Manhattan Bible Church stands on West 205th Street in the Washington Heights neighborhood of upper Manhattan, where for fifty years it has gathered a bilingual congregation around the teaching of Scripture. The church's simple mission - "Love God. Love Others. Make Disciples." - frames everything from its Sunday services to its citywide small groups, and its recent fiftieth-anniversary celebration brought together long-time members and families who had moved away from New York.
Fifty Years on West 205th Street
The congregation marked its fiftieth anniversary in 2026, celebrating a half-century of ministry in this corner of upper Manhattan. The church has grown from a small gathering into a bilingual body whose reach now stretches across the borough through small groups, sermon studies, and citywide outreach. The June anniversary celebration was deliberately scheduled a few months after the church's actual April anniversary so that families who no longer live in New York could return and join in.
Bilingual Worship on Sunday Mornings
Sunday mornings at Manhattan Bible Church are marked by a combined English and Spanish worship service that begins at 11 a.m. in the main sanctuary at 401 West 205th Street. The service is offered in person and online, with separate English and Spanish video archives maintained on the church's YouTube channel so that each language community can revisit recent messages. A Spanish-language service also meets in the afternoon. The bilingual character of the congregation is reflected in nearly everything the church produces: sermon notes, small-group sign-up forms, children's ministry manuals, and e-bulletins are all available in both English and Spanish.
A Wednesday Night for Prayer and Bible Study
Midweek, the church opens its second-floor room 209 for a prayer and Bible study that begins at 7 p.m. The gathering is offered both in person and online, and serves as the regular midweek touchstone for members and visitors who want to go deeper in the scriptures between Sundays.
Seven Core Values
Manhattan Bible Church organizes its life around seven core values that shape both its programming and its outreach. Elevate focuses on excellent children's and youth ministry. Evangelize sends the church outward to reach the world with the gospel. Exalt centers excellent worship. Enjoy cultivates fellowship. Empower channels advocacy, education, and outreach into the surrounding community. Encourage supports care ministries for those in need. Equip invests in discipleship through Bible study and small groups. Each value is built into the rhythm of the church through specific gatherings and programs.
The Pastoral Team and Leadership
The pastoral staff is led by Founding Pastor Emeritus Tom Mahairas, who continues to be honored as the church's founding shepherd. Teaching Pastor Harry Jones and Associate Pastors Pericles Dotel, Abraham Santana, and Kevin M. Pearcey share preaching and pastoral responsibilities, with each pastor contributing to the rotation of weekly sermons and the mentoring of small-group leaders. Six elders - Gerson Marchena, Randy Gruenberg, Charlie Ortiz, Willie Lugo, Nato Rosado, and Jason Marchena - provide spiritual oversight under the church's constitution. A board of deacons - including Corina Cortez, Bernard Guzman, Cristina Guzman, Jolis Nunez, Beverly Peart, Ivonne Quinones, Rafael Rodriguez, Pedro Rosado, Yohaira Rosado, and Robin Wright - supports the practical ministry of the congregation.
Small Groups Across the City
Beyond Sunday morning worship, Manhattan Bible Church runs an extensive network of small groups that meet throughout the week across Manhattan and the Bronx. Mondays feature a Spanish-language Bible study on the Epistle of James in the Fordham Road area, led by Elder Gerson Marchena. Tuesdays bring a sermon discussion group on Zoom led by Karen Silfa. Thursdays host a women's Bible study and fellowship, plus a bi-weekly women's support group, both on Zoom. Fridays include several Spanish Bible studies in University Heights and at the church building, an evangelism Bible study on the church's lower level led by Ruben Ronda and Carlos Carrasquillo, and a seniors' study called "Retirados Pero Activos" led by Genaro and Nancy Betances. Saturday mornings see Associate Pastor Abraham Santana lead a study on the Book of Romans at the church, and Sunday evenings feature a bi-weekly bilingual women's group called "Faithfully Moving" led by Johanna Santana. The breadth of the small-group network reflects the church's conviction that meaningful life change happens in the context of relationships.
Children's Ministry
Children have a dedicated ministry at Manhattan Bible Church, with training manuals available in both English and Spanish for volunteers and parents. The children's ministry is one of the church's seven core values, and the church treats it as a priority rather than an afterthought. Programming runs alongside the worship services so that families can attend together while knowing their children are being taught at their own level.
Statement of Faith
The church holds to a twelve-point statement of faith that covers the doctrines of the Bible, the Godhead, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, man, the church, salvation, spiritual gifts, Satan and fallen angels, the Second Coming of Christ, sanctification and separation, and Christian practice. The statement, along with the church constitution and its seven core values, is published for anyone who wants to understand the doctrinal commitments that shape the congregation's teaching and life together.
Sermon Series and Online Resources
Preaching at Manhattan Bible Church moves through extended book-by-book series. A recent 44-week walk through the Gospel of Mark took the congregation from John the Baptist's ministry through the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. A six-week series followed on the Book of Haggai, and an ongoing study of Exodus has explored Israel's exodus from Egypt. Sermon notes and slides for each week are posted online as downloadable PDFs, allowing small-group leaders and individual readers to follow along at home. Services are livestreamed on YouTube, and giving is available through PayPal for those who wish to support the ministry financially.
Citywide Ministry
Manhattan Bible Church's location in Washington Heights places it at the heart of one of the most diverse neighborhoods in New York City, and the church engages with that context through partnerships, podcasts, and ongoing conversations about gospel movements in urban settings. The church's leaders have been featured in discussions about sustaining pastoral calling in the city, and the congregation continues to look outward to its surrounding community as it looks inward to its own life together in Christ.