On an October night in 1978, my wife Dorothy and I accepted an invitation to attend a service at Bethlehem Church (A/G) in Richmond Hill, New York. We responded to the altar call and gave our hearts to Jesus. Less than 2 months later, Rev. William Behr performed our marriage ceremony.

We experienced steady spiritual growth, but knew God had something special planned for us. At every opportunity, we would come to the altar and ask God to use us in a mighty way. Nineteen years later the Lord called us to go to Bible school because, "I need you." We began attending classes on campus at Bellerose Assembly of God. What a blessing to learn from anointed pastors who gave us their real life experiences as well as the text material. Dorothy and I knew we were being equipped to serve Him in our own church ministries, as the HonorBound Men Ministries president, and the Missionettes coordinator and sectional representative.

Berean courses have given us the confidence to approach situations boldly and with authority, enabling us to bring to others the good news of Jesus Christ. We feel we are being trained for ministry in the church and through outreach programs. It has strengthened our understanding of fundamental Scriptural truths, and provided us with the training and knowledge necessary for spiritual, cultural, and intellectual growth.

We have been taught to be spiritually mature, that Christ is the central theme of the Bible, and the importance of being like Jesus both inwardly and outwardly by the lives we lead. Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Berean has helped prepare those who have a call upon their lives for ministry, and desire to serve God.

We have been given a vision to bring worship services, prayer and Bible studies into the home. There is an opportunity for us to plant a church in our local area. Dorothy and I have increased our knowledge of the Scriptures in such a way that we may be able to have a closer walk with God. Most important is being able to share what we have learned with other members of the body of Christ that they too may enjoy a deeper understanding of God's Word.

Several friends have mentioned that if they were younger they would love to go to Bible school. They all get the same answer from us: God called Abraham at age 75, Moses at 80, Joshua in his 90's and me at almost 60. Berean is ideal for those who teach Sunday school, for Missionettes Sponsors, for Royal Rangers leaders or anyone who has a hunger for scriptural knowledge. There is never a time when true Christians lose their thirst for learning or for the Lord!