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| 717.445.4401 • bereanbfc@dejazzd.com | |||
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| Home |
| About BBFC |
| -Affiliation |
| -Our Message |
| -History |
| -Our Ministries |
| -Leadership |
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| Schedule of Events |
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Affiliation
We belong to the Bible Fellowship Church denomination. The Bible Fellowship Church is made up of 60+ churches that have united together under the Lordship of Christ and the authority of His Word. We currently have churches in: Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Visit the denomination website www.bfc.orgOur Message
We believe:The Bible is the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16)
Jesus Christ is God in the flesh (Colossians 1:15-17, Hebrews 1:3)
Jesus Christ died, was buried and bodily resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)
Man's salvation (deliverance from sin) is only through faith in Jesus Christ alone (John 1:12, 14:6, Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9)
Every child of God should develop Christ-likeness through obeying God's Word, yielding to the Holy Spirit, and submitting to God's people (Romans 12:1-5; Ephesians 5:15-21)
Having a relationship with Christ is as easy as A-B-C
A - Admit you have sinned
B -Believe that Christ died to take away your sin
C - Call on him to be the Lord and Savior of your life
For more information check-out www.needhim.org or call Pastor Kevin at 445-4401
View the Articles of Faith - Click here
The History of Berean
A church built on prayer: About 1858, a small group of believers from the Old Order Mennonite Church met in homes for weekly prayer meetings. Frowned upon by that church, this group separated from the Old Order and became known as Evangelical Mennonites. By 1879, these believers had changed their name to Evangelical United Mennonites and were meeting in a converted stable across the street from the present church. Abner Clime was their first preacher. While preaching in Mount Joy, he met William Gehman, the founder of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ. Their friendship and oneness in Christ opened the way for William Gehman to preach in Terre Hill.Prayerfully seeking the guidance of the Lord, this body of believers joined the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church in 1882. The original portion of our present church was built in 1882 at a cost of $3,000, which was fully pledged by the members on a rainy Sunday in 1882.
For many years, Terre Hill shared a pastor with several other churches. In 1947, after 53 years on the circuit and after much prayer and holding on to God, the believers in Terre Hill asked the Annual Conference to have a full-time pastor. Robert C. Reichenbach was assigned to Terre Hill, and the present parsonage was built. During the 1950s, the church was remodeled twice as God answered prayer and added new members to the church.
In 1966, a group of 42 members from the Ephrata area had the vision of starting a new outreach there. God blessed this new sister church in Ephrata, which has since grown to a peak attendance of over 400.
On November 7, 1971, the Terre Hill congregation voted to purchase an acre on the west side of the church to expand the parking lot. On January 17, 1973, plans for the new building were discussed and approved. The new sanctuary of the church was dedicated on March 31, 1974.
The church saw many children and teens ministered to as its summer day camp and teen week continued to expand and become a main thrust of the church's ministry. In the 1980's and 1990's, the church experienced some lean years, taking a drop in attendance. A long-term plan was implemented in the fall of 2000, with a goal of doubling the church's attendance in the next five years. The board of elders called former missionary, Kevin Kirkpatrick to lead the church in October of 2000.
Ministries
Click here to jump to a detailed listing of our ministries.Leadership
Pastor Kevin and his wife
Diane arrived at our church in the Fall of 2000. Pastor and Diane had been
married in August and Kevin had just returned from a mission's trip to the
2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Prior to coming to Berean, Pastor
Kevin served 2 years as a Regional Evangelist with The Pocket Testament
League, headquartered in Lititz. His responsibilities there included leading
inner city outreaches each summer and doing evangelism training seminars.
Prior to that, he spent over 13 years in the field of Adult Rehabilitation
with mentally and physically challenged adults at Goodwill Industries and
two other locations as a workshop supervisor. He was born and raised just
a couple of miles from our church. He attended Cocalico High School ('81),
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Criminology/Pre-law '85) and Lancaster
Bible College (Bible and Christian Life '96). He previously attended the
Bible Fellowship Church of Ephrata where he enjoyed sitting under the ministry
of Pastor Dan Allen. Diane grew up in the Millersville area where she attended Penn Manor High School ('72), and St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing, Lancaster ('75). She worked as a Registered Nurse at Community Hospital of Lancaster for over 20 years as both as medical-surgical staff nurse and operating room nurse. Her first experience as an OR nurse was at Rethy Hospital, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo); serving under Africa Inland Mission, International and the Evangelical Congregational Church in the early 1980's. Currently, she is employed part time in the operating room at Ephrata Community Hospital where she has been since January of 2001. She previously attended Faith Bible Fellowship Church in Lancaster.
Both Kevin and Diane accepted Christ as Savior as children and grew up in Christian homes. Pastor enjoys hunting, reading, current events, playing and watching sports. Diane's hobbies include scrapbooking, reading, photography, music, and crafts.
Elders
Ron and Jodi Derr have been married
for eleven years. Ron serves as the secretary of the Board of Elders and
together they lead the youth fellowship. Ron is a math teacher, track, and
cross country coach at Cocalico High School in Denver, PA. Jodi home-schools
their three daughters, Tabitha, Ronnie Ann, and Ashley; and works as the
church sexton. 
Jim and Gail Wetzler have been
married for twenty-five years and are the proud parents of Jamie and Jill.
Jim serves as the church delegate to annual conference and teaches an adult
Sunday School class. Gail and her daughters teach the toddlers during Sunday
School and Worship services. Jim works as a service manager with LIFT Inc.
Robert
and Margaret Weaver have been married forty years. They are the parents
of Bobby, Sandy, and Jenny and the grandparent of five. Bob teaches a children's
Sunday School class and leads the men's Bible study. Margaret leads the
women's evening Bible study and the Wednesday night children's ministry.
Bob works for the Morgantown Water Authority and Margaret provides child
care in their home and is the Morgantown tax collector. 
Andy, Jill, Tyler, Danielle, Samantha
and Dallas Ludwig. Andy and Jill have been married for more than 11 years
and are the proud parents of Tyler, Danielle, Samantha and Dallas. Andy
works as a supervisor for a hospital computer assistant company and Jill
is a home school mom. Andy assists with the leadership of the men's Bible
study where he is the primary teacher and, with Jill, assists in the youth
ministry. Jill heads the Craft show and is involved in numerous other ministries.
Deacons
Tom and Martha Keylor have been
married thirty-one years and are the parents of two sons, Duane and Shane.
They are also grandparents of two. Tom is the jack of all trades around
the church. He can always be found making sure things are in good working
order. Martha is our worship leader and choir director. Tom works as a machinist
and Martha serves as a hostess at Yoder's Restaurant. 
Harry and Twila Nolt have been
married twenty-five years and are the parents of Jeremy, Sheri, Shana and
Keisha. Harry is the church treasurer and chairs the Finance Committee.
Twila and her daughters serve in the toddler department. Harry works for
Farmersville Auction and as a grave digger while Twila works at Shady Maple.
Jeremy and Joni Nolt have been
married for 6 years and are the parents of Curtis and Dylan (not pictured).
Jeremy works with his father at Nolt's Excavating Services and Farmersville
Auction as an auctioneer and Joni works part time at Farmersville Auction.
Jeremy and Joni are active in the Social Committee and Jeremy keeps tabs
on the church van. 
Andy and Becky Littlejohn
have been married for 3 years and are the parents of Erica (not pictured).
They are involved in the Christian Ed Committee and leadership of the Sojourners
young adult group. Andy is also very involved in the float ministry. He
works as an estimator for G. Earl Martin and Becky is a homemaker.