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Fort Morgan's Berean Bible Church receives extraordinary gift The former Grace Bible Church is now the Berean Bible Church in Fort Morgan. ( Picasa ) Sometimes it seems things are meant to be -- and the new Berean Bible Church in Fort Morgan may be one of those things. When Pastor Brent Harwerth and his wife, Valerie, finished up 20 years of ministry in an Ainsworth, Neb., Berean church, they were looking for what to do next. They explored various possibilities, and were asked by the Sterling Berean Church to start a new church in Fort Morgan. Then something extraordinary happened -- Fort Morgan's Grace Bible Church at 211 W. Beaver Ave. had its last service in late December, and donated the church building to the Berean Bible Church. "This is not a common occurrence," Harwerth said. "'Grace' is often mentioned in the Bible, and rightly understood it makes us a generous Berean Bible Church Pastor Brent Harwerth and his wife, Valerie, stand in the sanctuary of what was once the Grace Bible Church in Fort Morgan. Grace Bible Church donated the building when it shut down, and the Berean Church moved in after the beginning of the year. ( Picasa ) people," he said. "Grace Bible graciously gave us this building. I want to say a big thank you." The couple and their 14-year-old daughter, Charissa, moved to Fort Morgan last March. Their boys were already grown. They held services in the Comfort Inn starting in May. About 46 people have attended the church at one time or another, with up to 30 at a time. When the building was offered to the Berean church, they decided to go ahead and use it despite the small congregation. "We have already seen a lot of excitement and momentum," Harwerth said. "We want to take simple steps of faith and see what God will do." The plan is to make it a useful, active church facility, and they are eager to remodel, although it was left in good shape, he said. Harwerth said he is often asked why it is called the "Berean" church. The book of Acts mentions that Paul went to the town Berea in the northern part of Greece, and the converts there were serious students of the gospel. They "searched the scriptures daily." "So as Bereans, we are serious about teaching the Bible," Harwerth said. Harwerth said people have asked whether he intended to stay in town or was just planting a church. "We intend to stay as long as the Lord allows us to stay," he said. The family even bought a home in Fort Morgan, and spent August fixing it up. Harwerth said the church just wants to be a place where people can hear the simple truth that Jesus died, taking the punishment for people's sins, and rose again to give people new life. "Many are starving for the truth of Jesus," Harwerth said. "We are not interested in having a big fireworks type program, (because) soon all that is left is ashes ... We offer the Word of God for that is what we trust in and we rely on." The Word of God is always relevant and life changing, he said. The current generation can understand what God offers and how it can change lives. It is a matter of depending on Jesus Christ and the Bible, and watching as God develops the church. "We just ask, 'God, show us what you want us to do, and we will do it,'" Harwerth said. While the church teaches the Bible, its emphasis is on changing lives, he said. Valerie has already started ladies Bible study groups that meet from 9 a.m. to about 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays. A men's Bible study group meets starting at 7 p.m. Thursdays. The Fort Morgan church is part of the Berean Fellowship, a group that began in 1932 when a group of Christians in North Platte, Neb. began meeting together and later reached out to surrounding towns where people were looking for Bible-based churches. Although it is a difficult task, the vision for Berean Bible Church is to build a multi-ethnic church, he said. "Only Jesus can break down the natural distrust between ethnic groups," Harwerth said. He said he is talking with a Spanish group which is interested in using the building for its services, too. Since the Berean service runs from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday, the Spanish congregation could meet later in the morning. Harwerth said he and his wife have a heart for other people and cultures. They even considered going to China as missionaries. They plan to welcome the African Children's Choir at the church on March 26 starting at 6:30 p.m. The first half-hour of the program is devoted to traditional African songs, and the last half-hour will feature gospel songs in English. "I hope it will be a chance to meet with local African population," Harwerth said. Interestingly, Fort Morgan had a Berean church about 30 years ago, and some people he's met have said they remember it. The building which will house the new congregation has a cornerstone reading First United Presbyterian Church 1907, but no more information was available at press time. -- Contact Dan Barker at business@fmtimes.com