Kelvin was saved & baptized at the age of 12, on July 3rd 1966. He grew up in a preacher’s home and is the son of Dr. Melvin Swanson, founding and former pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Rockford, IL.

In August of 1973, Kelvin married his childhood sweetheart, Sherrie Coad. While working full time at a local grocery store in 1974, Kelvin assisted his dad in the bus ministry and became the church Bus Director.

In May of 1978, God called Kelvin to preach and to enter into full time Christian service at the 25th anniversary service of his dad’s ministry at Berean.

In July of 1978, he became the church custodian and took correspondence courses from Patriot University with a major in Bible and Pastoral studies. In 1980 he was put on staff at Berean as an assistant Pastor.

After serving 17 years at Berean in Rockford, Pastor Swanson and his wife Sherrie, felt God’s call to the Berean Baptist Church of Beloit Wisconsin, where he became the Pastor of the church in September of 1995.

Through the leadership of Pastor Swanson and the faithful members of Berean and most importantly, because of the blessings of God, the church has grown from 30 to an average of 160 per Sunday.