Gerald “Jere” Bashore has pastored Heidelberg Bible Church since its founding in 2005. He was an elder and youth ministry leader at Mt. Aetna Bible Church (HBC’s sponsoring church) for many years prior to that. He is a 1980 graduate of Bob Jones University. He also works part-time as a rental property manager. Prior to pastoring he operated a family construction business. Now widowed, he has 3 grown daughters.
Jere was raised in a good Christian home and trained in godliness from childhood. During his teen years, he conformed outwardly to his religious training but was admittedly inwardly rebellious. During the two years immediately after high school, Jere began to seriously consider the purpose of life and his own direction. At this time, he was saved and committed his life to serving Christ and His gospel. Over the years, he has been pleased to see God at work in his family, business, youth ministry, eldership, and pastoral care. Jere’s life verse is Proverbs 3:5-6.
Ben was born in Reading, PA, and has lived in northern Berks County his entire life. He is a graduate of Conrad Weiser High School, and earned a BS in Business Management from Albright College. He works for a family feed and hardware retail business in Bernville. He and his wife, Jessica, have two children - Bethany and Jeremiah. Ben has attended HBC since its inception as a church. He was saved as a young boy, when his mother explained the gospel to him. Ben did not get serious about his faith until a youth rally in middle school, when he realized he needed to make his faith more active. He began attending HBC with his parents after college and found many ways to serve and live out his faith in Christ. Ben assists in leading the youth ministry, and is also the treasurer.