About Us

Our Story: A Journey of Faith and Home

Our story is one of resilience, founded on a shared history and a common faith.

It began after living for 18 years in refugee camps in Eastern Nepal. In 2008, a small group of Bhutanese refugees began a new chapter by resettling in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. By 2009, a few families started gathering in living rooms of their apartments, finding comfort and joy in worshipping God in our native Nepali language.

As our community grew, so did our vision. In 2010, under the leadership of Pastor Shankar Rai, we officially launched the Bhutanese Nepali Church of Lancaster (BNCL) and joined LMC—A Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches. We chose that name with great intention, ensuring that every Nepali speaker, whether from Bhutan or Nepal, would feel truly welcomed at our table.

For many years, we called West End Mennonite Church our home. However, as our community flourished, families began moving toward the west side of Lancaster County, extending into York and Middletown. In 2025, after much prayer, we followed our community and transitioned our location to Marietta Community Chapel’s building. While our address has changed, our heart remains the same: sharing the Gospel and serving our region.