Hebron, Kan., RPC

Ron Graham, Pastor

The Hebron RPC has enjoyed Kansas State University students worshiping with us for nearly 20 years. It started with two faithful young men attending our worship services and, as time has gone by, many more students have worshiped regularly with us, giving us the vision for a Reformed Presbyterian church in Manhattan to serve the university community as well as the Manhattan community.

We rejoice that God has answered our prayers, and on Dec. 2 the Manhattan Reformed Presbyterian Mission church was established with 22 communicant members and 4 baptized members. We miss them but pray for God’s blessing upon them has they proclaim the gospel in the Manhattan area under the leadership of Pastor Jonathan and Adrienne Haney working with the Manhattan Commission of Midwest Presbytery.

Mrs. Wilson (Wilma) McMahan went to be with her Lord on Feb. 21.

We give thanks that God is bringing new families to worship with us. We ask for your prayers as we seek to be faithful in ministering to them.

Two of our ladies attended the Midwest Women’s Presbyterial April 19-20. They enjoyed a good time of fellowship. The theme was, “Experiencing God’s Presence and Love in Suffering.” Guest speakers were Katie Long and her father, Pastor Dave Long.

The Ladies of the Hebron congregation look forward to hosting the 97th Presbyterial meeting April 25-26, 2014.

We appreciated Mike and Robin McMahan (cousins of Steve McMahan) speaking to us about their assignment to work with the Presbytery of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, as they serve under Mission to the World.

Rose Point (New Castle, Pa.) RPC

Charles Brown, pastor

Miriam Brown, her son, Peter, and her mother, Darlene, attended the ordination and installation of Dan Drost in Washington, Iowa, Oct. 17. Dan’s wife, Abigail, is a sister of Miriam.

Marge and Clair Miller hosted a wiener roast and hayride organized by Julie and Mark Maurer for members and friends of the Providence RPC Sept. 29. More than 100 attended. Thirty-five members and friends of the congregation attended a game night Oct. 26. Two days later, the congregation hosted a Reformation Day festival of praise with about 70 adults and children in attendance, including members of at least three non-Reformed Presbyterian area churches.

Jesse Mae McFarland celebrated her 90th birthday in November. The congregation helped her celebrate early with a dinner at an area restaurant last summer.

Tom Downing, a man who attends evening worship from time to time, recently wrote a column for Farm and Dairy outlining some of the John Mitchell family history. The article included pictures taken in Nebraska when John and James’ father and family lived there from 1908–1918.

Clair and Marge Miller recently returned after living in Florida for the winter, and Steven and Patricia Wilson returned after a two-week visit with their daughter, her husband, and their children in England.

Tammy Reed, daughter of David and Maryann Reed, was recently accepted at the Jameson School of Nursing in New Castle, Pa.

Namsik Yang has been a guest Sabbath school teacher for the spring quarter. He, accompanied by his wife, Eun, will continue to attend here during the summer. Both are students at RPTS and hail from South Korea.

Kara Swansiger recently completed an introductory class in Tae Kwon Do after school. She completed the class by breaking a board with her hand. Kara is the daughter of Paul and Alorah Swansiger and granddaughter of Clara Blair.

The congregation gathered for a time of fellowship in mid-March for a lasagna dinner at the church.

Philip Tan, a senior at Grove City College who has been worshiping with the congregation throughout his college career, accepted an offer from the University of Virginia to pursue a doctoral program in biomedical engineering. Elsa Klingensmith, a member of the Manchester RPC, has been attending the Rose Point RPC throughout her Grove City College career, and she anticipates entering a graduate program in mathematics at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania following her graduation.

—Ralph Joseph, correspondent

Sharon (Morning Sun, Iowa) RPC

Greg Stiner, Pastor

God, in His gracious mercy, has brought Pastor Greg Stiner and his wife, Janis, to the congregation. The church is thankful to have a full-time pastor after two years without one, and also thankful for the faithful men in ministry who filled the pulpit. Special thanks is due Dr. Robert LaMay and Dr. John Wiers for filling in on a regular basis and for sermons given by Jeff Yelton, Adam Kuehner, Luke Finley, Robert McFarland, and George Gregory during the past year.

The Women’s Bible study group meets twice each month in the home of Virginia Johnson. In the past year they’ve completed studies on the Psalms of Ascent and on personal revival. These studies minister to women both within and outside the congregation.

The group Bible study, which meets on Tuesdays in the home of John and Roselea Smith, has been studying the Gospel of John. They, too, have participants from outside the congregation.

The outreach committee has focused on getting the congregation’s name out to the public. Plans have been made to participate in several local parades during the summer months. Monthly fellowship breakfasts have been held at various local restaurants. And a mile of highway has been adopted for cleanup.

Kathy Baird continues to serve as the book librarian, keeping the shelves stocked with new titles. Sharon Pilling serves as the audio/video librarian and continually seeks godly materials for this ministry.

Mark McElhinney and Jay Hutcheson were elected to the board of deacons.

“Going for the Gold!—God’s Gold” was the theme for last summer’s vacation Bible school. Coordinator Virginia Johnson inspired teachers Sandra Wyss, Mara Orr, Wendi Lemmon, Shane Barron, Sandy McElhinney, Terri Hutcheson, and Kathy Baird through a week of teaching the gospel to over 40 children. Others who helped were Pastor Greg Stiner (devotions), Chris Robb (crafts), Peg Hays and Lynn Rice (refreshments), Jenny Wiers, Jasmine Hills, Jared Shadle, Chloe Thomas, and Maci Richardson (recess and general assistants), and Katelyn Orr (puppeteer), along with a host of other volunteers. Praise be to God for allowing this church to proclaim His glorious Word through this ministry!

The church building, along a gravel road several miles from nearby rural towns, is not in a convenient location. Yet, members and regular attendees drive from at least seven different communities to worship on a weekly basis. Please visit the congregation’s web site at www.sharonrpc.org.

—Terri Hutcheson, correspondent

Washington, Iowa, RPC

Daniel Drost, Pastor

The Washington RPC had a white elephant auction and pizza party Mar. 23 with Kenan Todd as the auctioneer. This is where they “gifted” items that are no longer of use to them. There were several silly items such as three lemons in a bag. The one item that brought many smiles and guffaws was a plastic storage bin that had a big surprise inside. Marie Skubal hid in the bin, and when the bin was opened, she jumped out to the delight of everyone. Her brothers had come up with the idea. Everyone had a delightful time sharing and laughing.

Ridgefield Park, N.J., RPC

J. Bruce Martin, pastor

The Ridgefield Park RPC honored elder emeritus Richard Weir at a luncheon on Apr. 6.  Dr. Weir served as an elder for 62 years—60 as clerk of the sessions in the Bronx, N.Y., RPC and in the Ridgefield Park, N.J., RPC.  Since the celebratory lunch followed the Atlantic Presbytery meeting, several teaching and ruling elders gave tribute to Dr. Weir’s service and godly influence.

—JoAnne Martin, correspondent

News from Presbytery of the Alleghenies

The presbytery rejoices in men God continues to call to the gospel ministry. Four men were taken under care of presbytery as students of theology; one man was certified eligible to preach; and one man was released from his current pastorate in order to accept the position of part-time chaplain at Geneva College and part-time teacher in the Bible department. These actions were taken at the spring meeting of the presbytery, Apr. 12-13, held at the Eastvale, Pa., RPC building.

The men taken under care were Edgar Ibarra, Chris Myers, Josh Johnson and Josh Giesler. Stephen McCollum was certified as eligible to preach. Pastor Rut Etheridge was released from the pastorate at Providence (Pittsburgh, Pa.) RPC in order to assume a new position at Geneva College.

—Ralph Joseph, clerk

RP Home

Rebecca Brady joined the staff of the Reformed Presbyterian Home as Chief Operating Officer and Nursing Home Administrator on Mar. 18. Ms. Brady has more than 25 years of leadership experience in insurance, financial planning and healthcare operations. She holds a B.S. In business management and a nursing home administrator’s license. She previously served as the Regional Director of Operations, Real Estate and Expense Control for CIGNA HealthCare.