OUR MISSION
BGCC exists to become LESS so that Jesus can become more in us and in our neighborhoods.
We are Inspired by John the Baptist
who said that he wanted to become less so that Jesus could become more (John 3:30). This means that we…
- Love God and bring Him praise
- Encourage our faith community
- Serve those in need
- Share the good news of Jesus
Plain and simple: our mission is about loving “the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” and loving “your neighbor as yourself,” which Jesus says are the most important commandments (Matthew 22:37-39). As we become less and Jesus becomes more in our lives, not only can we find our purpose, but we can be transformed as disciples in the process.
What We Believe
- God is all-powerful and all-knowing (Luke 1:37, Jeremiah 32:17, Psalm 147:5)
- God is three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19)
- God created everything and everyone (Genesis 1:1)
- God deeply loves every single person (John 3:16)
Jesus Christ is God’s only Son who took on the human form to come into the world and save us so that we could be united with Him forever. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He died on a cross for our sins, was buried, rose from the dead, and is coming back.
Salvation is a gift of God’s grace that we can accept through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible gives us instructions for receiving this freely given gift: believe in Jesus Christ as God’s Son, repent of your sins, confess Christ as Lord and Savior, and be immersed in baptism.
The Holy Spirit lives in every single believer, acting as guide, counselor, and teacher and enabling us to live Christlike lives. The Bible is God’s Holy word, inspired by God through the Holy Spirit to its writers. It is the final authority for all matters of faith and practice.
Who We Are
- We imitate the New Testament church as much as possible. Our only creed is that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
- We prioritize unity with all Christ followers, not just those within our walls
- We seek to apply Biblical truth intelligently. We believe the Christian faith demands the best our minds can give
- We are self-governed and self-supported
Meet Our Staff
MATTHEW RILEY
SENIOR MINISTER
MATTHEW@BOWLINGGREENCHRISTIAN.ORG
Matthew came to BGCC in the fall of 2023. He and his wife Rachel have two daughters, Piper and Sloane, and one son, Simon. Matthew loves spending time with his family, especially when they can all pile into a car and go on a family trip. He enjoys spending time with people and sharing the stories of Jesus with them. Matthew is a graduate of Cincinnati Christian University and has been in full time ministry since 2006. He enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, and just being outdoors. He drinks too much coffee, loves his home town of Harrodsburg, refuses to stop driving his old 4Runner, and will gladly sit and talk with you about anything mentioned above.
JESSE BAIZE
WORSHIP & CREATIVE MINISTER
JESSE@BOWLINGGREENCHRISTIAN.ORG
Jesse joined the BGCC family in May 2020. Jesse received a degree from Lindsey Wilson College, completed a residency at Perimeter Church in Atlanta, and received a master’s degree from Colorado Christian University. He and his wife, Caitlin, absolutely love Bowling Green coffee. Jesse also considers himself the resident nerd at BGCC.
MEGAN CASE
CHILDREN’S MINISTER
MEGAN@BOWLINGGREENCHRISTIAN.ORG
Megan has been a member of BGCC since 2017. She has a degree in elementary education from Western Kentucky University and taught for several years. She and her husband, Landon, have two sons: Howie and Bennie. Megan loves Abraham Lincoln, who was born in her hometown of Hodgenville, KY, and she’s not shy about it!
MELODY URBAN
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
OFFICE@BOWLINGGREENCHRISTIAN.ORG
Melody, and her husband, Bryce, have been members of BGCC since 2008. Melody wears multiple hats at BGCC, but her favorite role is helping people find their place within the church and feel like part of the church family! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family.
NATHAN AYERS
YOUTH/ ASSOCIATE MINISTER
NATHAN@BOWLINGGREENCHRISTIAN.ORG
Nathan has been going to BGCC for years but joined staff September 2022. Nathan was previously the director of Christian Student Fellowship at WKU for 10 years. He and his wife, Sarah, love being with people and invite people over all the time for food, games, or just to talk. Nathan is a big UK and WKU fan and will literally play any sport that you ask him to play.
Meet Our Elders
TODD HAMMERSTONE
SPENCER TUTTLE
STEVE BRIGGS
CHRIS DAY
