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

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. 

 

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.
Mary Wright

Mary Wright

 RSG Preschool Chair
Mary Wright

Mary Wright

RSG Preschool Chair
Mike Proud

Mike Proud

 Adventure Zone Director
Mike Proud

Mike Proud

Adventure Zone Director
Nicole Utz

Nicole Utz

 Interim Worship Leader
Nicole Utz

Nicole Utz

Interim Worship Leader

About Nicole:
I grew up a Pembroke Dragon in Genesee County. I attended GCC, SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Brockport where I earned my Permanent Professional Teaching Certification in Elementary Education for N-6 and Special Education for N-12. I have been teaching for 24 years, most of those years as a Byron-Bergen Bee in 6th grade. My husband Jared and I have 3 children, Natalie, Naomi, and Joshua, who keep us very busy!

Q: You get to pick the restaurant - where are we going?
Nicole: Bad Apples or Nosh
Q: What are some of your favorite ways to relax?
Nicole: On the beach with a book!
Q: What topics could lead to long conversations that you would enjoy?
Nicole: Future plans, good food and restaurants, musicals and books
Q: What is your hope for BFMC?
Nicole: My hope for BFMC is to have a meaningful worship experience in which people have a genuine and personal encounter with God and leave equipped to share His love with others. 

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.

Our Mission

Love God. Love One Another. Love the Stranger.