Berean Baptist Church

Pastor Jeff Ables and his Family

Pastor Ables grew up in Eastern Tennessee and entered the United States Air Force in 1980. While stationed in Texas, he met his wife Robin and married her in July of that same year. Pastor Ables and Robin were saved and he surrendered to the call to preach in 1983 while still in the Air Force. He and his family moved to Springfield in December of 1985 after receiving an Honorable Discharge from the military.

Before coming back to Springfield he was Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church for 11 years in Knob Noster, Missouri outside of Whiteman AFB. Pastor Ables came to Springfield to attend Baptist Bible College and graduated in 1990. While in college, he and his family attended Berean Baptist Church.

Pastor Ables and Robin have 3 children: Heather, age 24, attends Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City. Brian, age 23, is in the United States Air Force and is stationed in Maryland. Brain is married to Elicia and they have one son whose name is Dallas. Their second daughter Marie is 11 years of age.

Pastor Jeff Ables has been the pastor of Berean Baptist Church since October of 2000 and also serves as an Executive Director of Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The Knutsons

Tim and Dana Knutson came to Berean Baptist Church in June of 2005. Both Tim and his wife, Dana have felt the call to ministry since an early age. Tim was saved in 1977, and answered the call to preach at 15 years of age in 1987.

Tim was in evangelism with his parents from 1987 until 2000, when he moved to Oklahoma City, OK to attend Heartland Baptist Bible College. Tim worked at Heartland Baptist Bible College during his time there and continued working another year after his graduation in 2004.

Tim is the Assistant Pastor, overseeing the Outreach Program, Sunday School Administration, and teaches the Homebuilders’ Sunday School class. Tim and Dana have two children: Autumn Rose, age 11 and Dakotah Seth, age 4.

The Stewarts

Bro. Wes Stewart and his wife, Natalie, are the latest additions to the team at Berean Baptist Church. Bro. Wes was saved on April 14, 1996 at the age of 20. He surrendered to the call to preach on July 13, 2002. In the summer of 2003 Bro. Wes moved his family from Pensacola, FL to Springfield, MO where he began attending Baptist Bible College. However, through God's providential hand, Bro. Wes realized that God had brought him here to attend Berean Baptist Church, where they have been serving faithfully. Bro. Wes is continuing his Biblical training through the Berean Baptist Bible Institute under the training of Pastor Jeffrey E. Ables.

As of June 2006, Bro. Wes has taken over as the new Youth Director of Berean Baptist Church, as Bro. Butch Schrope is on deputation preparing for the field of Western Australia. Bro. Wes and his wife, Natalie, have three children: Madison, age 8, Taylor, age 4, and Luke, age 2.

The Brutons

Larry and Helen have been members of Berean Baptist Church since 1974. They are both native to the Springfield Missouri area. Helen was saved as the result of door to door visitation in 1967. Even though Larry was a church member and a staff member at the time, he realized in 1993 he was lost and at the back of the church property called upon the Lord for salvation.

Larry has been on staff since December 1986 and is in charge of all maintenance including buses at Berean. Helen is always busy with the duties of cleaning the church and helping in whatever area is needed. She has been on staff part time since 1982. Larry and Helen live in the Golden Acres estate located on church property. They have two sons, Wayne and Lance. Lance is a member of Berean Baptist Church and is charge of Berean’s Radio Ministry called the Berean Gospel Hour. Wayne and his wife Becky have one child whose name is Kaitlin. Larry and Helen can always be found on church property busy about the Lord’s work.

The Reamsniders

Fred Reamsnider has been on staff at Berean Baptist Church since 1974 where he and his wife Sharon have served faithfully for over 32 years.

Fred was born October 2, 1944, and raised in Richland County, Butler, Ohio. At the age of 13 he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour. He served two years in the U.S. Army with overseas duty on the island of Okinawa during the Vietnam War (1966-1968). Sharon Reamsnider was born October 24, 1946 also in Butler, Ohio. Sharon accepted the Lord as her personal Saviour in September of 1974. Fred and Sharon were married August 29th, 1964.

When Fred was 27 years old he surrendered his life to full time Christian service. He graduated Minister of Music from Baptist Bible College, Springfield, in 1974. His first duties at the church included Music Director, Jr and Sr High Teen Teacher, Bus Visitation, and Young Married Teacher, Ladies Banquet coordinator for over 27 years, custodian and home and hospital visitation. His present duties include Minister of Music, Adult Choir, Graded Choir Coordinator, Building Committee Chairman, Golden Ager Director (Along with his wife, Sharon), Home and hospital visitation and assists the Pastor where and whenever need in his pastoral duties. Fred and Sharon have two children; Michelle Ellison and husband Ashley of Clever, Mo. and Michael Reamsnider of Springfield. Two Granddaughters, Ashlyn and Tristyn Ellison.