Reformed Presbyterian Church of North Hills

Location: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Presbytery: Alleghenies
Relocation Date: 1963, formerly the Central Pittsburgh RP church
Membership: 124 Communicant, 37 Baptized
Pastors: Harry Metzger & Martin Blocki
Website: http://www.rpcnh.net

The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North Hills (RPCNH) entered its current community in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1963 when the former Central Pittsburgh RP Church constructed the present building. The Central Pittsburgh’s former building had been taken by an act of eminent domain. Rev. James Carson was the pastor who shepherded the congregation throughout this transitional period. The RPCNH has been blessed over the years by the pastoral service of James Carson, Gordon Keddie, John Tweed and Jim Wittke. In Jan. 2000, Harry Metzger was installed. He remains one of the current pastors. Martin Blocki joined the pastoral staff in 2003.

When we started to regularly utilize overflow seating for our Sunday morning worship services, plans were put in motion to daughter a congregation. In Sept. 2007, RPCNH sent many of our brothers and sisters to start the work of the new Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church (featured in the June 2011 RP Witness). We are thankful to see the work and growth God has provided to both of our congregations since then.

RPCNH continues to develop and seek out new ministry opportunities within our community. For the past few years, we have gathered to play Pickleball (a fun, tennis-type court game for the whole family) on Tuesday nights during the summer months in our church parking lot. Residents of the community join us throughout the summer. The congregation has received coverage in both major Pittsburgh newspapers, along with Pickleball websites, and even a brief mention on a national Christian radio program! RPCNH also regularly attends local community fairs to meet neighbors and to seek how we may be of service to them. Our involvement in these fairs has given members of the church openings to share Christ and disciple people. Members of the church are ministering to a number of new people through follow-up and discipleship studies.

RPCNH has recently embarked on an exciting adventure. Our congregation has, for some time, had a heart for international ministry. Members have organized Bible studies for international college students in the area, and the congregation has acted as the sponsor for three international students at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. After hearing about similar ministries within the PCA denomination, John Russell brought the idea of RPCNH launching a free English as a Second Language (ESL) program for local internationals looking to improve or develop confidence in the English language.

After a full year of development (including marketing, strategizing, teacher training, and numerous other steps), in Sept. 2011 we opened our church doors for the first session of our ESL program. We were amazed at the response because, on our first night, we had approximately 50 internationals sign up for instruction. Our building was filled with people from China, Ukraine, India, Burkina Faso, Japan, Dominican Republic, South Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and elsewhere. We currently offer four classes on a weekly basis for students of differing levels of English competency–ranging from the basic sentence structure and vocabulary to our most advanced focus on conversational fluency and developing the American accent. Even more exciting for our congregation was a woman from Korea who came in and specifically asked if she could learn more about the message God might have for her! In the intervening weeks, several others have expressed some level of interest in joining a Bible study. Some of our students have heard the gospel clearly presented to them.

RPCNH is also currently seeking out ministry contacts and service opportunities within the small neighboring community of Millvale. The gospel has been shared with many people in this community. The church continues to look for possible opportunities to form an investigative Bible study in this neighborhood. We are excited to discover what further ministry God has set for us within Millvale, the other communities where we live and work, and among the citizens of the world’s countries to whom we now have the ability to meet and minister.

• Pray for the continued work of our ESL directors, teachers, and volunteers. Pray that they would be sustained through this school year. Pray for continued opportunities to share the good news of Christ with those from “all ends of the earth.”
• Ask God to bless the two current international seminary students from Asia being sponsored by the RPCNH. Pray that their time here would prepare them to serve as laborers in the harvest in their home countries.
• Please pray for our pastors, session, deacons, and outreach committee as they continue to seek new opportunities to serve and witness to those whom God brings into contact with our congregation.