Berean Hope?

The March 2004 issue of Australian Reader’s Digest ran an advertisement (p.144) headed: Is Death Final?, and offering a free booklet entitled: Hope. Mentioning the death of loved ones, the advert refers to the Bible and Christ’s death promising a resurrection and opportunity to live again.  Readers were encouraged to write away for the free booklet from The Berean Bible Institute, at a Post Office box number in Rosanna, Victoria.

Who runs, operates or is: The Berean Bible Institute?

Confusingly, there are several groups that use the name – including various Grace Churches/Grace Fellowships promoting an extreme Pauline Dispensationalism.  (We’ll take a brief look at this groups of churches in a future issue of TACL)

The Victorian group behind the RD advert is an Australian break-away from the early Jehovah’s Witnesses organisation. Members have also used the name, The Berean Bible Fellowship.  They are associated with the Dawn Bible Students Association, The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom, and numerous other groups linked together as ‘Bible Students’. 

As E.E. Martin, their then Australian secretary/leader wrote in a letter some years ago:

‘Both the Berean Bible Institute, and the Dawn Bible Students Association began as a result of the change in teachings and spirit which came about in the Watch/Tower Soc., (Jehovah’s Witnesses of today) after the death of Pastor Russell in 1916.’

The Victorian Berean Bible Institute was established as an independent Australian group in 1918.  It has more recently formally incorporated as an Association.  Practically since their beginning they have published a small quarterly magazine: The Peoples Paper, as well as various brochures and tracts.  They also stock reprints of Russell’s books.

They have never had more than a small group of members scattered around Australia – mostly in Victoria, with a few others in various other States.  One of the few Western Australian members, listed as the WA Secretary, Malcolm Price, died in November 2001.

Over the years they have promoted and advertised their free booklets in the New Idea, National Farmer, the Age newspaper, Reader’s Digest – as well as a radio and in local community newspapers, from the Gympie Times in Queensland to the Wanneroo Times in Western Australia.

The group has increased its influence in recent years with a website on the Internet, including its quarterly Peoples Paper now (since April 2002) published on its website in pdf format.