Meet our Team
Nick Fryberger
Senior Pastor
I'm an Arizona native, growing up a few miles down the road in Tempe and the East Valley has always felt like home. For the past 20 years I've been blessed to walk beside my beautiful wife, Danielle, and together we are raising four wonderful children: Nathan, Ryan, Elizabeth, and Jacob. They fill our lives with laughter, adventure, and a daily reminder of our need for God's grace and provision. I grew up in a faithful Christian home with parents who loved the Lord and led us as we served together in a small local church not unlike Bridgeway. We trusted what the Scriptures told us and lived together attempting to obey all that they commanded. In my early teen years, I was saved by God's grace and was baptized to celebrate that profession. After high school, I earned a business degree from Northern Arizona University and spent several years managing businesses throughout the Valley. But 15+ years ago, even as my career was gaining momentum, God began stirring something new in my heart, an increasing awareness that God was calling me to something different. What started as a desire to see marriages thrive led to hosting a marriage workshop in our living room and quickly grew into a passion for shepherding God's people and teaching them to apply the truth of God's Word to the realities of their daily lives: Not just a faith that saves… but a faith that transforms. Though I did not know where God was leading me, I knew that I needed to be better prepared for the work ahead. That understanding led me to Phoenix Seminary, where I completed a Master of Divinity. Those years were marked by providential training and mentorship that affirmed my calling to pastoral work and deepened my love for the local church, its beauty, and its mission. My calling to ministry has been guided most significantly by Ephesians 4:12: 'to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.' My heart is to help God's people grow, thrive, and live out their calling together so that He might be glorified by the church and lives of her members. Since completing my degree, I've had the privilege of serving in a variety of ministry roles, using the gifts God has given me in leadership, administration, and shepherding. This season has been one of continued providential growth and formation for which I am deeply grateful to God, but we are looking forward, with great anticipation, to what we hope is next. Our family had been praying for God to reveal a place where we would be called to serve, a place where we can put down roots and invest deeply for a lifetime of ministry. We are excited to walk alongside you, grow together, and see what God will accomplish in and through Bridgeway Community Church for His glory.
Les Helm
Elder
Les has been married to his lovely wife Nan for 29 years. He grew up in New Mexico, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico, and came to Phoenix in 1989 where he and Nan met while working in the airline industry. Les earned a master's degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix and held senior level education and training positions in the airline and financial services industries for 20+ years before retiring in 2021. Les and Nan came to Bridgeway in 2014 when they were seeking a biblically-based church in their community and very quickly knew God had provided them with a new church home. Over the years, Les has served in a variety of ways at Bridgeway. This includes serving as an Elder, leading Men's Ministries, participating in communion set-up, church decorating, volunteer activities, Bible studies and on the offering counting team. He encourages everyone to use their gifts where they can. 'Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms', 1 Peter 4:10.
Joe Marquez
Elder
Born in CA in 1957, I've lived most of my life in Arizona, where I met my wonderful wife, Alfie, and continued developing my musical talents, gifts from God. We currently have two children and two grandchildren - all wonderful as well! The start of my walk with the Lord began in 1980 when I heard the message of salvation at a memorial service for my brother-in-law. I can vividly remember saying to God, "Certainly Your intent was to speak to the person behind me, because my life requires a lot of cleaning up to do before I'd be presentable to You." The cleaning up of my life has been continual as He molds me to be more like Him; I'm a work in progress. My desire is to live a simple life in Christ, to please Him, and learn to W8ONHM (see my vehicle)!
Jacques Osley
Elder
Jacques was born in Tyre, Lebanon, into a devout Catholic family. However, he felt something was missing in his relationship with God until, at around 65 years old, while studying for his Ph.D. with a focus on the Old Testament, he experienced a deeper spiritual awakening. He currently teaches Adult Sunday School and leads Bible study sessions, developing his own lessons based on thorough research, personal experience, and a focus on spiritual relationships rather than pre-published study guides. He was recently ordained as a Christian marriage minister with Christian Leadership Alliance, further deepening his commitment to ministry. Jacques is dedicated to serving in any capacity, with a heart for fostering unity in the body of Christ. He has also established and helped grow charities that support his homeland, Lebanon. Professionally, he has owned a payroll and accounting services business and is a professor of Accounting at Rio Salado College. His leadership and teaching experience reflect his commitment to both spiritual and educational growth.
Martin Upchurch
Elder
I was born in 1970 in the small town of French Camp, California. My grandparents, along with my twin brother, raised me until the ripe age of 18 when I left home for the USMC. While in the Corps, I not only did I meet my wonderful wife Shellie, but came to know Jesus as my Savior. Life has never been the same since. From my time as a young believer, Isaiah 55:8-9 has always driven me to know Him more. Who is this God we serve? I knew Him as my Savior, but I wanted to know Him more and more this drove me to find answers. I read everything I could find, attended multiple bible studies, and attended church as often as possible. After completing my service in the USMC I moved on to schooling at Multnomah Bible College. I majored in Bible, and education during the time I was on campus (double major). Responsibility called, and I left school after three years to provide for my growing family (two sons Joshua and Jonny). I then landed working for a dialysis company, and God led me to a career in IT as a Network Engineer. I worked all over Southern California but eventually moved out to Phoenix. Recently I went back and finished the work I started so long ago, and completed my degree at Multnomah University (they changed their name) majoring in Theology. During all this time I have served in various ministries all over SoCal and now here in Phoenix. I have a passion for worship music and theology. Shellie and I have been married since 1993, and our boys are now grown adults. In addition to reading, studying (theology), and music; I also enjoy mountain biking and spending time with my wife, Shellie.
Bill Alkema
Facilities Ministry
Bill and Sue Alkema have been married for 37 years and have been coming to Bridgeway Community Church for twenty two years. They have two grown children, Kevin and David. Sue, a transplant from California, has been a Christian since her teenage years and Bill accepted Christ over 28 years ago. They have lived in California, North Carolina, Virginia and now Phoenix, AZ. While out of work a number of years ago, Bill filled his time serving the facilities and men's ministry, and continues to serve as he is able.
Cheryl Boots
Bookkeeper
Cheryl has been our bookkeeper since July 2018. She has been attending Bridgeway since 1996. Cheryl was married to her husband, Russ, for just over 32 years before the Lord took Russ to his Heavenly Home on Sept. 30, 2021. She has two grown boys (Shaun, married to Amy, with 2 sons- Ethan & Alex, and her son Dylan who is a Deputy with Harris County in Houston, Tx. ) Cheryl also works full-time as the Assistant Controller for Golfland Entertainment Centers, Inc. and has been with them since April, 1999. Cheryl has also been involved in Worship Ministry since first coming to Bridgeway.
Todd Rehn
Worship & Music Ministry
Todd and his wife Wendi (high school sweethearts) have been married since 1985, and they have two grown children, Spencer and Ashley. Todd and his family have been a part of Bridgeway since his job with General Dynamics brought them from California to Phoenix in 1996. Since then Todd has enjoyed being involved in worship & music, discipleship, and missions ministries. Todd is currently leading the Worship & Music Ministry.
Kathy Richmond
Ministry Assistant
Though she's lived in Arizona for almost 25 years, Kathy still considers herself a Pennsylvania girl with frequent cravings for sweet Lebanon bologna, scrapple, and really good apple butter. Before moving to Phoenix, she had the never-know-what-each-day-will-bring jobs of middle school math teacher and guidance counselor, using her degrees from Penn State and Lehigh University. Here in Ahwatukee, Kathy and her husband, Randy, have raised two surprisingly great kids, Ally and Will. She homeschooled her kids for many years and was a volunteer and chauffeur for their many activities, which she considered her mission field. Now with the empty nest in sight, she now gets to cheer them on, loudly and embarrassingly, from the sidelines! Their family has been a part of Bridgeway for almost 20 years. Before her role as ministry assistant, Kathy has served in a variety of ways including teaching Sunday school, helping at AWANA, participating in RAVAH activities, teaching “Growing Kids God’s Way,” leading a high school girl’s discipleship group, and directing Children's Ministry. She enjoys dabbling in the kitchen, crafty endeavors, and texting Margaret to ask, "How do I do __________?"
Jennylyn Amandy
Women's Ministry Leader
I was born in the Philippines, with a Catholic background. I grew up seeing the amazing things that prayer can do. Watching my grandmother, pray unceasingly for loved ones has made me fall in love with praying through whatever I go through in life. I was saved during a summer camp when I was in fifth grade, but never really practiced my faith until I came to the United States. I graduated in the Philippines with a degree in Computer Studies- Information Technology, then took some college courses in Business and Arts, and in Early Childhood Education at Mira Mesa College in San Diego. My family and I moved to Phoenix in July, 2005. My job in Early Childhood has become my mission field. Over the past 20 years, the more I got to know the families that I worked with and the background they were from, the more encouraged I became to share about Jesus. I always remind myself to use each opportunity to share more and show more. Now, I am busy volunteering at my son's school, BVS, and summer camps. I have to widen my mission field as much as I can. It states in Ecclesiastes 3:1, 'To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.' The time has finally come for me to step out of my comfort zone and explore a new venture. As I take on a new role in the Women's Ministry, may Jesus be my guide and center of every task and goal that I will be undertaking and may God use me in building His kingdom.
Steve Warsa
Web Master
Steve has lived in Arizona with his family since 2000. Prior to that he and his family lived in "cold places" (Illinois, Utah and Minnesota). He started coming to Bridgeway in May of 2010 and has been joyfully serving the Lord here since then! Steve is a software developer and loves developing and maintaining our website. Steve also has a great passion for the study, teaching, promotion and practice of Christian Apologetics. There are many verses in the Bible where we are commanded to be prepared to defend our faith (e.g. 1 Peter 3:15; Jude 3; 2 Timothy 2:23-26; Colossians 4:5-6, and many more) as well of many examples of Jesus and the Apostles practicing apologetics (e.g. Acts 2:32; Acts 18:4; Acts 19:8 and many more). Steve strives to be obedient to the Lord's command to be ready to give a reason for his faith and to encourage others to do the same!