College Hill RPC

Location: Beaver Falls, Pa.

Presbytery: Alleghenies

Organized: July 1, 1896

Membership: 232 communicant; 70 baptized

Pastors: Dr. Rick Gamble, senior pastor; Titus Martin, associate pastor

History

College Hill Reformed Presbyterian Church began with a Bible study held in a school basement. Starting with a group that had left the Geneva RPC, the Bible study grew and officially became a new congregation on July 1, 1896.

A building was already well underway by the time the church was established, and the congregation moved in that September. By 1922 the congregation had outgrown its facility, so the church purchased a lot across the street from Geneva College’s campus. College Hill’s new building was dedicated in 1925.

God has blessed College Hill with a close connection to Geneva, as well as a succession of pastors with a heart for college ministry: Rev. John H. White (1962–1970), Dr. Dean Smith (1971–1990) and Dr. Jonathan Watt (1992–2000). All three of these men went on to become long-term faculty members at Geneva College.

College Hill welcomed Pastor Anthony Selvaggio in 2001 and enjoyed five years under his faithful leadership and teaching. In 2006, Titus Martin was installed as associate pastor and also led the congregation until Dr. Rick Gamble’s installation this fall as College Hill’s current senior pastor.

Ministries

Each Lord’s Day, College Hill holds two morning worship services as well as Sabbath school classes and an evening time of prayer, praise and teaching. Youth ministries include Frontier Club, which meets every Wednesday at Eastvale RPC, and the CHRP youth group. The college student ministry is growing and includes retreats, lunches with church members, Sunday night gatherings and discipleship groups. College Hill’s Body Life Council plans events for fellowship and nurture. Other ministries include Bible studies, small groups, prayer meetings, the Highlander’s Missionary Society, a church library, childcare services for a weekly mother’s day out, and a developing women’s ministry. The church also partners with outside ministries such as Meals-on-Wheels and Tiger Pause.

Prayer Requests

• Continue to pray for Senior Pastor Rick Gamble and his family as they transition into the community and the congregation.

• Pray for the college ministry as the congregation seeks to integrate students into the congregation and disciple them as kingdom workers.

• Pray that God would give wisdom in renovating the facility to meet the needs of a growing congregation.