“Berean” might sound like a complex word. The name of Berean Fellowship Baptist Church comes from Acts 17:11. It says that people in the city of Berea received the Word with great eagerness. They examined the Scriptures daily.
Berean Fellowship Baptist Church is part of the Berean Fellowship of Churches. This fellowship’s theme is “Plant a Church, Make Disciples, Reach the World”. It represents a family of churches. These churches are committed to reaching people with the Gospel.
The Berean Fellowship allows flexibility. However, they agree on a clear doctrinal statement. They share a common constitution. They also share a vision for worldwide impact. Each Berean church is independent. There is no denominational control. Each church chooses its own pastors. It builds its own buildings. It also determines its own ministries.
The Berean Fellowship’s history dates back to the 1930s. Ivan Olsen became the first pastor of the Berean Fundamental Church in North Platte, Nebraska. Others witnessed God’s blessing on his work. They sought his counsel to plant churches. God’s blessing led to the establishment of several Berean Churches in a few years. The name Berean Fundamental Church Council, Inc. became the legal name for this fellowship.
Today the Berean Fellowship includes churches in several states. These states include California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota. You’ll also find them in Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky.
One church got its start when individuals contacted the Berean Fundamental Church’s founding fathers. Rev. Olson, Rev. Goltz and Rev. Skoog met with them. They shared the Berean Fellowship’s constitution and purposes. The group voted to join the Berean Fellowship. They organized the Berean Church of Rochester. Rev. Skoog became its first pastor.
Initially, the group met at the 4-H building. Then they rented the former Elks building. This location proved a blessing. Many visiting the Mayo Clinic found the Savior there. A permanent location was needed to impact the community. A location along Hwy 52 was secured. Plans were made to build a church.
The only assets were a memorial gift and faith in God. They launched a building program. God provided gifts and loans. The first service was held on Dec 13, 1970. A dedication service was held on June 13, 1971. Rev. Carl Goltz, Rev Curt Lehman and Rev. Roscoe Schultz attended.
In 1998, Pastor Kevin Block was called to serve. The church adopted five key ministry purposes. These included Prayer and Worship, Outreach, Fellowship, Discipleship, and Service. New mission and vision statements were also adopted.
In 1953, Pastor Melvin Swanson started Berean Baptist Church. It was in a basement building. The first Sunday service had 17 people. Since then, Sunday School has grown significantly. In December 2011, Mark Swanson became the second pastor. He preaches the uncompromised truth of God’s Word.
Berean Fellowship Baptist Church reflects a deep commitment. It is committed to the Bible and to its community. It stands as a testament to faith. It has a vision of reaching the world for Christ.