Initial influences, ideology and the growing determination to search for the truth was formed from the teachings received from the Scholar, Dr Bullinger.  Reverend Gear later spent some years researching this work and determined that it was accurate. 

  • 1st Ministry -  Started in the Independent Baptist church in Darby, England as a relieving protestant Minister.
  • 2nd Ministry - Accepted a calling from Greenwich Baptist Church in England to be their Pastor.
  • 3rd Ministry - Wimbledon Life and advent Church, England. 
  • While in England Rev. Gear was seconded to two London based magazines as a critic of religious literature for 'John O' London' and the 'Time and Tide'.
  • Sailed to New Zealand on the ship ‘Elinis’ 1964
  • 4th Ministry - Central Auckland NZ. Pastor for the Life and Advent Church of New Zealand, having agreed to preach in NZ for five years.
  • 5th Ministry - Ashburton 1969. (Canterbury NZ) In response to a request for help from a Canterbury family, the Strong’s to minister to a multi denominational gathering. Reverend Gear had come to their attention when he was interviewed on television challenging the beliefs of the Reverend Lloyd Gearing.
  • 6th Ministry - Founded the Ashburton Berean Bible Fellowship

 

Why this title for his fellowship?

Reverend Gear found the ancient Berean people very noble in their search for the meaning of scripture, like the Berean’s, Reverend Gear felt the group of people he now represented in Ashburton had the same determination and interest.

 

[ Berean - Right division of Scriptures from the New Testament / written for Gentiles. Our Lord was a Jew / Jewish writings are basically the Old or original testament]

 

“The Evil one, Satan, is always watchful and doesn’t lose any opportunity to come between or cause discourse or division between people who have faith and love for each other”.
                                                                                                       Rev. F. W. Gear

 

Article from the Ashburton Guardian dated, Dec 13 1980 Titled - No 'passengers' in Berean Bible fellowship by Maureen Bishop.

The handful of adherents to the Ashburton Berean Bible Fellowship led by minister, Rev.Frank Gear, hold services twice on Sundays and meet once a week for Bible study.

The Bible holds the key for their religion, for in fact they base their beliefs on two Bible versus - Acts chapter 17, verse 11 and 2 Timothy, chapter 2, verse 15.

The first two points to the nobleness of those who study their Bible daily and the other to the "dividing the word". The group bases everything on the scriptures but does not necessarily accept that everything in the Bible is intended for them.

It is this 'dividing' of the word which leads members to reject the pentecostal and charismatic gifts. They feel these were not intended for them and although contained in the Bible 'do not bear their name on the envelope" according to Rev. Gear. 

"People now are getting a bit tired of the charismatic churches and I feel there will be a reaction against them" he added.

Reverend Gear describes himself as "unashamedly a fundamentalist".  

 

 

 

 

 

Note: The work ‘From Grace to God’ will be available from this website in the near future