top of page
Wood

Our Mission Statement

Glorifying God by reaching the lost and equipping the saints through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

​

Our Mission Verse

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.  Matthew 28: 19-20 

Geography

Why Berean?

In the Bible, Acts 17: 10-11 says, "10. That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth." We want to be like the people of Berea. A group of imperfect people who love Jesus and believe that the Bible is God's only Word. Through scripture and fellowship we are learning to live out God's mission within our daily lives. 

​

WHAT WE BELIEVE  

Our Philosophy & Doctrine

The Berean Fellowship was built upon a solid biblical foundation and has always placed special emphasis on the authority of Scripture, the supremacy of Jesus Christ, and the importance of advancing the Gospel through personal relationships, church planting, and world missions.

church.jpg

History

The Valentine Berean Fellowship Church belongs to the Berean Fellowship of Churches. The first Berean church of this fellowship was founded by Pastor Ivan Olsen in North Platte, Nebraska in 1936. Pastor Olsen had a vision to reach people with the Gospel in surrounding communities. Olsen, plus Homer and Norma Schulz, had a burden for the Valentine area which resulted in the 1960 founding of the Valentine Berean Church (VBC).

Continued below...

 

 

History

Baptism

Christian Baptism is one of two ordinances that Jesus instituted for the church. Just before His ascension, Jesus said, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28: 19-20) These instructions specify that the church is responsible to teach Jesus' word, make disciples, and baptize those disciples. These things are to be done everywhere, "all nations," until "the very end of the age."

 

Baptism is important because Jesus commanded it. Christian baptism is the means by which a person makes a public profession of faith and discipleship. In the waters of baptism, a person says, wordlessly, "I confess faith in Christ; Jesus has cleansed my soul from sin, and I now have a new life of sanctification."

​

Christian baptism illustrates, in dramatic style, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. At the same time, it also illustrates our death to sin and new life in Christ. Very simply, baptism is an outward testimony of the inward change in a believer's life. Christian baptism is an act of obedience to the Lord after salvation: although baptism is closely associated with salvation, it is not a requirement to be saved. The Bible shows in many places that the order of events is;

1. a person believes in the Lord Jesus

2. he is baptized

The sequence is seen in Acts 2:41, "Those who accepted Peter's message were baptized."

​

Baptisms are performed during the summer at the Niobrara river in August. Please contact Pastor Scott at 402-389-0377 for further information.

baptism1
baptism2
baptism3
THEN PETER SAID TO THEM,
"REPENT, AND LET
EVERY ONE OF YOU
BE BAPTIZED
-IN THE NAME OF-
JESUS CHRIST 
FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS; AND
YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT."
ACTS 2:38

After preliminary meetings with Reverend Fred Dietz in May and July 1960, the church was officially established at the Schulz’s home on October 4, 1960. Pastors Olsen and Dietz, Schulz’s, Bob and Vera Ryschon, Dale Beauchamp, and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Lovejoy were present. In February 1961, Bob Jones became the interim/temporary pastor. During his tenure, the congregation began meeting in the Jordan Hotel party room, and soon purchased the lot for the existing church for $1,300. Shortly after, ground was broken for the current building.

 

In August 1962, Bob Jones resigned and moved to Scottsbluff. Carl Steinle was then called as pastor. The congregation began meeting in the basement of the new church building in March 1963. The construction of the parsonage began in 1962. The Steinles moved into the new parsonage next door to the church in July 1963. The upstairs of the church was finished in 1967, ready to serve the community.

Some of the earliest family names include: Schulz, Steinle, Ryschon, Coleman, Wagner, Stoeger, Taylor, Shelbourn, and Schuster. Steinles left in May 1977 after

serving for approximately 15 years. They moved back to the ranch in Wyoming, where they continued to be involved in ministry.

 

In September 1977, Bob Harmon became pastor. He ministered for approximately 14 months, then moved to the Imperial area. A year later, Roger Daum became pastor. He served from 1979 until 1988, when he and his family moved to minister at the Cozad Berean Church.

 

Dave and Tami Householter came in August 1988. Pastor Dave ministered for 25 years before retiring in May 2013, when they moved to Tami’s family farm in Kansas. While they were in Valentine, a special day was held on October 31, 2010, to celebrate the Berean Church’s 50th Anniversary in Valentine. More than 145 people attended, including some of the former pastors and their families. Dave and Tami were a great team and ministered to many during their pastorate in Valentine. Pastor Dave went to be with his Lord on May 20, 2021.

 

After Pastor Dave’s retirement, the elders decided to hire an interim pastor to help us through the transition of finding a new pastor. Fran Harwerth, a retired pastor

from the Berean Church in Colby, Kansas, came in July 2013 and stayed until February 2014. Besides being a wonderful teacher on Sunday mornings, Fran

was instrumental in guiding us through the process of finding a new pastor. The bond that VBC made with Fran and his wife, Joan, is a sweet part of our history.

 

Scott and Keri McClellen came to fill the pastoral vacancy here at VBC in February 2014. From 2002 to 2005, Scott had attended Cornerstone Bible Institute in Hot Springs, SD. Moving to Gregory, SD in 2005, Scott pastored his first congregation at the Gregory Berean Church. He ministered there for 8 years before coming to VBC. The Berean congregation, as well as the Valentine community, feel blessed that Pastor Scott and Keri are here to minister and lead others to Jesus Christ.

 

Due to increased numbers of congregants attending church services and Sunday school, a new church building is being built just east of the existing building. The property for that was purchased for $15,712 in 2019.

 

The many ministries that are currently ongoing include: Sunday school, two Sunday morning services, Wednesday prayer/Bible study, men’s and women’s Bible studies, Music ministry, small groups meeting in homes, and men’s group serving breakfast to the less fortunate on Saturday mornings. The congregation continues to emphasize special days: summer picnic in the park, baptism in the river at the Dodson’s, ecumenical church service at the Cherry Co Fairgrounds during the County Fair, and Old West Sunday with a cowboy theme for the

service plus a Chuck Wagon meal following.

 

Missions continue to be an important part of the Berean ministry. The VBC supports nine ministries from Long Pine, NE and Valentine, to Papua New Guinea and Haiti.

 

The history of the Valentine Berean Church points to its purpose—LIVING IN CHRIST 24-7. We thank God for the Biblical foundation of this church and accept the challenge of leading the young and old to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

bottom of page