Berean Transformation Center Opens New Building in South Bend, Indiana

Berean Transformation Center, a Seventh-day Adventist church in South Bend, Indiana, United States, recently opened a new building, advancing its commitment to community-based ministry, on November 16. Berean pastor Claval Hunter wielded oversized scissors and cut a ribbon to mark the grand opening of Berean’s new building in the heart of the South Bend community. In attendance were a number of Adventist Church and community leaders. 

The grand opening of the building is the next step in the realization of Berean’s vision to have a “Center of Influence” in the South Bend community. Under the leadership of Hunter, Berean in June 2020 established a monthly outreach ministry to meet the community’s needs, with the goal of reaching 10,000 souls for Christ. On the second Saturday (Sabbath) of the month, Berean closes the doors of the church and members hit the streets of South Bend to bring the church to the people. 

Addressing what he hopes will be accomplished with Berean’s new building, Hunter said, “We want to provide that place of refuge, that place of hope. We want to provide the resources that will help someone to get back on their feet.” Such help includes mortgage and rent programs to assist community members with housing, and help for community residents dealing with mental health issues. 

Hunter added that Berean’s message to community members is, “This is a safe place for you. We will get you to help. We have social workers, we have doctors, we have psychologists, we have individuals who are ready to make sure that your life can be better, your life can be whole. And so, we want to provide that space.” 

As a part of Berean’s monthly outreach, the church prepares and hand-delivers meals to those deprived of homes, having reached more than 15,000 families in the past four years. Additionally, this monthly outreach includes empowerment and wellness programs for community children and youth and their families, bringing the church outside the building to where community members live.

When it comes to evangelism, Garth Gabriel, president of the Adventist Church’s Lake Region Conference, said tent meetings and other traditional evangelistic meetings are not “not working as effectively” as in the past. “Maybe there are some places that it is still working, but I think most places, most cities, you need more of this involvement in the community.” Gabriel added, “I’m not going against … putting a tent up. It’s good. You’re going to attract some people, but we want masses. We want our churches filled again.…  This transformation center is showing us new ways and creative ways of filling a church out.”

Also in attendance for Berean’s grand opening was Kenneth Denslow, president of the church’s Lake Union Conference, who noted that students at the nearby Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary can learn best practices when it comes to urban ministry when serving with Hunter. Denslow said he sees great value when it comes to seminary interns at Berean having the opportunity to get a “vision for ministry in our cities, [which] I think is great.”

Denslow noted that he had a conversation with a Mennonite man serving with Hunter on a council that meets with the mayor of South Bend, who noted that Hunter “is not just a player in the church, he’s a player in the community.” And “we need to inspire our future pastors or pastors taking time out to come to the seminary” with the work Hunter and his ministry team does in the South Bend community, Denslow said.  

The opening of the Berean Transformation Center building is Phase 1 of a four-phase vision. Hunter says that Phase 2 will include a wellness center and gymnasium. Phase 3 will have an early learning center and affordable daycare. And Phase 4 will feature a 500-seat worship auditorium.  

“God has given me a vision to be able to move His people to truly be the hands and feet of Christ,” Hunter said. “There were moments where we thought that this was not going to happen, but yet God continued to push. He [brought] people alongside me and said, man, do not give up. Keep going.” 

And, Hunter said, what keeps him going is hearing someone reached by his ministry say, “Because of you, my life has been different. Because of you, my home is better. Because of you, I was able to give my life to Jesus Christ. Because of you, I was able to find a job. Because of you, I was able to get a godly mate. Because of you, I’m making better choices in life.” 

Hunter does not take the credit for the life changes of those he ministers to, he said. “It’s not because of me. It’s because of what God has given me.”  

The original version of this story was posted by the Lake Union Herald.