Pastor Jim Berry ~ Senior Adult Pastor
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I was born and raised in Lucas, Ohio, and still live there. In 1968, I accepted Christ at the age of 21 years old in a small church in Lucas. A few weeks later I met Judy at church and we were married one year later. We have two sons. Eric and his wife Dawn live in Oxford, Ohio, where Eric is working on a doctorate at Miami University of Ohio. Tim and his wife Susanna live in Mansfield and are the parents of my four grandchildren born in 2004.
I received a bachelor degree from the Ohio State University in 1970 and a master's degree from LaVerne College in California. I began teaching in the Madison school district in 1970 (where I eventually taught for 30 years), but soon after accepting Christ as my Savior, God began opening doors of ministry. I began teaching Sunday School, which is where I gained a lot of Bible knowledge. Judy and I became youth leaders at the Lucas church. We were always involved in some type of ministry. In 1984, we sensed God was leading us away from that church. We visited several different good churches. The day we visited the fellowship called Berean Baptist at Mansfield Christian School, we knew that that was where God wanted us to be. The warmth of the people and Pastor Dave's message drew us to this congregation
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We had been at Berean only a few weeks when the youth leader announced his resignation. I sensed right away that was what I would do. I became the first paid youth leader at Berean Baptist Church. Later, God opened the door for me to serve on the deacon board, and He continued to open doors of ministry.
Bob Hill organized the senior adult ministry in the early '90's, and called it Berean Gold. He invited Judy and me to come to a senior adult dinner, and another door was opened. We fell in love with the older adults. Bob gave us more responsibility as time went on. In 1998, Pastor Dave asked me if I would be interested in coming on staff as minister of senior adults when I retired from my teaching position at Madison. On July 1, 2000, I came on staff at Berean as the Pastor of Senior Adults. As God opens a door, I begin walking through it until God closes it. Since becoming involved in the senior adult ministry, Judy and I have been so blessed by the people God has brought into our lives, and have been blessed by the many Christian friends over the years. I like to call the ministry Berean Gold/2nd Half for Him. The first half of our lives gives us the preparation we need to live the2nd Half for Him. |
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