A House of Worship at Broad and Diamond
Berean Presbyterian Church stands at the corner of Broad and Diamond Streets in Philadelphia, on the edge of the Temple University campus. The congregation's motto, "Enter to Worship, Leave to Serve," frames everything that happens inside. Members describe the church as one that "Loves to Love and Loves to be Loved," and they extend that warmth to neighbors, students and visitors who walk through the doors at 2101 North Broad Street.
From South College Avenue to the Edge of Temple
The congregation was organized in 1880 by the Reverend Matthew Anderson, a man whose vision stretched far beyond Sunday morning. Within eight years of the church's founding, Anderson organized the Berean Savings and Loan in 1888 and the Berean Institute, a school, in 1889. He married Caroline Still-Wiley, a pioneering medical doctor and educator whose father, William Still, the famed abolitionist, educator and author of "The Underground Railroad," was among Berean's founding members.
After Anderson's passing, the Reverend Arthur E. Rankin, an active civil rights worker, served for seven years, followed by the Reverend Benjamin Glasco Sr., described by historians Victoria Miles and Dr. Lucille Blondin as one of the most dynamic evangelists in the Presbyterian life in Philadelphia. Under Glasco's direction the Berean family relocated in 1955 from South College Avenue to the present corner of Broad and Diamond. The Reverend Jason Jerome Cooper served for thirty-two years and adopted the motto "Being About Our Father's Business" (Luke 2:49). After years served by interim ministers Clarence Van Dyke and Merv Gardner, Reverend Michael J. Evans arrived in October 2007 and was installed as full-time pastor in 2009.
Pastor Michael J. Evans and a Ministry of Outreach
A native of Pittsburgh and a 2002 Master of Divinity graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Reverend Evans earned a double major in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Science from Geneva College with an emphasis on community ministry. He was first ordained in the Progressive Baptist tradition before taking the steps to be recognized and ordained as a Presbyterian Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Under his leadership the congregation has continued and grown a wide network of outreach ministries: training members in community evangelism, directing after-school, summer and vacation Bible school programs for the youth, mentoring young men in the community, walking alongside recovering addicts, gathering and distributing clothing through a clothing ministry, serving a morning breakfast program, and providing chaplaincy at Lemington Nursing Facility, the oldest African-American nursing home in the country.
Worship on Sunday Mornings, by Phone and Online
Worship at Berean centers on Sunday, and the congregation has built two simple ways to take part. At 11:00 am Pastor Evans streams the service on his personal Facebook page; those who wish to follow along can send him a friend request in advance. A second option follows at 12:15 pm, when a conference call service opens at 605-472-5636 with access code 656274#. For those who come in person, the building sits two blocks from the Temple campus, an easy walk for students and neighbors alike.
Opening the Doors to the Neighborhood
A rental committee welcomes outside groups to use Berean's facilities for parties, social events, meetings, conferences, music lessons and dance classes. The committee sees each renter as a guest who gets to know the congregation up close, working alongside the Trustees to set policy and carry out agreements. Members are encouraged to invite friends and colleagues to consider Berean when they need a venue, so the church remains a steady presence on North Broad Street, more than 145 years after its founding.