History of LBC: 40+ Years by Faith

The Gustins, Clayton and Shirley Rock, Don and Nancy Ganow, and Mrs. Louise Johnson decided to meet together on Wednesday evenings for prayer and Bible study. It was in November, 1961, that this group of believers stepped out in faith and chartered the Berean Church of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Six months later, Pastor Curt Lehman accepted the call from this body of believers to move his family from Mitchell, Nebraska, to become the first pastor of Lincoln Berean Church.

Curt and Claudine and their five children arrived in Lincoln with a commitment from the three families to pay the rent on a house and the Green Room of the old downtown YMCA building at 13th and “P” Street.

The first official service of Lincoln Berean Church was held on June 3, 1962, in the YMCA building. During the first year there was an average of 36 Sunday morning attenders. In his first Pastor's Report in December of 1962, Pastor Lehman stated that “we have a responsibility to...the people of Lincoln...the surrounding towns and the world...may God give us the courage to stand true and never waver.”

By November of 1964, the average attendance was 135 and LBC moved to a newly remodeled building at 11th and "M" streets. By June of 1968, over 200 were attending; and the Lord led and provided for the church to purchase the First Lutheran Church building at 17th and "A" Streets.

See the LBC History photo album for pictures of these locations

In 1978, when it became clear that the church could not grow beyond 450 people at the 17th and "A" Street location, the Elders stepped out in faith and purchased land at 70th Street and Highway 2.

From August 1980 through February 1981, church services were held at East High School during construction of the new church building. The first phase of the new building was completed in March of 1981.

By 1985 the average attendance was 637, and a new Christian Ed/office wing was completed in December of 1986. This made possible the expansion of the Sunday School and Wednesday evening ministries until average attendance in the three morning services was over 900.

The decision was made in 1988 to begin plans to add a new Worship Center wing. In 1991, the new auditorium was completed and the first service was held on September 1. By 1994 average attendance was at 1276 and it became necessary to add a third service on Sunday mornings.

After 32 years of leading Lincoln Berean Church, Pastor Lehman announced on August 21, 1994 his desire to retire from the Senior Pastor position. At the end of 1994, Pastor Lehman stated in his final Senior Pastor's Report, "We have been amazed to see church attendance grow each year by approximately 7 percent. It has never been our goal to set new records in attendance. Our goal has always been to lead the lost to Christ and faithfully disciple those the Lord gives to us. The size of the church has been up to God."

Bryan Clark had been called by the elders to become the Associate Pastor of preaching and teaching in 1993, and on September 18, 1994 the church members voted unanimously to call him to the Senior Pastor position. Pastor Clark began his ministry as Senior Pastor of LBC in January, 1995. Bryan grew up in Lincoln attending the Berean Church and was pastor of the Berean Church of Broken Bow, Nebraska for ten years before returning to Lincoln with his wife, Patti, and three daughters.

In 1996 God opened the door for LBC to purchase an additional 30 acres to the east of the property for parking and future development and plans began for "Enlarging the Loop and Expanding the Vision" to reach more in our city for Christ. Members of the body also helped launch a new Berean Church in Crete and City Impact's inner city ministry. In 1997 a Saturday evening service was added weekend service was added to bring the total number of weekend services to four, and construction began on a new three-level educational wing.

In the 1998 Annual Report, Pastor Clark stated: "Our mission is to glorify God by seeking to present every person complete in Christ. This is the fuel that drives the engine at Lincoln Berean. We give our time and talents to serve God by serving people. The church is about people because God is about people." The elders voted to designate 10 percent of the funds raised for the new D-wing building for the beginning of a new ministry in East Asia, "Operation Springboard" to help reach those around the world and present them complete in Christ.

The new D-wing was completed in 1999, allowing a large Upper Room for College Worship. The decision was made to add a simulcast service in the Upper Room to provide additional seating for 700 during the 9:30 service. The first simulcast service was held in September, 1999.

2002...40 years later...

Lincoln Berean is the church home for over 3,000, including the 600 college students attending College Worship. Although we are ministering in a postmodern culture today, our vision remains the same: pursuing God and preparing people with an emphasis on the values of outreach, worship, instruction, community, prayer, service and stewardship.

In 2002, as we continue to grow, our desire is for spiritual growth and community to happen within small group relationships. We are working to make Lincoln Berean a church of small groups in order to help present every person complete in Christ.

With hearts of gratitude, we thank those who have come before us and taken significant steps of faith and sacrifice over the past 40 years. May God find us faithful as we continue to minister to people in this 21st Century.