Our History

The Beatrice Church of the Nazarene came to be, thanks to the Lord and to the work of the Evangelist James Logan Delk. At this time, the denomination was known as the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene.

In July 10th 1916, the church was officially organized and had its first pastor that being Christopher E. Ryder (July 4, 1884- March 3, 1961) and his wife Susie Ryder. They were previous ministers of the York Church of the Nazarene but came to Beatrice to help with the new church, which had 67 members. Upon the need of some funds to congregate in a building that was under lease, George Hamlin, who was the President of the Church board, farmer, and contractor, borrowed $500 dollars using his Chester White Hogs as collateral to pay the lease. Upon some

months later, the church was able to buy land which was at the corner of Fourth and Ella.

When the land was bought, they built the basement which was finished in the Winter of 1916. The church used the

basement as their place of worship for six years. Until they were able to build the tabernacle in 1922. The parsonage

was built across the street of the church property. Around this time the Broadbooks family came to Beatrice and became

one of the greatest blessings in the church.

The church building at fourth and Ella had been kept open with a lot of effort by the people. The person who helped the

most in finances was a nephew of the Broadbooks family, that being Jacob Glor. Jacob Glor would lend money to the

church whenever it needed so that the church would not be subject to a loan.

The Nazarene church in Beatrice was on the corner of Fourth and Ella, until November 1st, 1956,

when Allen Davison (August 16, 1892) along with his wife Sara Davison (June 1 1897 – 1986) gave

the land located at 16th and Sara Road. The land was previous offered to the Presbyterian Church, but they did not want to make the move. Mr. Davison had an oil business and was also mayor of Beatrice.

On February 14, 1960, the church voted to borrow $3,500 to build a parsonage. By this time, Reverend

LeRoy Morrow, was the pastor of the church. He was a great carpenter, and he used his skills to build the

parsonage. During the time, that the church members did not have a church building to worship, they would

congregate in the basement of the parsonage.

In the Spring of 1961, the new church building was built and at the celebration of the new church

building, there were four distinguished guests. The first ones being Allen and Sara, Dr. Whitcomb Harding, the district

Superintendent of Nebraska, and Rev. Voyle Herbert Lewis one of the general superintendents of the Church of the Nazarene.

On July 10th 1966 the Beatrice Church celebrated its 50th and W.T. Perkiser, editor of the Herald of Holiness came and

spoke at the special service. At this time Rev. William Campbell was the pastor of the Church.

By 1980, the church building extended building an educational wing which added

seven classrooms in the basement. The extension also included adding fellowship

hall, kitchen, and more bathrooms added. The estimated cost of the extension

was 135,000 dollars. Pastor Norman L. Snowbarger headed the project with

faithfulness and love.

When the church celebrated its 100th anniversary under the leadership of Robert W. Wheeler. The church had the honor

of having our district superintendent Dr. Daniel Cole to come and give his blessing on that day, giving hope, encouragement,

inspiration for the future of the church.

The Beatrice Church of the Nazarene has a rich history and although we have had a great past, Scripture states in Isaiah 43:19 Forget the former things; do

not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? It can be so easy to get caught in the past that we can get blinded in not seeing what we God is doing now. That is something that God has shown me as the current pastor of the church.

My task is to preach the word of God, help those who need it, bring the presence of God wherever I go, and to not forget our history, yet at the same time looking in the present and look expectant for a brighter tomorrow. Like the hymn says “Life is worth the living just because He lives.”

- Rev. Frank Torres