Church History
This is the story of how we started
"Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me a house for me to dwell in?"
2 Samuel 7:5
Part One: How We Started
Over the course of several months back in 2015, I had been wrestling within my spirit concerning a calling that had consumed my thoughts as well as my sleep. In fact, it was a Sunday morning at 2:30am that the Lord spoke to me. But before I share that night let me start back in the beginning.
I was leading a Small Group Study on Sunday evenings. We had such a wonderful time that after we finished this particular study, we took some time off for the holidays, and jumped right back into another study. It was awesome to see our group grow and just love each other. Then one night someone mentioned, “This is how church should be”.
Hmmm, that’s an interesting thought. After I rolled that statement around in my brain for a while, I have to admit that my thought was, aren’t most people tired of “church”? Maybe because “church” lately is more concerned with style than substance and marketing than making disciples.
Then someone else said why don’t “We” start our own church? Honestly the thought scared me yet intrigued me all at the same time.
I tried to just brush it off, but my spirit would not let it go. Then I came across the verse from 2 Samuel. And I asked the Lord in prayer, “Is this what you’re calling us to do”?
Thus, the 2:30am insomnia. That night, I got out of bed and went to my living room. This was the only thought I had, “Are you calling me to start a church Lord”? I prayed for quite a while, wrestling with the thought, but then I finally just gave it to the Lord and said, “if it’s your will Lord, I will do it”.
I have to tell you I went back to bed and slept like a rock. I had a wonderful peace about the decision.
Part Two: God Provides
In June 2015 The Berean Bible Chapel was started. We were blessed to rent the chapel at the Nazarene Camp and Conference Center in Mount Chestnut, PA.
In 2021 the decision was made to purchase a plot of land in south Butler with the intent of building a church. We had plans drawn up for the new building and we began raising money. But the funds were coming in slowly and we realized that it would be many years before our small church could be built.
In January 2023 Pastor Andy had learned that a local Methodist church had closed its doors. We made an inquiry, but were told that it wasn’t available at that time. So we continued on our current path to build.
In June of 2023 we received a call from the owners of the Methodist church inquiring if we were still interested and to make them an offer. We asked them to pray over what they would want for the building and property and we would do the same. The very next day when they called, what we were able to offer and their asking price was exactly the same. Only God could do that and we knew this was where He wanted us to go.
After 8 ½ years, we are finally home. On October 1st 2023 The Berean Bible Chapel held its first service in our new home in Connoquenessing, PA. We have been blessed to have the members of the former church join us as well as some new faces and we have seen God’s blessings.
What about that property we had purchased in south Butler? In 2024 the Lord provided a buyer for that property. God is Good.
