Reverend Bernice Gerard

GERARD Reverend Bernice It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Reverend Bernice Gerard on November 1st at age 84. Predeceased by her sisters Violet and Joyce and brothers Fred and Gordon, she is survived and deeply missed by her sister Margaret and many nieces and nephews, friends and colleagues. Emerging from a difficult childhood, she devoted her life to Christianity. Following a short career as a teacher she joined sisters Jean and Velma McColl to form the McColl-Gerard Trio, evangelical crusaders who preached throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Settling in Vancouver, Bernice hosted the Christian talk-show Encounter on CJOR and with Velma Chapman (nee McColl) established the Sunday Line Radio and Television Ministries, founded the Fraserview Pentecostal Church on Victoria Drive and co-founded Pacific Academy. She was also a founding member of Pro-Life BC and a good friend of the Jewish community. Bernice earned a Master of Arts degree at UBC and was the first Pentecostal Chaplain at Simon Fraser University and the University of BC where she participated in the establishment of the Charismatic Christian Fellowship. She also served as a Vancouver City Councillor from 1977 to 1980. More recently, Bernice and Velma established Shiloh Housing Society to develop co-op housing for seniors and families in Vancouver and Richmond. A memorial service for Bernice will be held at Broadway Church, 2700 East Broadway on Monday, November 24 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may by made to Sunday Line and World Ministries (Box 3366 Vancouver, B.C. V6B 3Y3), a mission/outreach to needy children in Africa, India, Philippines and Vancouver inner city ministries.