Ryan Cobb, Senior Pastor
I was raised just outside of Pittsburgh, PA, and moved to the Lancaster area during a career transition. I have called the Lancaster area home for almost 15 years, and it also happens to be my wife Ashlie’s hometown. I enjoy a homestead life with Ashlie and our two elementary-aged kids. We care for our chickens, a few other animals, and a garden. I like kayaking and other outdoor activities. From a young age, others in the church saw a heart for ministry in me, and it took me time to discover that. After a career in finance, I realized that I wanted to serve local churches and step into pastoral ministry as a vocation. I became a youth pastor through Manor Church, another BIC church, and attended seminary at Easter Mennonite University, graduating with a Master of Divinity. I care about helping followers of Jesus in their ongoing spiritual formation and preaching the story of Scripture with pastoral care. I like assisting our church to operate well within a community context where relationships are valued and mutually healthy.
I am recently struck by a verse like Acts 2:46 which says, “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” Beyond worship spaces, the earliest followers of Jesus prioritized community, relationships, and gathering around tables with one another. Another long-time favorite Scripture of mine is Ezekiel 37. There is no valley so dark, situation so forgotten, and possibility so extinguished that the Lord cannot bring healing and hope. Jesus can, and Jesus will.
Steph Kantz, Family Ministry Director
I grew up in upstate New York, where small towns and lakes dotted the valleys. Even now, being near water feels like home to me, so I’m grateful to live close to the Susquehanna River with my husband Wayne and our three kids. I have an education background, having spent time as a high school teacher, tutor, and professor of writing. Beneath that is a lifelong love of learning and growing together in community with others. That’s how I see the church—as a spiritual community and home, close like family. Even with its imperfections and brokenness, I’ve experienced God’s love and faithfulness through the people who are his church. As I serve alongside families, I want to welcome folks of all ages into a vibrant life together with Jesus.
A moment in Scripture that speaks to me comes from Genesis 16. Hagar, a woman running from desperate circumstances, is cared for by the Lord. She responds by naming her caregiver: “You are the God who sees me.” Another passage I return to again and again is John 15, where Jesus identifies his love as our life-source and calls us to love one another. And in his final moments, Jesus says, “Surely, I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). We can walk together in these truths: we are seen, we are loved, and we are not alone.
Leslie Gates, Worship Director
I was raised in Lancaster County and returned to the area when I accepted a job at Millersville University over a decade ago. My spouse Sam and I, both Millersville University alumni, were excited to return and to raise our children in the area. We now live in an intergenerational home that includes my parents, our two children, and our dog Wilbur. Music has been an important part of my life, and I have many fond music-related church memories, including participating in a handbell choir, leading campfire singing while on staff at a faith-based summer camp, and leading and being involved with the music at three Brethren in Christ churches prior to our family landing at Millersville BIC in 2012. My goal as I lead the musical elements of our Sunday gatherings is for our musical team to embody a transformative rather than performative presence. Our lives are changed by what God has done for us, and we offer songs to our church so that we can communally reflect on and give thanks for who God is and what God promises to do.
Psalm 5:11-12, MSG
“But you’ll welcome us with open arms
when we run for cover to you.
Let the party last all night!
Stand guard over our celebration.
You are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers,
for decking us out in delight.”
This passage, as translated by Eugene Peterson in the Message, captures things I currently understand and know to be true about God: we are decked out in delight and welcomed as is. I hope we can all find welcome and delight as we encounter God in the ordinary and everyday parts of our lives. Also, I’m glad to be worshipping as part of a community, because if the party mentioned in Psalm 5 does last all night, I’ll need to rely on other folks to keep the party going after I go to bed at 9:30 PM.