Berachah Church
Encyclopedia
Berachah Church is a Christian
fundamentalist, nondenominational church founded in 1935 in Houston, Texas
.
. In 1950, Robert Thieme
came to Berachah. Thieme met with the Board of Deacons at the close of his first Sunday service and demanded that they resign immediately, or he would. The board acceded to this demand, and from that moment on, according to Joe Wall, Thieme "became the dominant leader who brooked no challenge to his authority." Thieme was pastor at Berachah until he retired in 2003 due to Alzheimer's disease
, at which time his only son, Robert "Bobby" Thieme III, was elected by the congregation of Berachah to serve as the new pastor.
and a premillennial
pre-tribulation rapture. Under "Church Ordinances", it lists the Lord’s Supper
.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
fundamentalist, nondenominational church founded in 1935 in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
History
Berachah Church was founded by C. W. Colgan, an oil company executive, who created it to evangelize ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. In 1950, Robert Thieme
Robert Thieme
Robert Bunger Thieme, Jr. was pastor of Berachah Church, a nondenominational Christian church in Houston, Texas, from 1950-2003...
came to Berachah. Thieme met with the Board of Deacons at the close of his first Sunday service and demanded that they resign immediately, or he would. The board acceded to this demand, and from that moment on, according to Joe Wall, Thieme "became the dominant leader who brooked no challenge to his authority." Thieme was pastor at Berachah until he retired in 2003 due to Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
, at which time his only son, Robert "Bobby" Thieme III, was elected by the congregation of Berachah to serve as the new pastor.
Pastors
- C. W. Colgan (1935–1936)
- J. Elwood Evans (1936–1940)
- Richard Seume (1941–1946)
- William F. Burcaw (1946–1950)
- Robert ThiemeRobert ThiemeRobert Bunger Thieme, Jr. was pastor of Berachah Church, a nondenominational Christian church in Houston, Texas, from 1950-2003...
(1950–2003) - Robert B. Thieme III (2004-)
Beliefs
According to the church's doctrinal statement, its purpose is to "present isagogical, categorical, and exegetical Bible teaching" and to "present the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ both at home and abroad." It holds to eternal securityPerseverance of the saints
Perseverance of the saints, as well as the corollary—though distinct—doctrine known as "Once Saved, Always Saved", is a Calvinist teaching that once persons are truly saved they can never lose their salvation....
and a premillennial
Premillennialism
Premillennialism in Christian end-times theology is the belief that Jesus will literally and physically be on the earth for his millennial reign, at his second coming. The doctrine is called premillennialism because it holds that Jesus’ physical return to earth will occur prior to the inauguration...
pre-tribulation rapture. Under "Church Ordinances", it lists the Lord’s Supper
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
.