About Us

Learn more about our leaders, beliefs and affiliations...

Our Pastoral Team

Ernie Bergvall
Pastor

Ernie's Bio

Lou Guerra
Pastor

Lou's Bio

Josh Hurst
Lead Pastor

Josh's Bio

Nathan Knisely
Pastor

Nathan's Bio

John Riggs
Associate Pastor

John's Bio

Brandon Rogers
Pastor

Brandon's Bio

Our Ministry Staff

Linda Guerra
Office Manager

what we believe

Trinity Community Church’s statement of faith (based on the revised New Hampshire Confession of Faith from 1853) provides a clear, simple, and biblical foundation for all we do at Trinity. This confession summarizes biblical doctrine with Christ as center and the gospel as primary. Trinity is a church centered-on and continually shaped-by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Although we do not require our members to agree on every point, the confession below forms our theological DNA.

Statement of Faith

OUR AFFILIATIONS

Ernie Bergvall – Pastor

I became a Christian at the age of 15. Since then my goal has been to know Christ and make Him known. I have served in youth ministry for over 20 years and currently help lead TCC’s youth group. In addition to serving our families and youth, I have had the privilege of serving with the Saints Prison Ministry for nearly 10 years, playing inmate teams in softball and sharing the hope of the gospel with them. In the Fall of 2017, Cindy and I joined International Students Inc. in West Philly, sharing life and our faith with U Penn students through Friday night dinners and bible study. In addition to softball, I love sports, hiking, and photography.

Cindy and I have three wonderful children: Dan and his wife-to-be-Keira, and Amy. Dan has joined me on the church softball team in previous years, and our daughter Amy currently works with youth as a missionary in Ireland.

Lou Guerra – Pastor

Born and raised in Philadelphia and its suburbs, I have always lived within in a 5-mile radius of my current home. I was well served by a challenging education at Philmont Christian Academy (PMCA), where I wrestled with and grew in faith. I joined the TCC pastoral team in 2018, after serving as an Elder at Faith Community Church over 20 years.

Linda, my wife, best friend, and chief advisor in life, and I have been married and living in Roslyn for 26 years and had the privilege of raising four children. Amy and our son-in-law John met and married while students at Grove City College, live and teach in North Carolina, and are expecting their first child soon. Older son Ryan is seeing the world while serving overseas in the US Navy. Katie is living at home while beginning her collegiate studies, and son Tim is in high school at PMCA.

I have an MBA from Eastern University and enjoy reading, gardening, and the change of seasons. I revel in traveling to visit the kids when we can and savor any time I am on the beach.

Joshua Hurst – Lead Pastor

I joined Trinity's pastoral team in 2017 and live in Abington with my wife and best friend, Miriam and our four amazing kids - Eden, Eliana, Evaline, and Eleanor (yes, we got stuck on girls and stuck on E's!). Along the way, I've picked up a couple of theological degrees - an M.A. from Reformed Theological Seminary and an M.Div. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior to leading Trinity, I served for a number of years on staff at Grace Bible Church in Moore, SC. And, more recently as a bi-vocational elder at Grace City Church in Northeast Philly. I do most of the preaching and provide leadership and vision for Trinity alongside our other pastors. When I can grab some spare time, I love to exercise (sort of), eat good sushi, hang out with friends, read, play ball, and watch the Florida Gators and Philly sports squads.

Nathan Knisely – Pastor

I was born and raised in Canton, Ohio. I was blessed to grow up in a family that was very involved in our local church where I was able to hear the good news of Jesus at a young age. It was during my years in our youth group that I began feeling a call to full-time ministry. After high school, I moved to Louisville, KY to pursue biblical and theological training at Boyce Bible College and Southern Seminary. Louisville was home for eight years. I married my wife, Laura, and we started our family there.

After completing a church planting residency at Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Laura and I decided to join the Trinity core team and move to the Philly area in 2010. I’ve always had a love for music. Having served in worship ministries in different capacities over the years, I was thrilled to begin leading Trinity’s worship ministry. Laura and I live in Willow Grove with our three strapping young boys, Josiah, Caleb, and Levi.

John Riggs – Pastor

I joined the pastoral staff of Trinity Community Church in 2018 and serve as the Associate Pastor. I am responsible for overseeing the spiritual formation of TCC and help lead and shepherd Trinity alongside our other pastors. Prior to TCC, I had the privilege of serving Faith Community Church (Roslyn, PA) as an Associate Pastor and most recently as Interim Pastor. I am a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and received my theological training at Westminster Theological Seminary. My beautiful wife, Kaitlin, and I have been blessed with a delightful daughter, Avalyn, and live in Abington. I enjoy meaningful conversations, any time spent with my family, reading, and all things hiking and backpacking.

Brandon Rogers – Pastor

My wife and I are originally from Texas but moved to the northern suburbs of Philadelphia in 2010 with our daughter Jane to plant Trinity Church. We’ve since bought a house in Willow Grove, added two more kids to the mix (Owen and Emma), grown accustomed to calling the Philly area “home”, and built up our snow-shoveling muscles.

I have been a non-staff elder at Trinity since early 2015 and help lead our community groups. My absolute favorite thing to do is be present with my family, doing almost anything. They are, in a word, incredible. I also enjoy loading my barbecue pit with a lot of meat and having friends over to help us eat it.

Trinity Community Church Statement of Faith

I. The Scriptures.

We believe that the 66 books of the Bible are God’s word revealed to us, written by God’s apostles and prophets. In its original manuscripts it contains truth without error as it unfolds the story of God – his creation, our fall, his redemption and restoration; therefore it is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union. The Scriptures are the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

II. The Triune God.

We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God. He is an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth, glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible worship, trust, and love. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but complementary offices in the great work of redemption.

IIa. Father.

The Father is the first member of the Trinity, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all that come to Him through Jesus Christ. We believe that He orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace.

IIb. Son.

Jesus, the Son, is coequal, consubstantial (i.e., having the same substance, nature, or essence), and coeternal with the Father. He was with the Father in the beginning and all things were made through him. He was incarnated into our world by being born of a virgin, becoming human that he might succeed where Adam failed and save all those who put their trust in his substitutionary, propitiatory death. He was raised bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, and will make a personal, visible return to earth.

IIc. Holy Spirit.

We believe in the Holy Spirit who is sent from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. We believe that he is the supernatural and sovereign agent in regeneration; it is His work to indwell, sanctify, instruct, empower for service, and seal until the day of redemption all who believe on Jesus Christ. We believe he indwells every believer in Christ, and that he is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. In all the divine attributes, He is coequal, consubstantial, and coeternal with the Father and the Son.

III. The Fall Of Man.

We believe that man was created in holiness, in the image of God, and under the law of his Maker. But by rejecting God man fell from that state, and has ever since been under a curse. By nature we lack the holiness required by God; we are inclined to evil and justly condemned under God’s eternal wrath, without defense or excuse.

IV. The Way Of Salvation.

We believe that the salvation of sinners is all of grace, through the life and cross-work of Jesus Christ. By the Father’s design, Jesus freely took upon himself our nature, without sin, and honored the divine law by his personal obedience. By his vicarious, substitutionary death he made full atonement for our sins, breaking the curse. Having risen from the dead he is now enthroned in heaven, qualified to be our suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior in every way.

V. Justification.

We believe God is “the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” When God justifies, the believer is declared righteous, not according to any works of righteousness which we have done, but only through faith in Jesus’ cross-work. His perfect righteousness – as demonstrated by his active and passive obedience to God – is freely imputed (credited) to our account, declaring us simultaneously not-guilty and righteous. This brings us into a state of peace and favor with God.

VI. The Freeness Of Salvation.

We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel, and that it is necessary for all to accept them by obedient faith. Nothing prevents the salvation of the most detestable sinner on earth, except his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel, which brings upon him just condemnation.

VII. Grace In Regeneration.

We believe that, in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated, or born again. Regeneration gives the mind and heart an inclination toward God by the power of the Holy Spirit, securing our voluntary and joyful obedience to the gospel. Its evidence appears in the fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life.

VIII. Repentance And Faith.

We believe that repentance and faith are inseparable graces, accomplished in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God. Being deeply convinced of our guilt, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God in humility, confessing our sin and pleading for mercy. At the same time we gladly receive Jesus and rely on Him alone as the only and all sufficient Savior.

IX. Election.

We believe that election in Christ is the eternal purpose of God, according to which He graciously regenerates, sanctifies, and saves sinners. It is a glorious display of God’s sovereign grace, being infinitely free, wise, holy and unchangeable. It excludes all boasting, and promotes humility, love, prayer, praise, trust in God, and active imitation of his free mercy. It is the foundation of Christian assurance, joy, and worship. All who truly believe the Gospel are of the elect.

X. Sanctification.

We believe that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness. It is a progressive work begun in regeneration and carried on in the hearts of God’s people by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter. The Lord sanctifies us through the continual use of the word of God, the killing of sin, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer.

XI. The Perseverance Of Saints.

We believe that only those who endure to the end are the true people of God, having their persevering attachment to Christ as the mark which distinguishes them from those who emptily profess faith. God’s providence watches over their welfare, and they are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation.

XII. The Universal Church.

We believe that the universal church is made up of all true believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ, from the beginning of time until the end of time.

XIII. The Local Church.

We believe a local church is a community of believers in Jesus led by qualified elders, who have covenanted to be on mission with Jesus together, regularly gather for the right preaching of God’s word, participate in baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and practice loving, redemptive church discipline.

XIII. Baptism And The Lord’s Supper.

We believe that Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in display of faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior. This symbolizes our death to sin and resurrection to a new life, and is required for membership. By the Lord’s Supper the members of the church, in eating the bread and wine, proclaim the gospel of Jesus’ death our behalf. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not believe these ordinances convey saving grace upon the recipient. However, they are means by which God reveals His gospel to his people and brings loving encouragement into their lives.

XIV. The World To Come.

We believe that this world is fading away and the fullness of God’s kingdom is approaching. At the last day Christ will descend from heaven and raise the dead from the grave to final judgment. A solemn separation will then take place, the unrighteous facing God’s eternal wrath and punishment in hell, and the righteous endless joy with God. The world will be “put to rights” and God’s people will dwell with him on a restored earth for eternity.