Welcome to BEC! We come to this building to meet together as God's church to worship Him, grow in our knowledge of Him, be encouraged in Him, and to fellowship together with Him. Anything from jeans to suits and dresses are worn, so no special uniforms are needed to come! Depending on the Sunday service you come, we have traditional church music or worship band music in our Sunday morning service. Everyone of every age is welcome to come!

History of Berne Evangelical Church

1864-Present

The Evangelical Mennonite Church had its origin through the direction of God and the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit in the person of Rev. Henry Egly of Geneva, Indiana. He moved from Ohio to the Berne and Geneva community in 1850. Here he worshiped with the Old Order Amish and served as a deacon in the church. In his early thirties, his study of the Word of God brought him more and new light on many subjects, and as he walked in the light given him he was led from the formal church life into a definite knowledge of real conversion in the year 1864. After this experience, revivals began among the people and many were truly converted. The bishops and church leaders were opposed to this new form of doctrine and Rev. Egly was asked to resign. Following this a new group was formed which was called the Egly Amish and later became the Defenseless Mennonite Church. Rev. Egly became pastor of this new group and services were held on the various farms in the houses and sometimes in the barns. The revivals continued and on one day 75 were baptized and another day 40. Rev. Egly was evangelistic in his ministry, traveling many miles to other churches in various states besides handling the responsibility of his home church.


The first church building was erected in 1871. Its dimensions were 32 by 46 feet. The revivals continued and as the congregation grew larger and more space was required, a new church, 44 by 66 feet, was built just a few feet north of the first church building. This building, erected in 1881, is still a part of the present complex.


The first Sunday School was organized on April 23, 1882, with an enrollment of 231. Sunday School was held in the afternoon. Each pew consisted of one class and its teacher. The small children were taught the ABC's, the next class spelling and the others the New Testament, all in the German language. Sunday School was held in the summer months, only as the roads were too bad in the winter. Some years later Sunday School was held in the morning, the German language changed to English and the use of quarterlies was started.


In 1917 a barn, 60 by 200 feet, was built for horses and buggies south of the church and later used for the shelter of automobiles.


The church was remodeled in 1937 and a basement put under it. New pews were installed and other necessary repairs were made. In 1947 the building was remodeled again with an addition being built, making a new entrance, choir loft and Sunday School rooms. In 1962 an addition was built onto the south side of the church which included a balcony, library, classrooms and nursery. Later, classrooms and office space were added to the north side of the church.


In 1947 the church's name was changed to Evangelical Mennonite. Later on, the church and denomination dropped Mennonite out out the name and then became known as Berne Evangelical. The church at Berne is the mother church of all the churches in the conference. The Evangelical Conference now consists of churches in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The conference helps to support a children's home at Flanagan, Illinois, namely the Salem Children's Home. The conference owns a year round camping facility, Miracle Camp, at Lawton, Michigan. The missions arm of the conference, presently named International Ministries, has sent missionaries to various countries around the world. Former Lead Pastors were Henry Egly, Joseph Egly, Christian Egly, David R. Schindler, Moses Rupp, C. N. Stucky, Eli Lantz, Emanuel M. Becker, Henry Klopfenstein, Noah J. Schmucker, E. G. Steiner, Veryl Roth, Robert Zehr, Richard Ehresman, Marlin Rupp, Bruce Linhart, David Bocker, and Kent Fahl.




In July, 1997, a Planning and Assessment Committee was appointed by the church council to evaluate the church's facilities. As they projected into the future, it became apparent that additional facilities were needed to accommodate the congregation's growing needs. In February, 1998, this committee came to the council with some specific recommendations and shortly thereafter, Finance and Building Committees were appointed by the council. The first meeting of the Building Committee was in August, 1998. Ground breaking for the building additions was held in May of 2000, with completion being in May, 2001.

Nursery is available for ages 0-2, and Sunday School classes are available for ages 2 through High School. Adult Bible Fellowship offers elective classes for adults, spread throughout the building. If you are new, ask an usher at the front of the church when you come in, or ask anyone you want to find out where you can go!

Nursery care and Children's Church is available for children ages 2 through K every Sunday, and children in grades 1-4 start in the worship service and are told when they are dismissed to their class on most Sundays. We have no church uniforms, so dressing in jeans to suits and dresses are appropriate each week. Our worship service incorporates traditional church music such as hymns or contemporary music with a praise band, depending on which week it is. We are here as the body of Christ to worship Him, and we welcome you to join us!

Nursery care, children's classes, junior and senior high youth group, and adult Bible classes are all held at 7 pm.

Our nursery, for newborns through age 2, is available at all church service times. On Sundays, Sunday School classes for children are available in the 9 AM hour, and Children's Church is available in the 10 AM hour during the sermon. Nursery and Children and Youth classes are available Wednesday night at 7 pm.

We teach our children Christian values from the start. This includes a memory challenge verse or verses each quarter. Our Vacation Bible School program typically runs in June.

If you have any questions about our children's programs, please contact the church office.

Our youth ministry is designed to give students in grades 6-12 a safe place to hangout and be themselves. We spend time playing games, eating food, and chatting, but most importantly we spend time digging deep into the Bible. Students meet for Youth Group on Wednesday at 7 PM. Jr/Sr High Quiz Teams also happen on Wednesday!

For more information about our youth programs, please contact Kevin @ kevin@bernechurch.org.

For prayer requests to be shared with our church prayer chain, please call Jo at 260-525-1130.

Would you like to be notified with church prayer requests, and also information related to church events, weather cancellations, etc.? We send out notifications by phone call or text as we receive them . If you would like to receive these messages, please email or call the church office, and we will sign you up! Office@bernechurch.org

Bruce was raised with his 3 sisters on a farm near Flanangan, IL and attended the Salem FEC church. He graduated from Fort Wayne Bible College with a B.A. in Missions and from Asbury Seminary with a M. Div.

He has had the opportunity to serve in many FEC churches over the years. First as an intern in the Woodburn, IN church (Now the Westwood Church, ’79-’80), as an Associate Pastor of Grace Church in Morton, IL (’82 – ’86), as Senior Pastor of Faith Church, Bloomington IL (now Heartland Community, ’86-’95), and most recently Groveland Bible Church in Groveland IL (’95-2019). Within FEC he currently serving as a member of its Board of Elders and is Director of FEC Bible Quizzing.

Bruce met his lovely wife Dianne at FWBC and they were married in June of 1979. Together Bruce and Dianne have raised 5 children – Sarah (’83), Rachel (’84), John (’86), Mary (’88), and Beth (’90). Four reside in Central IL and one in NY. Three are married. They have 3 grandchildren – Andrew, Riley and Brielle.

He enjoys guitar, banjo, golfing, reading, gardening, table games, family time, and building relationships with other men. Dianne is self-employed with two small part-time jobs (design and HR). She has a heart for building relationships with those from all walks of life within the community.

Bruce's favorite verses are Proverbs 3:5,6: 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.'

Bruce is thankful for this opportunity to serve in the Berne community!

Sonnie has attended Berne Evangelical Church since 1979, and has been on staff since April of 1998. She is married to her husband Phil. They have two boys (Eric & Kyle) who are both married. They currently have 6 grandchildren.

Sonnie enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, crocheting, and reading.

Sonnie's favorite verses are:

'I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.' - Philippians 4:13

'Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'' - John 14:6