Meet Our Leaders

Meet Our Leaders – June 2026

Rev. Dr. Néstor Gómez Bethany Fellows Disciple Leader

Where are you in the world and who do you do life with? 

I serve as the Lead Director/Pastor of First Congregational Church in Stamford, Connecticut.

Enneagram Number 
TBD – We will see this fall!

Tell us about your Call to Ministry.
My call to ministry is an open invitation from God to become involved in God’s kin-dom loving my neighbors as loving myself. It’s a call to serve and not to be served. It’s a call to give hope in a world in despair. It’s a call to walk along with those who have been put aside in the margins of our society. It’s a call to bring the light of God in the darkness of our souls.

Why Bethany Fellows?
Bethany has become a family of friendship and colleagues where I am free to be fully myself. It is a world of laughter and wisdom, where conversations emerge naturally and without judgment. Within Bethany, I have experienced both joy and grief, and learned that they can coexist together.

It is here that I have reaffirmed my identity within the community of those who follow the Way. Why? Because at Bethany, I can drink from my own well and hear the Spirit of God whispering in my ear: “Beloved.”

Can you share a retreat highlight?
At the Redemptorist Renewal Center 2025, a vivid experience for me was when we met together with the Disciple leaders and shared our stories of life. The question revolted around what was going in our lives. It was a prayerful moment of listening to others, meditating, and supporting one another. Then we drunk coffee and smiled.

Favorite Ice-cream Flavor or Dessert?
Strawberry

Bless us with words of wisdom or book that is sustaining you.
These days I’m reading, Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day! Daily Meditations for the Ups, Downs & In-Betweens by Kate Bowler. Recommended!

Meet Our Leaders – March 2026

Reverend Jenn Simmons Bethany Fellows Disciple Leader

Where are you in the world and who do you do life with? 
I am based in Springfield, MO and serve as the Lead Pastor of National Avenue Christian Church. My husband and I are marking 21 years of marriage this year! We have two beautiful kiddos, Desmond and Fiona.

Enneagram Number 
Enneagram 7 – The Enthusiast

Tell us about your Call to Ministry.
I have the joy and honor of helping to hold and curate space. Many of us have experienced religious trauma. I am amazed that people are willing to try church again. We practice radical hospitality, vulnerability, openness, and curiosity in hopes of finding healing and creating a welcoming space for all.

Why Bethany Fellows?
I am still in ministry because of Bethany. Here, I learned practices that helped sustain me in ministry. I found community. I learned and continue to practice trust. I am certain that without this circle, I would have left ministry long ago.

Can you share a retreat highlight?
At the last retreat in Atlanta, I got to live through my first hurricane. I was impressed by the care of the leaders and staff to help guide us through that space.

Favorite Ice-cream Flavor or Dessert?
Pistachio

Bless us with words of wisdom that sustain you. 
“Unless. Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing it going to get better, it’s not.”

—Dr. Seuss

Meet Our Leaders – October 2025

Reverend Steve Moore Bethany Fellows Ecumenical Leader

Where are you in the world and who do you do life with? 
I am based in Falls Church, Virginia and serve as the Pastor of FCC Falls Church. I do life with my amazing husband Mark and our Irish Setter Henry. Mark is a deep thinker, creative and a professional musician.

Enneagram Number 
Unsure! Hope to find out at our Spring 2026 retreat!

Tell us about your Call to Ministry.
It was an inward outward call identified outwardly by a college Campus Minister. The seed she planted began to grow and it was then I was able to name the inward call. Through a series of events, the spirit moved me to sell my house, move 600 miles from home, leave a job and enter seminary. Throughout it all – both the inward and outward calls have been at work in my life.

Why Bethany Fellows?
When Kim invited me to serve as a leader, I had already seen the fruit of Bethany’s ministry in the lives of young pastors. But it wasn’t until I joined a leaders retreat and experienced the sacred rhythm of the week that I felt God’s quiet nudge — an invitation to share my gifts and walk alongside those just beginning their journey in ministry.

Can you share a retreat highlight?
The spirit nudging me to deeply listen to one of the pastors and the deepening of understanding I learned from the pastor.

Favorite Ice-cream Flavor or Dessert?
Anything chocolate!

Bless us with words of wisdom that sustain you. 
Psalm 121 “I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth…”