“Come just as you are”. That is the welcoming message of the Berean Church in Seattle. The Berean Church welcomes Christians. It welcomes those seeking to connect to Christianity in the Seattle area.
The Berean Bible Society was founded to help believers understand God’s Word. It began in a two-room schoolhouse in Preakness New Jersey. Here believers saw the importance of understanding the mystery revealed to Paul. They understood the urgency of proclaiming God’s grace.
Pastor C.R. Stam’s first pastorate was at Preakness Community Church. When the schoolhouse was torn down the group launched a building program. This was during the Great Depression. Herbert Birchenough helped build the church. The Berean Searchlight was first published there. Pastor Stam addressed a well-filled church each Sunday. Ernest Ulmer led a growing Sunday School.
In 1945 Pastor and Mrs. Stam moved to Milwaukee. He joined Pastor Charles F. Baker to establish the Milwaukee Bible Institute. The Berean Searchlight continued from a rented office. The Milwaukee Bible Institute opened in September 1945. Charles F Baker was president. C.R. Stam was dean.
In 1953 the Berean Bible Society moved to Chicago. A building on Belmont Avenue was purchased. By 1958 the building was too small. It was enlarged again in 1967. In the fall of 1993 the ministry relocated to Germantown Wisconsin. The Chicago facility had served them well for over 50 years. The board of directors voted unanimously to relocate.
The Berean Searchlight is the official organ of the Berean Bible Society. It is sent free of charge to anyone who requests it. It is published monthly except in July. The Berean Searchlight is sent to every state and over 40 foreign countries. It is also available on the BBS website.
Pastor C. R. Stam was born in 1908. He passed away in 2003 at the age of 94. In his early years he worked with his father at the Star of Hope Mission in Paterson New Jersey. Mr. Stam converted in 1922 after hearing a gospel message by T. Houston. He embraced the message of St. Paul.
In 1934 Mr. Stam’s brother John and his wife Betty were executed in China. They were missionaries. Their 3-month-old daughter Helen Priscilla Stam was rescued. Pastor Lo transported her to a Christian Hospital.
Pastor Stam accepted his first pastorate at Preakness Community Church. This gave birth to the Berean Bible Society and the Berean Searchlight magazine in 1940. Later Pastor Stam moved to Milwaukee. He established the Milwaukee Bible Institute with Pastor Charles F. Baker. Around 1953 the Berean Bible Society moved to Chicago.
Shortly after Pastor J.C. O’Hair passed away in 1958 Mr. Stam became pastor of the North Shore Church in Chicago. In 1971 Mr. Stam’s wife Henrietta passed away. Five years later Mr. Stam married Ruth Wahlstrom.
Pastor Stam authored over 30 books. Things That Differ is his most popular work. Mr. Stam retired in 1993.
Paul M. Sadler served as president of the Berean Bible Society from 1987-2016. He passed away on March 31 2016. Kevin Sadler is the current president. He was installed on February 12 2016. The Berean Bible Society preaches Jesus Christ. They help people understand their Bibles.
The Berean Church in Seattle aims to make contact with others. They encourage others to join their Christian journey. The church’s vision is to impact Seattle. They achieve this by helping people understand the enriching messages of hope given by Jesus Christ. Everyone is welcome.