Grand Opening of Bryan Community Church This Sunday
In the heart of Bryan, excitement is brewing as the community prepares to welcome the Bryan Community Church during their grand opening celebration this Sunday! Pastor Jennifer Hodson is extending a warm invitation to everyone to join the festivities at 10 a.m. at 2901 Austin’s Colony Parkway, right next to Rudder High School.
A Beautiful Union of Communities
The story of Bryan Community Church is both touching and inspiring. It all started on January 1, 2023, when Pastor Hodson took the lead of a nascent United Methodist Church congregation. Thankfully, the kind folks at First Presbyterian Church of Bryan opened their doors and offered the space they needed for worship. “Their pastor and congregation were incredibly welcoming and supportive of us,” Hodson recalls, with a heartwarming smile. “They knew we needed a worship space and they said, ‘Come on in, you can use our facilities; we want to help you get off the ground.’”
Fast forward a year later, and another incredible opportunity arose. “Faith United Church of Christ approached us and said, ‘We love what you’re doing. We have a building but we don’t have a lot of people. I think it would be better if we tried to work together,’” Hodson recounts. After extensive meetings and prayers, the two congregations decided to merge, thus creating what we now know as Bryan Community Church.
Growth and Community Engagement
In just a short time, this vibrant new church has witnessed remarkable growth, welcoming over 100 new members from the Faith United congregation that once struggled with dwindling numbers. Pastor Hodson expressed her joy over the fruitful collaboration, saying, “It’s been great. We both were all kind of the same type of people. We merged very well.”
Josh Atkinson, a long-standing member of Faith United, shared the positive energy he feels about the merger. “The big thing about that is the missions aligned,” he noted. “The vision that Faith had for serving and worship was the same as Bryan Community Church’s vision.”
Caring for the Community
One of the guiding principles of Bryan Community Church is to put faith into action. “We weren’t going to just talk about our faith, we were going to live it out,” said Sara Hadley, who leads the music ministry alongside her father, Karl Brinkmann. Hadley also runs a local nonprofit named Chosen, which provides essential medical equipment to those in need
During the opening service, the church plans to highlight its commitment to community service. They are ready to support local schools and various nonprofits with open arms. “If there’s a need and we can help, we’re going to step in and support it,” Hadley added, radiating enthusiasm.
An Inspiring Change
Sue Pate, who spent 43 years with Faith United, shared her excitement about the new direction. “It was an older church, and we had a hard time getting younger people in,” she said. The infusion of youthful members has brought new energy and community participation back to the church.
Local families, like the Atkinsons, are already feeling the positive changes. “You could definitely tell it was a good thing,” Josh Atkinson said, relieved that this merger felt like the right decision for everyone involved.
Join the Celebration
This weekend promises to be both exciting and significant for the growing congregation at Bryan Community Church. They’ll not only celebrate their new beginning but also cement their commitment to service in the Bryan community.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of what’s sure to be a moment filled with joy, faith, and community spirit. Join Pastor Hodson and other community members for the grand opening service this Sunday at 10 a.m. Remember, everyone is welcome!
