Our Leadership

Will Thomas accepted his role as pastor and elder of Berean Community Church on June 1, 2006.

He graduated from North Carolina State University with a BA in Horticulture before experiences as a youth minister at Manteo Baptist Church confirmed Will’s desire to serve the church in pastoral ministry. God provided the opportunity for Will to attend The Master’s Seminary in Sun Valley, California. He graduated in 2005 and began attending the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in pursuit of a Master’s in Theology. A long-time friend and fellow Master’s Seminary graduate asked if he would consider full-time pastoral ministry in New Bern, and he first took the pulpit at Berean on Easter Sunday of 2006.

Will met his wife, Melia, at NCSU, and they were married the weekend after graduation. God blessed them with their son Beau during their time in California. God later blessed them with their son Benji, daughter Kinsey, and son Luke. Will is a survivor of Burkitt’s Lymphoma, and God has graciously chosen for him to be cancer free since September of 2007.

To contact Will, please email him at will.northcarolina@icloud.com.

Chris Mathiot is one of the founding members of Berean Community Church.

He gathered and worked with other like-minded Christian men to start BCC. Together, they worked many hours writing the doctrinal statement, and bylaws. Chris also helped with the extensive search for a pastor and together, they chose Will Thomas. He has served as a deacon or an elder at BCC since the church’s beginning in 2006. Shelley was also involved at the beginning, hosting the Wednesday night meetings in their family living room and designing the church logo.

Chris is involved in the music ministry as well as occasionally preaching sermons and assisting in the Adventure Club.

Shelley serves in the nursery, as well as helping with Adventure Club, decorating the church for Christmas, and various other small jobs as needs arise.

Chris and his wife Shelley were married in 1986. The Mathiots, with their 4 children (Haley, Hannah, Carly and Ethan), moved to New Bern from California in 2004 to purchase and run an art store and pottery studio. The classroom in that store was used as the first meeting place for BCC.

Chris graduated from the University of Phoenix with a business degree. He is employed by Nutrien in Aurora North Carolina as a buyer and helps Shelley run Bear Hands Pottery. After finishing the home-schooling of their 4 children, Shelley started her career as a potter and teacher. She runs the pottery studio, teaching adults and children.

In his spare time Chris loves to paint and create pottery, garden, do outdoor projects, and play with his grand-kids.

Peter Friedrick was appointed an elder by Berean Community Church in January of 2013.

He earned his BA in Mathematics at Houghton College and his Master of Divinity at Talbot Theological Seminary. Before seminary he served as a Naval Aviator in the United States Navy. Peter and Beverly moved to New Bern in March of 2012. Peter serves the military community through biblical counseling and discipleship. He is certified by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). Beverly is a school teacher and serves the church with her service as our piano player.

To contact Peter for church matters or for questions about counseling, please email him at pmfriedrick@icloud.com.

Tim Horner first began attending Berean Community Church in 2013, and he began serving as an elder in 2023.

Tim completed his Master of Arts in biblical counseling from Bob Jones University in 2018, and he went on to earn a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in biblical and theological studies from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2022. In addition, he has been certified through the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) since 2019 and is currently pursuing his D.Min. in Biblical Counseling from The Master’s University. Tim regularly teaches in the church, and he has a passion for sound doctrine, counseling, and discipleship, with the goal that every believer might grow in his love and capacity to eternally enjoy our matchless Savior.

In addition to his work with the church, Tim is a reservist Marine officer stationed at Camp Lejeune. He has been married to his wonderful wife Julie Ann since 2009, and together they have five daughters.

In his free time, Tim enjoys reading, particularly long-dead authors who focus on the careful ministry of God’s all-sufficient Scripture to the challenges of life, and especially the Puritans from the 16th and 17th centuries. He also enjoys working outside in God’s creation, as well as just about any activity with his wife and girls.

To contact Tim about either church or counseling issues, please email him at timhorner198@gmail.com.