For the One on the West Side
Ben Davis Christian Church sits at 701 South High School Road on the west side of Indianapolis, near Avon and Speedway. The congregation calls itself a diverse community that is all about being "For the One," a phrase drawn from the picture Jesus paints of the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find the one. The same idea shapes the church's stated mission: "Equipping People for Life on Mission." The High School Road campus is the home base for two Sunday services, a busy children's wing, a student ministry center, and a steady stream of small groups that fan out across the city during the week.
Visitors stepping onto the campus on a Sunday morning will find a laid-back atmosphere. Jeans and t-shirts are the norm, coffee is brewed fresh in the lobby, and the crowd reflects a wide range of ages and backgrounds. The worship is contemporary and energetic, the teaching is rooted in Scripture, and each service closes with a time of communion.
Two Sunday Mornings at 9:30 and 11:00
Services run at 9:30 and 11:00 AM, and both follow the same rhythm: high-energy worship led by the church's worship team, a Bible-based message, and a weekly observance of communion. The church points this weekly communion back to the practice of the early church in Acts. Both services are designed to be guest-friendly, and visitors can RSVP ahead of time so the children's team is ready when families arrive.
For those who can't make it in person, every service is livestreamed at bdcc.live, and the full library of past messages is available on demand. Spanish translation is offered at both services, and Spanish-speaking pastors are part of the staff team.
A private Moms Room is available for nursing mothers who want to care for their babies while still listening in. Older elementary kids and middle schoolers are dismissed to their own programming during both services.
Kids' Ministry: Boring Is a Sin
The children's ministry operates on a simple conviction: "We believe it's a sin to bore kids with the Bible." Every Sunday the wing is divided into four age groups, each with its own environment, leaders, and style.
- Babies (0-1 year): A warm nursery where staff pray over the children, handle snacks and diaper changes, and care for each baby personally.
- Tots (2-3 years): A playful toddler room with simple Bible stories, prayers, and age-appropriate activities.
- Little Kids (Preschool): Interactive stories, creative play, and lessons that focus on three truths: God made them, loves them, and has a special plan for their lives.
- Big Kids (K-3rd grade): A full elementary experience with energetic worship, creative storytelling, dynamic games, and small-group discussion. The curriculum centers on making wise choices, forming meaningful friendships, and growing closer to Jesus.
All volunteers are background-checked and trained. The children's team is led by Caryn Fishburn (Early Childhood Director) and Korteny Trice (Children's Pastor).
Students: Middle School and High School
Ben Davis Christian Church sees its student ministry as a place where "life today can be chaotic and confusing," and aims to walk alongside young people through it. Like the children's ministry, it runs with trained, background-checked volunteers and meets in the Student Ministry Center on the High School Road campus.
Middle School (Grades 5-8) has its own worship service during both Sunday morning services. Students engage in interactive activities, group worship, and small-group discussions where they are encouraged to ask hard questions and begin to take ownership of their faith.
High School (Grades 9-12) meets Sunday nights at 6:00 PM in the Student Ministry Center, with time to connect, worship, and grow. Ben Lakin serves as the NextGen Pastor overseeing this work.
Circles: Small Groups Across Indianapolis
The church's small-group ministry is called Circles, and it runs on a seasonal schedule. There are two ten-week sessions a year, one in the fall (September through November) and one in the spring (January through April), so people can commit for a focused stretch without a long-term tie. Circles meet in homes across Indianapolis and are organized by size to fit different kinds of people.
- Circles of 3 or Less: Discipleship-focused groups that meet online or in person for study, prayer, and accountability.
- Circles of 4 to 12: Small groups that meet in homes to explore the Bible, pray together, and build close relationships.
- Circles of 13 or More: Larger groups that meet at the church to dig into Scripture or specific topics in a more discussion-driven setting.
Sign-ups open at the start of each session, and newcomers are welcome. The church emphasizes that Circles are open to anyone, whether new to faith or a longtime follower of Jesus.
Adults at Every Stage
The adult ministry is organized around the seasons people are living through. Six distinct communities make up the adult programming.
Marriage offers practical tools and events for couples, with programming aimed at building a Christ-centered marriage "whether you've been married for 2 years or 25."
Men is a place where guys get real about faith, family, and work through Bible studies, service projects, and informal hangouts.
Mothers (MomCo) is a group for mothers of young children that meets every other week for a shared meal, faith-guided conversation, and friendship.
Senior Adults (60+) gathers those in their sixties and up for Bible study, social activities, and service opportunities, with the conviction that "every season of life has purpose."
Women gathers women for Bible studies, social events, and serving opportunities.
Young Adults is aimed at people in their twenties and thirties, with space for the harder questions about faith, calling, and relationships.
La Comunidad Hispana
Ben Davis Christian Church places a heavy emphasis on reaching its Spanish-speaking neighbors. "Hablamos Español" is one of the first things the visitor page announces, and the church describes a clear set of commitments: Spanish translation in every service, a welcoming and active Hispanic community, and Spanish-speaking pastors on the staff team. The hope is that Spanish-speaking families feel at home and can genuinely connect, whether Spanish is their first language or simply the place where they are most comfortable.
Teaching Series and Sermons
The teaching ministry at Ben Davis Christian Church is organized into multi-week series that move through books of the Bible and topical themes. Recent series include Rules for Life, a walk through Proverbs led by Lead Pastor Ryan Heathco that opens with the truth that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and Be Our Guest, which features guest speakers from across the country on topics ranging from parenting and faithfulness to living on mission. Earlier in the year, a two-part series called Raised to Life walked through Romans 6 and what it means to be buried with Christ in baptism. Sermons are preached primarily by Pastor Ryan, with Pastor Josue Portillo also teaching, and the full library is available on demand.
Prayer Meetings
Beyond Sunday mornings, prayer is a steady rhythm of the church. Prayer Meetings are held in the evening to pray "for the requests of BDCC members, the community, and the nations." These gatherings take place on the High School Road campus and are open to anyone who wants to join in.
What Ben Davis Christian Church Believes
Ben Davis Christian Church describes itself as a non-denominational church that emphasizes the Bible's authority. Its stated beliefs break down into several core areas.
The Bible is "God's Word, written by men guided by the Holy Spirit," made up of sixty-six books that are "both infallible and authoritative."
God exists as a Trinity, three co-equal and co-eternal beings: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God the Father is the eternal creator and sustainer of all things, known only through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, who lived a sinless life, died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for sin, and rose again after three days. The Holy Spirit is fully God, present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus, and lives in every believer from the moment of salvation.
People are created by God and for God, made in His image as male and female. All people have value and dignity, "regardless of disability, gender, race, or age." Sin has separated people from God, and no human effort can restore that bond.
Salvation is the forgiveness of sins, restoring the broken relationship between God and humanity. It is a gift received by faith in Christ alone. Those who seek salvation must believe that Jesus is the Christ, repent, and be baptized. Baptism is performed through immersion and is described as "the essential first step in one's journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ."
The Church is the Body of Christ, with Jesus as its head. Its primary purpose is making disciples who follow Jesus and help others do the same. Christians become part of the Body at baptism.
Eternity: Jesus will return to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, though no one knows the day or the hour. Heaven is a place of eternal life with God for those who have trusted in Jesus; hell is a place of eternal separation from God for those who reject His offer of salvation.
On three specific questions the church has stated positions. It teaches that human life is sacred from conception to natural death and opposes elective abortion and euthanasia. It teaches that marriage, as defined by Jesus, is a covenant between one man and one woman, and considers sexual activity outside of that marriage, including same-sex unions, to be immoral. And it actively pursues racial reconciliation, "given the history of racial injustice."
Giving and Generosity
Tithing and giving are taught as a biblical principle rather than a transaction. The church teaches that tithing means giving the first ten percent of one's income back to God, and that every gift supports the mission "to make Jesus known" by funding the operations of the church, meeting the needs of families in the community, and supporting local and global partners and missionaries. Giving is available online through a secure platform, with options for one-time or recurring gifts by credit card or check.
Meet the Team
The pastoral team is led by Ryan Heathco, Lead Pastor. Josue Portillo serves as Teaching and Outreach Pastor, and Jeff Shields as Executive Pastor. Matt Danielson leads worship. The family ministry team includes Ben Lakin (NextGen Pastor), Korteny Trice (Children's Pastor), and Caryn Fishburn (Early Childhood Director). Norma Rendon directs hospitality.
Ben Davis Christian Church sits in the heart of a west-side neighborhood and is built around a simple question: what would it look like to live every day as if one person mattered? The answer, for this congregation, looks like a Sunday morning that feels like home, a children's wing that never bores, small groups scattered across Indianapolis, monthly prayer meetings that lift up the city and the nations, and a community that welcomes both English and Spanish speakers through the same doors.