VISION 

Our Goal:

Berean Baptist Church exists to seek the glory of God, through the Lord Jesus Christ by the study and proclamation of the Bible, His Word, so that more and more people will call Jesus "King", both here at home through evangelism, and around the world through missions.

Our History:

The Bible tells about the residents of the city of Berea — "Bereans" — that they "were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind (they were not "closed-minded"), and searched the Scriptures daily (explored for themselves), whether those things were so (Acts 17:11). This teaches us that the Bible is to be used for evangelism, because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).

When our Church was started, they chose the name "Berean Baptist Church" because they wanted to "search the Scriptures" in order to know God’s Truth. This is true, not only for coming to believe in Jesus, but for growing in the Christian life.

The Church began in 1936 with this vision for Biblically-based worship, fellowship and outreach. Dr. J. R. Boyd, at that time a student at Toronto Baptist Seminary, came north for the summer and stayed until his death in 1994.

He was an eager evangelist, with an active program of outreach that included, at different times, visitation, mailings, home Bible studies, and camp ministry. In the early years, he bought time on radio, and then on television in the early fifties. These works were supplemented by a writing ministry to provide additional help and teaching to his far-flung audience.

Although times and ministries have changed forms as Dr. Boyd was followed by Pastor S.A. Tulloch, Pastor Bob Penhearow, and now Pastor Brad Powers, these early goals continue to be pursued.

Our Practice:

The sign on the front of Berean Baptist Church says: "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness", Psalm 96:9.We believe that the Lord is holy and worthy of praise. All we are and have comes from Him. In our services, we aim to keep our focus on the Lord and His Greatness. We aim for simplicity, delight in congregational singing, and the reading of the Bible.

Much of our time in assembly is spent studying that Word.

The Scriptures tell us:

•that the Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation

(Romans 1:16).

•that a person is saved when he repents of his sin, and trusts the Lord Jesus Christ alone, through the blood that He shed for sinners.

•to preach Christ, because as Jesus Himself stated, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me (John 14:6).

•to hide God’s word in our hearts that I might not sin against Thee

 (Psalm 119:11).

Acts 2:42 outlines the life of the early church this way: they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (that is, the teaching of the Bible), and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers, and it is added that this had a tremendous impact on those around them, so that many others believed as well.