to YouTube, with audio recordings available on the sermons archive. Church news, the calendar, the directory, and giving are all accessible through the Church Center app.
Giving can be made online through the Church Center app or by electronic check, by cash or check during the Sunday worship service, by mail to the church office, by direct debit through an authorization form, or by gifts of stock. Designated giving options include the General Fund, the Benevolence Fund, the A Work of Heart Building Fund, and Junior and Senior High Ministry Events.
As a member congregation of the Bible Fellowship Church denomination, BFCN shares in a larger family of evangelical churches that emphasize the death and resurrection of Christ for salvation, the new birth by the Holy Spirit, the authority of Scripture, the second coming of Jesus, and the responsibility of every believer to share the gospel. The church's connection to that wider fellowship shapes its mission, its values, and its confidence that God's people do not walk alone.