Editor’s Note: This is the last story in a three-part series that examined Y2K, reactions to it and possible repercussions. Today’s article looks at what area church members see as ramifications of the millennium.

Though many theories exist about how the world will come to an end, area Christians don’t think the year 2000 will “usher in the return of Christ.”

Earthquakes, tornadoes, floods and world wars, alongside an anticipated peace treaty between Palestinians and Israelis, are stirring some Christians who recognize the events as fulfillment of Bible prophecies, but the Y2K crisis is not sounding the trumpet of Christ’s return in their ears.

“Jesus said [his second coming is] going to happen when we least expect it,” said Tim Borseth, campus minister with Stonebrook Students.

Although Borseth said he does not believe the new millennium will signal the end of the world, Stonebrook Community Church, 3611 Eisenhower Ave., is preparing its congregation for the expected Y2K chaos.

“Our church is doing all it can to prepare the people in our church and their friends,” he said. “Even though we don’t think it’s going to usher in the return of Christ, we do think it’s going to be a difficult time.”

By informing the congregation of “possible ramifications” and “dampening hysteria,” Borseth said he hopes to prepare his congregation. His church is also storing up financial and food reserves.

Various churches in Ames are planning to work together on developing distribution sites for Ames residents “in the event of a crisis.”

Borseth said he wants the church to be prepared to “serve and help other people who may be fearful or caught in a difficult situation.”

“We want to be in a position to help those in the community who get caught with their pants down, so to speak,” Borseth said.

John Anderson, pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church, corner of 7th Street and Kellogg Avenue, said talk of a combined effort to serve the community came up in a pastoral prayer meeting, but plans have not yet been confirmed.

“We believe we should do something collectively in case of a glitch in the economy,” Anderson said. “We shouldn’t panic, but we should be prepared. We can all go and do our individual things, but we will be stronger and more effective if we work together on this.”

Anderson said the Y2K situation is nothing out of the book of Revelation; it’s simply a situation people need to be prepared for.

“There are those out there that are seeing the Y2K as a fulfillment of Bible prophecy,” Anderson said, “but I’m not among the group that predicts the Y2K is going to be the end of the world.”

Borseth agreed that the computer bug will cause a few “bumps” and influence worldwide structures of communication, “but biblically there is no reason to point to the scriptures as this being significant.”

He said those who believe Y2K spells out Apocalypse are “very well-meaning, but being reactionary.”

George Stagg, pastor of Leadership Training at Ontario Bible Church, 1835 Meadow Glen Road, said he believes that “the end times are at hand.”

Stagg said world wars, deadly events and famines are all precursors to Judgment Day, and future signs will be those of a “world religion and world government.”

“These things may seem to be somewhat distant now, but glimpses can be seen in modern New Age philosophy,” he said.

Stagg said while the Middle East is a hot spot for prophetic reading, “not every skirmish or political uproar has to do with the end times.”

“There are many ‘newspaper exegetes’ that find great fun in taking current Middle East events and applying them to biblical texts and prophecies,” he said.

“That region has been in conflict for thousands of years and will continue to be until Christ returns,” Stagg said.

Borseth said just because it may seems like some prophecies are being fulfilled, that does not necessarily indicate that rapture is around the corner.

“The Bible calls them ‘birth pains,'” he said. “They alert us that bigger things are coming.”