It is part of the Northeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, a mainstream Protestant church with over 19 million members worldwide, and one million members in North America. ABOUT US
BEREA SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH-NYACK
LOCAL CHURCH HISTORY
Berea Seventh-day Adventist Church was started by Sister Emma Elizabeth Faulden in the late 1920’s as a mission in the living room of her home-
inviting friends and neighbors in for bible studies during the week, and Sabbath School on Sabbath morning. In 1935 she took her savings, from washing and ironing, and bought hymn books and chairs. Soon after, A hall was rented on Depew Avenue in Nyack and the mission was moved from Sister Faulden’s living room.
Sister Wave Mealy became one of the first members to join the mission. She helped Sister Faulden to ready the hall for the opening meeting. The officiating minister for the opening was Elder Holt. Some of the early members that joined the mission were; Sister Mealy, Charlotte Bishop, Ida Williams, Brother and Sister Levin Thompson, Brother Patterson, Sister Leona Faulden and Sister Josephine Chapman. As the number of members grew, the mission was later moved to a hall at 19 Jackson Avenue. New members began joining as many wonderful meetings were held. Some of the new members that joined the mission then were; Sister Mary Steward, Sister Josephine Phillips, Sister Lilly White, Sister Anna Suggs, Sister H.B. Hooper, Sister Minnie Keith, Sis. Bert, Sis. Louise Williams, Brother and Sister Stanley Dixon, and Brother and Sister Mack Butler. These early members were zealous workers. Many Elders and other brethren came to carry on God’s program in the mission. Among them was Elder S.J. Hooper. Later, in the early nineteen forties under the leadership of Elder Samuel Miles, the members of the mission began to realize the need for a church building. Through much prayer and hard work, land was purchased and the building was started. The dedication of the church at 41 Jackson Avenue was March 1944. During that time, the church members also helped to start the former Newburgh mission (now the Newburgh Seventh-day Adventist Church). However, because of the Urban Renewal Program here in Nyack, it was necessary to sell our church on Jackson Avenue and begin a search for a new church building. In February of 1966, the church moved to its present building at 67 S. Broadway in Nyack. In the new church building, God’s work continued and the Berea members were fortunate to assist in the founding of their second church, Spring Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church in Spring Valley, NY. During Berea;s long history, many brethren have served well over the years. They are Elder S. Miles, T. Perry, R. Carter, S. Hutchins, Brother Arteas, C. Eaton, A.H. McLean, J. North , and L. Shand. Also during that time, still others have also given dedicated support in a leadership capacity:
Elder S. Hooper, E. Atkinson, Elder Martin, Elder Flintoff, Elder H. Turnbull, and Elder D. Lewis.
