The Berean Fellowship of Churches

Though there have been many who have contributed to the development of the Berean Fellowship of Churches, Dr. Ivan E. Olsen is recognized as the founder. In 1936, Dr. Olsen graduated from Denver Bible Institute. That same year he felt led of God to accept the call to a small , independent work in North Platte, Nebraska. This church became the first church of the Berean Fellowship.

As Pastor Olsen faithfully preached the Word of God in his area, the Lord touched many lives. He started Bible classes in the surrounding towns, and, before long, others were asking for a Berean church in their areas. Pastor Olsen was convinced that the planting of churches was God’s work pattern. Acts 1:8 was the verse that gave Dr. Olsen the needed Biblical vision which resulted in sixteen Berean churches being planted within less than a one hundred fifty mile radius of North Platte. The vision was contagious, and those sixteen churches spawned others.

Revelation 3:8, became the challenge to the Berean Fellowship of Churches. In 1947, The Berean Fundamental Church Council, Inc. was formed. This is the legal title for the Berean Fellowship of Churches.

The pastors and occasionally others from the churches in those districts meet on a monthly basis for fellowship, encouragement, prayer, sharing and accountability. There are seven districts, each with an approved District Leader. Here in Cheyenne, our district is called the Front Range District. It encompasses the churches along I-25 from Cheyenne through to Colorado Springs.

The Board of Directors is composed of the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer of the Berean Fundamental Church Council, in addition to the District Leaders. This Board meets quarterly to give assistance and direction to each district and to the other departments of the Council. The strength of the Council is not in its organizational structure, but in the interdependence of pastors and churches. Our current President is Pastor Doug Shada. The following verses where shared by Pastor Shada during the 2003 Pastors Retreat as anchors for our Berean Fellowship of Churches: Psalm 67:1; Matthew 21:22; Mark 9:23; Romans 15:5-6; and I Chronicles 28:20.