About BFMC

Thanks again for visiting!  Take a minute or too to learn a little more
about our church, our culture, and who we are at BFMC.

Culture

BFMC is a place where everyone is welcome, because everyone matters to God.  It seems like these days we’ve become not so good at enjoying life, but rather have become experts at enduring life.  Worship at BFMC is joyful, casual, yet very thoughtful and meaningful.

God’s Word teaches us that whenever we enter into His presence, we will leave differently than how we arrived; more like Jesus.

History

The first Society of the Brockport Free Methodist Church was in 1861.  Since then, after many seasons, we are thankful to be used by God to carry out our mission in this world.

Our Staff

Mike Rivera

Mike Rivera

 Executive Pastor
Mike Rivera

Mike Rivera

Executive Pastor
About Mike:
I'm a local boy - grew up in Hilton. I became a Christian when I was 20 yrs old, and felt the call to ministry about a year later. That's when I started at Eastern University (college back then), and met my wife Amber. We got married in 2001, and then the same year I graduated Seminary, in 2005, we bought our first house in Brockport, and started having kids. We now have 3; Jenna (19), Tristan (15), and Avery (10). I am a total geek and love so much of the geek universe - DC, Transformers, Star Wars, Legos...just to name a few 🙂 
 
Q: You get to pick the restaurant - where we going?
Mike: Red Robin
Q: What are some of your favorite ways to relax?
Mike: playing disc golf, watching movies, playing video games
Q: What topics could lead to long conversations that you would enjoy?
Mike: oh wow, I love conversations so... theology, bible, strategy stuff, the geek universe (see above), football (Da Bills), my kids! 
Q: What is your hope for BFMC?
Mike: that we continue becoming a church that loves God, loves one another, and loves the stranger 
Penny Norton

Penny Norton

 Associate Pastor / Discipleship
Penny Norton

Penny Norton

Associate Pastor / Discipleship
About Penny:
I grew up in South Jersey next to a farm that grew strawberries in the field by our house. I don’t like strawberries. I welcomed Jesus as my King and Savior when I was 12 or 13 (I don’t remember exactly because I grew up in a Christian home and knew it would happen sometime). I came to western New York to attend college at Houghton, and that’s where I met Dan. We married in 1977, (you can do the math if you want), and spent our first two and a half years in Germany thanks to the US Army. We became Free Methodists while living in Olean, NY so when we moved to the Rochester area we looked for a home near an FM church.  We’ve lived in Brockport and attended church here for over 25 years.  We have 4 grown up sons, two daughters-in-law, and 3 grandchildren.Jonathan is married to Kathleen and they are parents of two of my grandchildren. Tim is married to Jill and they have one child. Steven and Joel enjoy life as singles. I’ve been a stay-at-home mom, a teacher of two-year-olds and now a pastor. I’ve loved all my jobs.
 
Q: You get to pick the restaurant - where we going?
Penny: Beef and Barrel in Olean, NY
Q: What are some of your favorite ways to relax?
Penny: Walking in the woods or by water, walking with Dan anywhere, knitting, spinning wool, reading on my wooden swing under the oak tree.
Q: What topics could lead to long conversations that you would enjoy?
Penny: How God has and is working in your life, good books you’ve read lately
Q: What is your hope for BFMC?
Penny: That as we experience God’s love more and more we will reach out into our neighborhoods and communities to share that love with our neighbors and with those who have never heard of God.
Nyan Kaminski

Nyan Kaminski

 Serve Director & Digital Ministry
Nyan Kaminski

Nyan Kaminski

Serve Director & Digital Ministry

About Nyan:
I grew up in Holley and attended college at SUNY Oswego getting a B.S. in Zoology. I relocated to Illinois for a decade for my career. Life threw in some plot twists and I returned to Holley with my three sons. I began to not only attend church for the first time, but started my second career at BFMC, learning all about God's love and joy. We are not a blended family with my 3 sons, 4 step kids, and 3 step-grandkids scattered between NY and Georgia.

Q: You get to pick the restaurant - where are we going?
Nyan: Pizzeria Unos - deep dish is the best!
Q: What are some of your favorite ways to relax?
Nyan: reading - especially historical fiction + nonfiction, or sitting in the pasture with my goats.
Q: What topics could lead to long conversations that you would enjoy?
Nyan: talking about animals or the local dirt track racing scene
Q: What is your hope for BFMC?
Nyan: Life hits all of us hard at times, I pray that BFMC continues to filter into our communities and we as a church can touch one life at a time - sharing love, forgiveness, hope, and healing with others. 

 

Katrina Tinkous

Katrina Tinkous

 Early Childhood Director / RSG Preschool Director
Katrina Tinkous

Katrina Tinkous

Early Childhood Director / RSG Preschool Director

About Katrina:
I grew up as a pastor's kid. We spent most of my childhood first in Findley Lake, NY and then in Holley. I met my husband in Holley, and we started dating our senior year. Although I went to Roberts Wesleyan College for education, and he went to Albany College of Pharmacy, we stayed together and married in 2004. We have two boys and two dogs. 

I always believed in God. My faith strengthened as I grew up especially in college, and I have continued to serve him through my adulthood. I was a highschool teacher for 4.5 years, a stay at home mom, became the Early Childhood Ministry Director here in 2013, and added teaching and leadership at Ready, Set, Grow! Preschool since 2019. I love our church and helping the little ones of our church learn God loves them!
Questions: 
Q: You get to pick the restaurant - where we going?
Katrina: Depends on my mood - Red Lobster, 58 Main, and Texas Roadhouse
Q: What are some of your favorite ways to relax?
Katrina:  reading, watching movies, running
Q: What topics could lead to long conversations that you would enjoy?  
Katrina: My Ukrainian grandparents were WWII survivors who immigrated to the US when my mom was only 3 years old. I love telling their story and talking about WWII history. 
Q: What is your hope for BFMC?
Katrina: I would phrase this more of a wish. I grew up in a small town, and much of life revolved around the church. Most of our social interactions were at church or with church friends. I think our culture has shifted it's center away from church, but I wish more people's friendships were anchored in the church. We can all learn and grow by being more connected with our friends while at church.
Mike Proud

Mike Proud

 Adventure Zone Director
Mike Proud

Mike Proud

Adventure Zone Director
Dee Hansel

Dee Hansel

 Associate Pastor / Main Office & Family Life
Dee Hansel

Dee Hansel

Associate Pastor / Main Office & Family Life

About Dee:
I grew up in Barre and didn't move far from there, I live in Albion now.  I met my husband Al at McDonalds, we both worked there. Our family includes our three children Randi, Ryan and Janie and our three grandchildren Teigen, Liam and Kennedy, our two dogs Mia and Finn and our two cats Sampson and Cleo. I didn't grow up in the church, I became a Christian in my twenties. I felt called into ministry in my late 40s. My passion is intergenerational ministry. I love to see the young and the not so young learning together and from one another and enjoying the company of each other.   

Questions: 
Q: You get to pick the restaurant - where we going?
Dee: Pizza Hut or if I'm feeling "fancy" - Olive Garden 
Q: What are some of your favorite ways to relax?
Dee: Reading and listening to a good podcast 
Q: What topics could lead to long conversations that you would enjoy?  
Dee: Family ministry, Disney, Travel 
Q: What is your hope for BFMC?
Dee: My hope for BFMC is that we are known for the love we show to each other and our community. 

 

Mary Wright

Mary Wright

 RSG Preschool Chair
Mary Wright

Mary Wright

RSG Preschool Chair

Our Mission

To know Christ and make Him known
by loving God and loving people.