The History of Bear Valley During
the late 1950’s and 1960’s Denver began it population
growth from approximately 500,000 to currently just under
2,000,000 in the metro area. A group of Christian families
had established a congregation in this fast-growing section
of the city. After nearly two years of planning and diligently
searching for a suitable and affordable location, land
was purchased at West Yale and South Lamar Streets in the
new Bear Valley subdivision. A down payment was made to
secure the property on March 31, 1962. A nursery school
located at 3151 West Florida was rented for a temporary
meeting place. The first meeting of the new congregation
was held Sunday evening, April 15, 1962 with 80 present
of whom 38 were adult Christians. Since land had been acquired
in the Bear Valley subdivisions, it was decided at the
business meeting following that first worship service,
the new congregation be known as the Bear Valley Church
of Christ. The
church met only on Sunday evenings for the first three
weeks in order to organize the work. Steering committees
for Worship, Education, Finance, Physical Plant, and Evangelism
were appointed to carry on the work and serve the community.
May 6, 1962 was the first full schedule of services with
102 present. The speaker for the morning worship was J.
C. Bailey of Canada who happened to be in Denver at the
time. In order to acquaint the community with the church,
Sabin Elementary School was rented and Joe Malone was secured
as the speaker for that first gospel meeting.
The
first priority for the new church was to retire the debt
on the land and erect a building that would be a credit
to the community. The only avenue open was a bond issue.
On November 1, 1962, Series I bond sale was begun and
a year later Series II was issued and sold. Various brethren
in the congregation did the pulpit preaching during the
first two years. The
first service in the new building was March 15, 1964
with 146 present. Roy Baker was the speaker on that occasion.
A special building dedication service was held on Sunday
afternoon, June 14, 1964 with Reuel Lemmons the featured
speaker. Upon completion of the building, Douglas H.
Perkins was invited to be the first preacher for the
new work. He and sister Perkins moved to Denver April
1964 from San Diego, CA. On August 7 of that year, the
congregation chose Roy Baker and Bill Hughes to serve
as its elders.
The
Lord had truly blessed the new work, and the desire of
the congregation and its leadership was to reach out
and establish a program of work that would encompass
every land. Sunday afternoon, May 9, 1965, a special
meeting of the church was called by the elders who submitted
the proposal that Bear Valley begin a preacher training
school. The response from the congregation was unanimously
in favor. Roy H. Lanier, Sr. and Ed E. Wharton were employed
as instructors, and September 7, 1965 was the beginning
of the Bear Valley School of Preaching – a little
over three years from the time the church was established
in the community. Thirteen students enrolled in the first
class.
Douglas Perkins suggested to the elders that he move to Lakewood,
CO as preacher for the Lakewood Church of Christ. He had been
interested in that work since its inception and now had the opportunity
to preach for that congregation. Also, he reasoned that by his
doing so, it would lessen the financial burden at Bear Valley,
and the school could become a reality as the church’s budget
was $700 per week at that time. The unselfishness of that great
man of God remains close to the hearts of those who pioneered
the Bear Valley School of Preaching. For the first year or so
following his resignation, the pulpit preaching was done by Roy
Lanier, Sr. and Ed Wharton. Monroe Tharp was the preacher for
the Thornton Church of Christ and taught on a part-time basis
in the school.
Warren
Wilcox was added to the teaching staff in September
1966. Avon Malone was employed as a preacher for the
Bear Valley congregation and also as a teacher in the
school of preaching in 1967. With the increased membership
and enrollment in the school, it became necessary to
add to the physical facilities in 1967. The south wing
of the building was constructed to accommodate the school
and provide additional classrooms for the growing church.
Series III bond program was issued and sold to finance
the new wing. Norman
Gipson was secured as a teacher in 1968 following the
resignation of Ed Wharton. He was appointed director
of the school in 1970 and served in that capacity until
1975. W.S. Boyett joined the staff in 1972, resigning
in 1974 due to health problems. Monroe Tharp joined the
staff in 1970 as full-time instructor. Following Avon
Malone’s resignation in 1970, Bob Wilkerson was
employed as the preacher for the church from 1970-1973.
Ralph Williams, Harold Poland and Dale Powers followed
in that order as preachers for the church until 1978.
In 1974 it became necessary to enlarge the seating capacity
of the auditorium as the congregation was having double
services on Sunday mornings. Series IV bond issue was
sold to finance the new construction.
Due
to health problems, Norman Gipson requested a new director
of the school be named. On August 1, 1975 Leonard Gray
was employed as the director. While he was director,
the following men were added to the teaching staff: Dave
Chamberlin, Duward Lee, Bob Waldron, Bobby Bates, Leo
Richardson, Roy H. Lanier Jr., Don Canter, and Dan Owen.
In 1980 the school became a three-year school and the
name was changed to Bear Valley School of Biblical Studies
to accommodate a wider range of students. While the primary
thrust and purpose of the school is training gospel preachers,
others who desire more Bible knowledge as teachers, personal
workers, elders, etc., can prepare at Bear Valley.
Norman Gipson who had resigned in 1976 was asked to return to
Bear Valley as the pulpit minister in 1979. He served the church
until February 1984. Don Canter has served the church as pulpit
minister since 1984. The present elders of the church are Harry
Denewiler, Sam Kennedy, Clint Stephens and Maynard
Woolley. Men who formerly served the Bear Valley congregation
as elders are: Bill Asper, Roy Baker, Al Burner, Art Clark, Revis Compton, Bill
Hughes, Jakie Gibbs, Johnson Kell, Roy Lanier Sr., Bert Milam,
Wayne Nance, George Owen, Jim Rampton, David Ramsey, Amos Sanderson,
Jim Stigers, R.C. Steele, Sylvin Showers, Jerry Taylor, and Byron
Wright. With the resignation of Leonard Gray in August 1983,
Warren Wilcox was appointed director of the Bear Valley School
of Biblical Studies. Dennis Petrillo joined
the faculty in September 1985
In
August of 1989, O.F. “Dick” Case became director of
the school. At this time Warren Wilcox resumed
teaching on a full-time basis and serving as academic dean. In
March 1994 O.F. “Dick” Case returned to full-time pulpit
work, and Roy D. Baker assumed directorship of the school. Brother
Baker continued to serve as director while looking for a new
man to serve for the future. J.J. Turner agreed
to accept the director’s position in April, 1996 and moved
to Denver in July, 1996.
Beginning
with the February 1993 enrollment, the School returned
to a two-year curriculum format. During 1995 the Institute
gained approval by the Colorado Board of Education to
issue professional degrees. The Institute
currently offers Associate, Bachelor, and Master's degree programs.
While
the school is the major effort of the Bear Valley church
which contributes approximately $175,000 per year of
the almost $450,000 school budget, the congregation is
active in many other good works. It supports missionaries
in India, Argentina, & Poland.
The next chapter for the Institute is yet to be written.
Dr. Denny Petrillo was appointed the 8th Director of
the School in March of 2004, replacing J.J. Turner who
has returned "home" to the Atlanta area. The
school continues to grow and in the Spring of 2004 it
has 41 full-time men training to preach in Denver. When
the wives and part-time students are added the total
reaches 71. We are all excited about what the
Lord has planned for the future. God has blessed the
Bear Valley work. Its membership is supportive and enthusiastic
in the service of the Lord. Over 500 gospel preachers
have graduated from Bear Valley and more than 275 are
preaching the Word all over the globe.