* 1977 - A preaching station begins services twice monthly at the Dale Snyder home in Hartford, SD. Pastor Vernon Greve from Trinity Lutheran in Watertown and Zion Lutheran in Hidewood Township serves a small group living in the Sioux Falls area. This group originally includes Deb Carstensen, the family of Donald and Ruth Claeys, Naomi Fuerstenau, Nancy Grams, and the family of Dale and June Snyder.
* 1980 - Pastor Robert Wehrwein from St. Johns in Okabena, MN, alternates with Pastor Greve on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th weekends of the month.
* 1981 - A new worship location is established in Sioux Falls, SD, at the Valley National Bank located at the intersection of 26th St. and Western Ave. Sunday School is held at 4:30 p.m. and Worship Service at 5:30 p.m. (Aug. 23, 1981? - thats when attendance records began)
* October 17, 1982 - From this time on, worship services are held weekly with video tape services on the weeks that a pastor is not scheduled to come. Sunday services average 21 people throughout the year in 1982.
* March 27, 1983 (Palm Sunday) - The Immanuel Lutheran Tour Choir from Eau Claire, WI, holds a concert of sacred music for the Sioux Falls group at First Lutheran. 82 people attend.
* July, 1983 - Pastor George Barthels begins serving St. Johns and alternatives with Pastor Greve in preaching at Sioux Falls.
* ????? - The Sioux Falls group holds a meeting with the assistance of Pastor George Barthels to determine what to name their flock. The following options were considered: Prince of Peace and Berea. The name Berea Evangelical Lutheran Church was chosen.
* 1984 - The Board of Missions of the Church of the Lutheran Confession (CLC) determines to support Berea as an exploratory mission by helping support a pastor temporarily on a two-year basis.
* June 3, 1984 - Seminary graduate Roland Gurgel is installed as Bereas first pastor. Worship services begin to be held every Sunday morning.
* July 9, 1984 - Berea is accepted into membership in the Church of the Lutheran Confession per Convention resolution.
* 1985 - The Board of Missions of the CLC determines to help support Berea as a full-time mission congregation.
* March 29, 1986 - The Immanuel Lutheran Tour Choir from Eau Claire, WI, holds a concert of sacred music for Berea at Faith Temple, corner of Jefferson and West 33rd Street.
* May 15, 1986 - The official date of incorporation of Berea Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
* September 26, 1986 - Four acres of property are purchased for $23,828. The property is located in the northeast part of Sioux Falls at 4601 East Madison Street.
* October 4, 1987 - A ground-breaking service is held for a new church/parsonage facility
* October, 1987 - Construction begins immediately of a new church/parsonage facility with Jack Mayhew, a member from Grace Lutheran (CLC) in Valentine, NE, as the General Contractor. The building design was largely adapted from a plan by Don Ohlmann of the CLC Board of Missions, also a member of Grace Lutheran in Valentine, NE. Most of the building was already prefabricated from the factory with the exception of the outside siding, sheet rock, and electrical. The building was budgeted for $80,000. Final cost of the building is $81,500.
* January 31, 1988 - Pastor Roland Gurgel moves into the new parsonage.
* February 7, 1988 - Berea holds its first official worship service at the new church. The first official service was to be a week earlier, on January 31. However, a delay occurred because the opening in the chancel area to the outside emergency exit was not to code. About another foot had to be cut out of the opening. That is why the doorway on the right side of the altar area is wider than the left side.
* July 24, 1988 - At 4:00 p.m. on a hot summer day, a Dedication Service is held for the new church/parsonage facility. Pastor David Schierenbeck, Chairman of the CLC Board of Missions and Pastor at Berea Lutheran Church in Inver Grove Heights, MN, is the guest speaker. A potluck is held after the service. 120 people attend.
* May 21, 1989 - A fellowship gathering was held to bid Pastor Gurgel farewell to his new call at Mt. Olive Lutheran (CLC) in Lamar, Colorado.
* August 20, 1989 - Seminary graduate Lawrence Bade installed as Bereas Pastor.
* February - December, 1990 - The basement of the parsonage is walled and finished for continued use for Sunday School classes and fellowship events.
* April 22, 1990 - The original constitution for Berea is adopted.
* August, 1990 - Construction for a new church sign is completed at a cost of $750. The sign includes the churchs name along with a brightly painted Luther Seal.
* January - March, 1992 - An 8 x 12 garden shed is constructed for the church property.
* March 15, 1992 - The Immanuel Lutheran Tour Choir from Eau Claire, WI, holds a concert of sacred music at Berea. 108 attend.
* August 29, 1993 - The Mission Society of Immanuel Lutheran College in Eau Claire, WI, assists Berea by canvassing.
* September, 1994 - A steeple is added to the church building for $1,200. The money came by means of a bequest to the CLC Board of Missions.
* August 20, 1995 - Pastor James Shrader, recently colloquized into the CLC, is installed as Bereas Pastor.
* May 1996 - Berea begins to hold Holy Communion twice per month on the first and third Sundays of the month. Prior to this it was held once per month on the third Sunday of the month.
* June 21, 1998 - Pastor John Hein, formerly pastor at Our Redeemers Lutheran (CLC) in Red Wing, MN, is installed as Bereas Pastor.
* November 22, 1998 - A worship service is held celebrating the Lords grace in permitting 10 years of use of Bereas church and parsonage facility.
* March 10, 1999 - The first Developmentally Disabled worship service is held with 26 in attendance. The worship service is set for the second Wednesday of each month. It is designed for those who are mentally handicapped. It includes simple hymns, prayers, Bible stories, and hand movements in order to get across the basic teachings of Christianity. At the same time the service is regarded as sacred.
* May 12, 1999 - Ground breaking is begun for the construction of an addition to the parsonage. This includes a two car garage and an entryway/storage room area. The deck is moved from the south side of the house to the east side. Most of the construction is concluded by September. A loan of $10,000 is used for the project.
* July 28, 1999 - Russell Simon, Jr., member of Grace Lutheran (CLC) in Fridley, MN, speaks about his former life as a drug and alcohol addict, gang member, drug dealer, and prison inmate. About 100 people attend on a hot, humid evening.
* April 2, 2000 - Dr. David Menton, member of Faith Lutheran (CLC) in Manchester, MO (St. Louis area), was invited by Berea to have a seminar on the topic of creation. Dr. Menton was Bereas Bible class speaker (topic was regarding dinosaurs) and mission festival speaker during the morning service. The seminar was held in the afternoon at the Anne Sullivan gymnasium. About 170 people attended this event. There were two sesssions: (1) Implications of Creation and Evolution, and (2) Birds: Formed to Fly.
* July 7 - July 13, 2000 - The advertising team of CLC Traveling Vacation Bible School project came to Berea in order to distribute 4,100 flyers. Posters were placed in various areas and a large sign was constructed. The team and Bereas members helped paint the church.
* July 31 - August 4, 2000 - Berea held its annual Vacation Bible School, this year with a morning and evening session. 40 children were enrolled. The teaching team for the CLC Traveling VBS project assisted.
* September 17, 2000 - A fellowship gathering was held to bid Pastor Hein and his family farewell as they depart to serve at Redemption Lutheran (CLC) in Lynnwood, WA (Seattle area).
* January 7, 2001 - Pastor Mark Gurath, formerly Pastor at Indian Landing Lutheran Church (CLC) of Rochester, NY is installed as Bereas Pastor.
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