Growing Valentine church moves into new building
Valentine Berean Church is celebrating a major milestone as it moves into a new building, a notable moment as many churches nationwide face declining attendance.
By News Channel NebraskaVALENTINE, Neb. — Valentine Berean Church is celebrating a major milestone as it moves into a new building, a notable moment as many churches nationwide face declining attendance.
The move comes as a recent Gallup poll shows just 49 percent of Americans now say religion plays an important role in their daily lives — down from 66 percent in 2015, marking the largest decline Gallup has recorded. But leaders at Valentine Berean say their congregation is growing, not shrinking.
Members spent the weekend packing up and moving into the new space, turning what might normally be a quiet Sunday afternoon into a church-wide effort. Thirteen-year-old Bronx Burney was among those helping.
“I like to see everyone helping,” Burney said.
The church first broke ground on the project in 2019.
“When you go through a building project like this, it takes a lot of patience,” said Dallas Dodson, an elder at the church. “It takes giving a lot of grace.”
Pastor Scott McClellan said the growth at Valentine Berean has been steady over the past decade. When he first arrived, Sunday attendance hovered around 40 people.
“We thought that was a great day,” McClellan said.
Today, the church hosts two services each Sunday, drawing about 200 people in total. McClellan said the new building allows for more seating and a more welcoming environment for newcomers.
“I’ve read studies that say when a church is about 70 percent full, visitors stop coming because it feels uncomfortable,” he said.
The new facility also includes updated technology aimed at improving the church’s online presence. Dodson said the upgrades will allow for better video coverage of services, helping the church reach people beyond its physical walls.
Despite the new space and tools, McClellan said the church’s focus hasn’t changed.
“The only explanation I can give you is it’s not me or my wife — it’s Jesus,” he said. “Our goal is to live authentic Christian lives. This isn’t something we turn on for Sundays. This is real life.”
For younger members like Burney, the new building represents opportunity.
“I’m excited for more space and more people to come,” he said.