Berean Fundamental Church North Platte, NE 69101 From the desk of P.O. Box 549 Dr. Ivan E. Olson Sept. 10, 1979 ****************************************************************** The History of the Berean Fundamental Church Council, Inc. The Berean Fellowship This bulletin begins the writing of the history of the Berean Fellowship, by its Founder, Rev. Ivan E. Olsen. Over the years, many requests have come for us to put in writing things which we know about many of the churches which were started in the earlier years of the Berean Fellowship details which otherwise could well be lost. No attempt will be made, other than to gather facts and information together. As you read concerning the different churches, some of you are going to write and give us additional details, corrections, better sequence of events; or we will learn of unintentional omissions. This is the first step toward putting together the history of how the individual churches started. For each of the different churches, we will want uniform information: When the church was started, the course of events which brought about the Berean Church in that community; also those who were initially burdened, and who helped with the realization of the church; names of various pastors who have served, from the beginning to the present time. It is not the intention that any particular church would be omitted, neglected, or blown up or down. We sincerely hope that we will make many friends, and few enemies, because of how we have handled this project. Someone needed to do this, and it seems best to many persons that I, the Founder of the Fellowship, would do it. This is our attempt to get this done. It seems wise at this time to organize the church presentation by districts. Later, for practical purposes, they may be written up alphabetically. Some thought was given to sequence, beginning from the first one organized, on to this time. The first District was the North Platte District. This may account for the fact that there are thirty-one churches in Nebraska. Acts 1:8 was the marching orders from the Word of God, Beginning at Jerusalem, then all Judea, Samaria, then into the uttermost parts of the world. Personalities cannot be omitted in writing history, because history is HIS-story of how He used HIS people. Both Rev. Clifford Gustafson and Rev. Olsen, brothers-in-law, were discipled bydick Zoet, a church organizer in northern Michigan. Rev. Gustafson in 1938 became closely associated with, and worked with Rev. Olsen, starting all the churches around North Platte. This association continued strong through the 40 s, and to the present time. Rev. Carl Goltz, upon graduating from Moody, was steered to Rev. Olsen by Billy McCarrell, a recognized leader, in 1950. Rev. Goltz headed up the Fellowship of churches from the time he came, to the present. Rev. Olsen devoted his principal time to Maranatha Bible Camp. The two have, for these nearly thirty years, worked as a team in everything. Rev. Curt Lehman and Rev. Kenneth Blood are among those who have worked long years with full
strength to mention only a few. Rev. Arthur VanCampen, Rev. Earnest Skeeg, Rev. Eldon Sandin, Rev. Glenn Adams and many others, are veterans of twenty years and more, with the Berean Churches. The History of the Mother Church The history record will begin where the Fellowship began, with the Berean Church in North Platte. The history of the Berean Church in North Platte falls into two sections: The period from August 21, 1932 to October 31, 1936 (this is prior to Rev. Olsen becoming Pastor). The second period begins with November 1, 1936 until the present. From the official records of the Berean Church in North Platte, we find that the first North Platte church meeting was held at the John Goodmanson home, on August 21, 1932. Thirteen people associated themselves as charter members. Sunday School officers were also lined up at this meeting. Seventeen attended. The first two Sunday School classes were taught by John Maline and Carol Haskins. A third class, shortly added, was taught by Mrs. Carol Haskins. John Goodmanson was the fourth teacher. The fifth class was started on Dec. 4, 1932, with Mrs. Hugh Clark as teacher. January 2, 1933, the little group conducted a three-week revival campaign, using Evangelist Pietsch. This meeting outgrew the home on East Third Street, which the congregation had rented for the church services. They moved to the Salvation Army Hall for the remainder of the Revival meetings. The first five deacons were John Maline, John Goodmanson, Hugh Clark, Carol Haskins, and Lloyd Coombe. All but one, Hugh Clark, are now with the Lord. The small congregation was taken into the membership of the Church of the Open Door in Denver, Colorado, where Rev. Clifton L. Fowler was Pastor. This was the church related to the Denver Bible Institute. President Fowler became advisor to this infant church, and visited them a couple of times a year in North Platte. The Church of the Open Bible The first name of the mother church was the Church of the Open Bible. The articles of Incorporation in the early 1930 s used that name. But in 1935 many Pentecostal churches used Open Bible in their name. Consequently, the decision was made to change the name to the Berean Fundamental Church Berean taken from Acts 17:11, Searched the Scriptures daily. This was done on January 5, 1935. President Clifton L. Fowler recommended a Denver Bible Institute graduate, Ivan E. Olsen, to become the first Pastor. Sight unseen, and totally upon the recommendation of Rev Fowler, the church called Ivan E. Olsen on April 3, 1936. John Maline made the motion, and Hugh Clark seconded it, and it was unanimously carried. He began his ministry on November 1, 1936, in North Platte.
The Thirty Planks of Berean Fundamentalism In 1935, the Thirty Planks of Berean Fundamentalism were drawn up by the Professors of the Denver Bible Institute. The Thirty Planks of Berean Fundamentalism was the substance from which the present constitution of our Church, in shorter form, was taken. These Thirty Planks of Berean Fundamentalism remain a priceless heritage to us, to this present time. They are one of the greatest statements of doctrine that has ever been written. Although written in 1935, nothing is obsolete or old fashioned. On February 10, 1934, Lloyd Coombe and John Goodmanson reported that the property at 202 West Eighth Street could be purchased for $1500.00, and recommended that the church buy it. Seven voted favorably for the purchase of the property; one voted against; and one abstained from voting. The first church services held on the property at 202 West Eighth Street were on June 24, 1934. The little congregation had purchased this house and 66-foot lot for $1500.00. They completely remodeled it into one larger room for church services, and three small rooms for Sunday School classes. Rev. Olsen preached his first sermon on Sunday, November 1, 1936. The first series of sermons featured prophetic studies on the Jew. These studies lasted into December, and were very well attended, being evangelistic Bible studies. The First Building Project On December 1, 1936, President Clifton L. Fowler recommended to the Official Board that they plan to build a new church building, but that they pay off all of the indebtedness of the old property first. He advised that they erect a meeting place to seat at least 250 people. Nine Hundred Dollars was needed to pay off the indebtedness on the church property. From December of 1936, until June of 1937, the process of building the basement church was completed. Nine Hundred Dollars was raised to pay off the indebtedness, and $5,000.00 was borrowed to build the 40 x 80 basement, with the roof, which we called the Tabernacle. The first meetings were held in this building on June 13, 1937 when a revival campaign was conducted by Evangelist Manewal. These meetings continued through July 4, 1937. Many, many souls were saved. Church Members of the Berean Fundamental Church in North Platte, Nebraska Listed in the Official records of the Berean Church in North Platte are the following charter members: Mr. and Mrs. John Maline; Mr. and Mrs. John Goodmanson, Genevieve and Marian; Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Clark; Mr. and Mrs. Carol Haskins; Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Coombe; Mrs. Helen Beauchamp. There were 13 charter members.
Members Who Joined Prior to Rev. Olsen s Time and Taken in After the Charter Members On November 1, 1936: Mr. and Mrs. Russell Grandy, Mrs. Delia Knapp, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Archie Knapp, Veda Shimmel, Mr. and Mrs. Merle Beauchamp, Mr. Wyatt Beauchamp, Mr. Eugene Clark, Inez Maline, Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Carper. This made the membership total 32 at the time that Rev. Olsen became Pastor. Four others joined during November and December, 1936. There were 78 members by the close of 1937. In 1938, the total membership was 106. In 1939, it totaled 115. In 1940, the total was 139. Down through the years, the greatest membership loss has been by moving away. By the close of 1945, a total of 368 members had been taken into the church. For totals, we would need to subtract those who had moved away, those who had died, and those who had left the church. By 1950, a total of 576 had been received. By 1955, a total of 838; by 1960, the membership was 1040. By 1965, the total members rose to 1258. By 1970, the total was 1436; by 1975, a total of 1658. At the present time, through March of 1979, a total of 1765 have joined the church in North Platte. One doesn t realize how the average church will change in its membership. One year there were over30 families which moved away from North Platte. This was at the beginning of the war time, in the 1940 s. By this time, a considerable number have passed away. We may, in a more detailed report of the North Platte membership, give that history. In Conclusion No where are the distinctives of the Berean Fellowship more clearly seen than in how they have been carried out through our church. First, in the evangelistic emphasis. The large membership additions prove this. Very few transfers from other churches to our church. These numbers came through conversions. As in New Testament Pauline evangelism, church planting always was part of revival. So the Berean Fellowship of churches, and the multiplication of Berean Churches around North Platte, proves the evangelism distinctive. Secondly, the missionary distinctive. Not only giving of money, but of lives. In a recent bulletin, we itemized the report of missionary giving, year by year, for over forty years. The total given to missions was $1,162,075.50. This was from 1932 through 1978. Only faith missions are supported. Nothing has been given to denominational missions. No condemnation of the latter, but God raised up our Fellowship to support faith missions. Lives for full-time Christian service. My list shows over 100 out from our church in fulltime service. My list shows over 300 from our church who went to Bible School, to train for possible full-time service. This is missions in performance, not theory. Forty-one years of Maranatha Bible Camp; forty-three years of Bible Supplies; twentyseven years of broadcasting the Sunday morning service; ten years a Berean Children s Home; and a Fellowship of Churches; all disclose the distinctive, through the history of the North Platte Berean Fundamental Church. Practicing what we have been preaching.
The selection of the name Berean demonstrates the Bible teaching distinctive of the Fellowship. Yes, evangelism, missions, Bible teaching, these are true Berean distinctives. And because of faithfully carrying out these distinctives, God has demonstrated His approval, by entrusting us with such a large ministry. The Berean Fundamental Church of North Platte was never raised up to be a negative, fighting ministry. We have aggressively been winning the lost, and discipling them. We thank God for others who have contributed their part by fighting for legitimate issues. We know why God raised us up, and we have carried out His purpose for us. * * * * * * THINE, O LORD, is the GREATNESS, and the POWER, and the GLORY, and the VICTORY, and the MAJESTY; for ALL that is in the Heavens and in the earth is THINE. THINE is the kingdom, O LORD, and THOU art exalted as HEAD above ALL. I Chronicles 29:11. * * * * * *