After graduating from both seminary and Rhema Bible Institute as well as pastoring an established church in Green Valley Lake (just a little ways down the mountain from Big Bear), Pastor Hoerger felt God call him to start a church in Big Bear Lake. He knew that the purpose of this church would be to reach out to the lost and hurting and that it would be used as a tool to help people be set free of addiction and draw them close to the Lord. Since Pastor Hoerger had little to no experience in addiction recovery, he just had to trust that God would provide him with the tools he needed for the calling. Pastor Hoerger packed up his wife Lyn and their two children and moved from Oklahoma to Big Bear Lake California to begin work on his life's calling. As always, God was faithful to provide.

Believer's Chapel opened it's doors and had it's first service on the first Sunday in May in 1981 in what is now the Bear Valley Youth Center. Over the last 30 years Believer's Chapel has been used just as God promised it would be. We've seen literally hundreds set free from drugs and alcohol and many of these people have gone on to help others acheive that same freedom through Jesus Christ. As Believer's Chapel has been faithful over the years to reach out to the needy, the hurting and the addicted, God has been faithful to provide financially for our different areas of ministry as well as providing leaders and workers that love the Lord and desire to serve Him by serving their fellow man. This year, Believer's Chapel will celebrate 31 years of ministry and we can't wait to see what God has in store for us over the next 31 years.