Congregation: Messiah’s Church

Organization Date: October 14, 2005, newest congregation in the RPCNA

Location: North Syracuse, N.Y.

Membership: 29 communicant, 18 baptized.

Pastor: Brian Coombs (wife Dorian; children Anna, Elise, and Crispin)

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Who We Are

As Messiah’s Church, we are drawn by the grace of God and are earnest for the glory of God. We worship, pray, study, serve, and fellowship together. We grieve and rejoice with each other. We gather for meals, walks, conversations, concerts, plays, and projects with each other throughout the week, too. Then there are the hiking trips, game nights, parties, and breakfasts. In recent years, we have been blessed to welcome Korean students attending Syracuse University. Some have come to faith and united with us while here.

How We Began

Although we are the most recently organized congregation in the RPCNA, our life together began in 1995 as a Sunday evening Bible study fellowship. Most participants were members of the Syracuse RPC who lived in the northern suburbs and were responsive to that congregation’s interest to see another congregation form. Brian Coombs, a northern suburb native and seminary student at RPTS, interned that summer with Pastor Ken Smith and was able to see the group develop.

In June 1996, Brian was called for the work of church planting with a view to establishing the work in North Syracuse. Soon thereafter, Kiernan Stringer arrived to intern with Pastor Smith, and he played an important role in encouraging the northern fellowship alongside Pastor Coombs and Elder Bob Pinkerton. Morning worship services began the following February and have continued. Recently, we began a full line of Sabbath school classes for all ages, in addition to our monthly fellowship lunch and midweek gatherings.

How We Grew

We cannot credit any human program or strategy for how we grew to an established congregation. We credit the God of all grace working through the ministry of His Word and the manner of His people. Surely it is through God’s grace that we have been—with much weakness—“faithful with a few things” (Matt. 25:23). We are committed to love and welcome each other and all guests. We have taken opportunities as they came, such as Pastor Coombs’s monthly three-minute message on a local radio station, or personal welcomes for those who recently moved into the suburbs, or invitations to our neighbors for church-related events.

We have prayed for and sought those unbelievers whom God has already put in our lives, that they may be drawn savingly to Christ. Some have come to profess faith in Christ and unite with us! Some people have come from other denominations with a desire for healthier teaching. Of late, others have united from other RP churches due to job change or a desire to support the congregation. In short, we have clung to our Lord’s promise to build His Church (Matt. 16:18).

Prayer Requests

1. For God’s glory to be seen in the members’ worship, fellowship, and nurture in Christ.
2. For unity, wisdom, and strength for the new eldership as they serve together.
3. For the current treasurers, and for future deacons.
4. For professions of faith from our precious youth.
5. For faithfulness and fruitfulness in extending the gospel in word and work.
6. For wisdom in planning and saving for future property and a building.
7. For our planting and establishing of daughter churches for generations to come.