Our Story

Our MISSION is to help people connect with Jesus through experiencing God’s presence, becoming who God created us to be and loving God and loving others.

• Our Story
• What We Believe

• Our Story...

  A group of Brethren in Christ people began meeting in Mechanicsburg around 1870. For the first decade or two services were held every 4-6 weeks at the Union Church Building on Main Street in Mechanicsburg.

  The first building of the Mechanicsburg BIC Church was built in 1890 at the corner of High and Marble Streets in Mechanicsburg. The building was dedicated on November 2, 1890. Noah Zook preached the dedication message entitled, “My House Shall Be Called a House of Prayer for All Nations” (Mark 11:17).

  During the ensuing 95 years, the church experienced many changes (if you would like to read more about McBIC’s history, please contact the church office for a copy of A Century on the Hill by Morris Sherk).

  In July of 1985, Ken Hepner came to the Mechanicsburg BIC Church as Senior Pastor. God impressed the desire upon Ken’s heart to see our church become a community church characterized by discipleship, leading to evangelism.

  Pastor Ken’s vision was embraced by key leaders at McBIC who also desired to see Mechanicsburg BIC Church become a community church. Pastor Ken challenged our church family to intimacy with God, a focus on reaching the lost and a commitment to discipleship and ministry involvement. People responded, and God moved in exciting ways.

  Since 1985, the Mechanicsburg BIC Church has grown from an average Sunday morning worship attendance of 220 people to an average of nearly 800 people. In 1992, Mechanicsburg BIC Church relocated to our current location at 1050 South York Street, on the south side of the Borough of Mechanicsburg.

  Layne Lebo became McBIC’s Senior Pastor in August of 2001. Prior to becoming Senior Pastor, Layne had served as part of McBIC’s pastoral staff in a variety of roles for over 10 years.

  Throughout its history, McBIC has embraced church planting as an effective means of helping individuals and communities connect with Jesus. We’ve planted or helped launch churches in Duncannon, Dillsburg and Silver Spring and Hampden townships. The Mountain Ridge Church (MRC) in Dillsburg – planted in 2001 – is a thriving church family just south of Dillsburg. MRC purchased 15 acres of land in 2010 and currently has their own building with an average of over 300 people worshipping there each week.

  In October of 2014 seventy-five people from McBIC led by Pastor Chad Wenger (McBIC’s Youth Pastor of 7 years) launched a new site for McBIC at the Mechanicsburg Middle School, called Mechanicsburg Community Church (MCC). Our church is also committed to multiplying in the future and has considered locations such as Lemoyne, Boiling Springs, Camp Hill and New Cumberland.

  As individuals and as a church, we’re committed to being answers to Jesus’ prayer that workers would be sent into the harvest fields (Matthew 9:38). We’re seeking to partner with God to do his work in our local community, in surrounding communities and around the world.

• What We Believe...

  Our local church here at McBIC is part of the larger Brethren in Christ Church family. The Brethren in Christ were founded in Lancaster County on the shores of the Susquehanna River during the latter part of the 18th Century. For more information about the BIC and its beliefs please click here.

  In May of 1999, 51 Brethren in Christ men and women from across North America gathered to identify and restate the Core Values that most deeply resonated within their hearts and minds as a Church. At the end of three days of spirited and prayerful give-and-take, 10 Core Values emerged.

  In setting forth our Core Values, we declare our ties with true Christians of all times and every place. We confess with them the faith as embodied in the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. We recognize that these values are rooted in our history and doctrine. In broad strokes, they convey the essential beliefs of our denomination as stated in our Articles of Faith and Doctrine.

  • Experiencing God’s Love and Grace

    We value the free gift of salvation in Christ Jesus and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

  • Believing the Bible

    We value the Bible as God’s authoritative Word, study it together, and build our lives on its truth.

  • Worshipping God

    We value heartfelt worship that is God-honoring, Spirit-directed, and life-changing.

  • Following Jesus

    We value whole hearted obedience to Christ Jesus through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

  • Belonging to the Community of Faith

    We value integrity in relationships and mutual accountability in an atmosphere of grace, love and acceptance.

  • Witnessing to the World

    We value an active and loving witness for Christ to all people.

  • Serving Compassionately

    We value serving others at their point of need, following the example of our Lord Jesus.

  • Pursuing Peace

    We value all human life and promote forgiveness, understanding, reconciliation, and non-violent resolution of conflict.

  • Living Simply

    We value uncluttered lives, which free us to love boldly, give generously, and serve joyfully.

  • Relying on God

    We confess our dependence on God for everything, and seek to deepen our intimacy with Him by living prayerfully.