Pastor Tim Bergdahl of the Madera Avenue Bible Church, met his Savior face to face on January 8, 2015. Timothy Allen Bergdahl was born February 9, 1959 in Castro Valley California. He was raised in San Lorenzo in a multicultural neighborhood, and early on formed a love for those of different faiths. That love grew into a passion for mission.

Tim’s first friend was books! He learned to read early on, and was often found with a book in hand. Once his cousin brought some friends over and introduced Tim saying, “This is my cousin Tim. He doesn’t talk. He reads”. Another time his parents couldn’t find him anywhere in the house, and finally found him on the top of the bookcase reading a book.

He was often scolded by his parents for reading a book with a flashlight under the covers after he was told it was time to go to sleep! Later, Janine couldn’t believe it when she discovered that he could read an entire book while standing in the bookstore without having to buy it! Needless to say – they spent many dates in bookstores.

Tim loved learning, and never was too far from a school. He graduated from Arroyo High School in San Lorenzo and Point Loma College in San Diego. He earned masters degrees from both the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Fresno, and from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. While living in Pakistan, Tim picked up Certificates in the Urdu and Persian languages. He also completed a PhD in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. Most recently Tim was a Board Member for Fresno Pacific University, and taught at times as an adjunct professor.

His pursuit of knowledge was not just for academics, he seemed to know something about any possible subject, and could schmooze and carry on a decent conversation about almost anything. You never wanted to play Scrabble, chess, or a trivia game with him as your opponent.

While in college and graduate school, Tim had a knack for meeting Muslims. Some of his favorite places were gas stations and mini-marts, Arabic language movie theatres, Persian Burger, and other ethnic restaurants. He even put up a home-made Arabic greeting sign at his place of employment. Muslims were surprised when they walked in and met a blond blue-eyed Swede.

Tim discovered what he called his “inner-Mennonite” reading Anabaptist books in the library at Point Loma. He resonated with what he read, and discovered that there was a Mennonite girl in his Greek class who came from a place called “Reedley”. He grilled her with many questions and over time began the process of applying to graduate school at the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary.

As he left to seminary, his best friend said “I’m afraid that you are joining a cult, and they won’t let you out!”. His response was insightful. He replied “I think that it might be harder to get in than out”. Upon arrival to Dinuba, his roommate was incredulous that he declared that he was a Mennonite but had never stepped inside a Mennonite church. He quickly drove Tim to the Kingsburg MB Church, where his mother was the church secretary, and introduced Tim to his pastor, Al Kroeker – who would become his father-in-law three years later.

“If only your name was Berg, or it was Dahl – you’d have a good Mennonite name!” friends would often tease. Tim stopped them short with his response “Funny how it takes two good Mennonite names to make just one Swedish one”.

Tim met Janine Kroeker at the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in a Spiritual Formations class that Janine attended with her parents. Janine was working with international students at Fresno State, and a mutual friend had wanted them to meet because they shared the same passion for internationals. The first time Janine saw Tim, he was wearing a t-shirt with Arabic words. A rocky friendship turned into love, and they were married in 1987.

Tim and Janine moved to Karachi Pakistan in 1991, where he attended the University of Karachi, and befriended many Baluch students. They worked under the support of Mennonite Brethren Mission and Services until 1996.

They brought back the very best of Pakistan when they adopted their daughter Kayleigh. Years later the family went to India to bring home their second daughter Pradnya. He was so very proud of his daughters!

Tim served as the Program Director for Mennonite Brethren Missions for several years before moving to Madera in 2007 when he became the pastor of the Madera Avenue Bible Church.

For the last three and a half years Tim fought the good fight against cancer, and was able to continue with his ministerial duties until near the end. He is survived by his parents Robert and Beverley Bergdahl of Gilbert Arizona; his sister and her husband Deborah and John Teats of Gilbert Arizona; his wife Janine; and their daughters Kayleigh and Pradnya of Madera.

A celebration of Tim’s life will be held on Thursday January 15th at 5:00 at Valley West Christian Center in Madera. The church is at 101 West Adell Street in Madera.

Remembrances may be made to the Kroeker-Bergdahl Memorial Scholarship at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary. 1717 S. Chestnut, Fresno, CA 93702.