“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17).

Although the above verse stresses the new and fuller indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the people of God following the ascension of Jesus Christ, it also gives us a good picture of the church—she is made up of the young and of the old. Acts 2:17 wraps its arms around the whole of the church body, emphasizing covenant children and the elderly.

In the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA), great emphasis is given to the discipleship of our covenant youth and to the upholding and honoring of our older saints. Reformed Presbyterian Missions & Ministries (RPM&M) funds distributed to the youth and elderly ministries of the RPCNA are a vital factor in our efforts. RPM&M is the Synod-appointed channel to fund the various missions and ministries of the RPCNA, including the Reformed Presbyterian Home and the Youth Ministries Committee of Synod.

The Reformed Presbyterian Home

The Reformed Presbyterian Home, which operates under the leadership of the Reformed Presbyterian Woman’s Association (RPWA), ministers to the challenges and changes experienced by the aging. These challenges and changes are varied—physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual. The elderly among us feel these changes keenly and experience the trials that come with them. As is true of all trials, the difficulties of aging are a personal journey truly only known by the individual (Prov. 14:10); however, the Scriptures also tell us that we, as the body of Christ, are to share one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2). It is in this spirit of care and concern that the RP Home is managed.

The RP Home is indeed a home—a dwelling place where residents can experience the love of Jesus from fellow residents, family, friends, staff, and visiting ministers. The RP Home understands the challenges that aging brings and is committed to making them easier to bear. With the goal of honoring the elderly as the Bible instructs, the RP Home states in its mission statement: “The Reformed Presbyterian Home…provides quality care and a supportive living environment to older adults in a manner consistent with the affection, honor, and care that the Bible teaches us to give our parents.” Their philosophy of care also stresses that the maximum level of the residents’ overall well-being, including spiritual, is sought “in the spirit of Christian love and the Golden Rule as taught by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Since its beginnings in 1897 with the goal of “establishing a widows’ and orphans’ and aged people’s home,” the RP Home has sought to care for the helpless. The RPCNA, among other organizations, has financially supported this ministry since its inception. Over 20 years ago, however, in response to a request from the RPWA for more financial support, the Trustees of Synod established the RP Home as a regular recipient of RPM&M funds. With this consistent support from RPM&M, the RP Home is aided in continuing to offer services necessary to its residents’ overall well-being.

In the early years of the RP Home, the responsibilities of running this dwelling place for seniors were shared and shouldered by the residents, a few staff members, and the RPWA board members:

“The RP Home was run like a large household with everyone pitching in as able. Male residents were expected to care for the cow and chickens, while the women had their assignments also. ‘Miss Harmon: help with the dishes in the morning and noon; Miss Silliman: dry supper dishes and mend socks for the men; Miss Shanks: repair and mend men’s clothing; Mrs. Asten: care of the bird; Miss Dryden: care of the washbowl in first floor bath and foot bath.’ The only staff was a matron and cook. Members of the Board purchased equipment and furnishings, cared for the building and grounds, and filled in for the matron when she was on vacation and the cook when she fell ill. Care of the sick was a mutual obligation with residents helping residents as each was able” (rphome.org).

This self-care model was maintained for over 70 years.

In the 1970s, to meet state regulations, the RP Home was required to adopt medical-style care. Fulfilling this requirement brought additional care benefits to the residents and also created a challenge in maintaining a home atmosphere. The RP Home met that challenge by establishing a “work force model that stressed person-centered and individualized care in a medical setting” (RPWA Board Orientation Handbook, page 10).

Currently, the RP Home offers four levels of care: independent living, personal care, intermediate nursing, and skilled nursing. It is a fully accredited facility and meets the highest standards of care. Though the care model has changed over the years to include medical care, continuing organically to this day is a life of community and mutual help. Residents who are able encourage other residents who have needs.

This mutual help is manifested through day-to-day individual personal interactions or through ministries such as the spiritual care teams organized by the RP Home activities department. The spiritual care teams are comprised of residents, some of whom are retired pastors, and of non-resident volunteers who are well-suited for this ministry. The teams seek to encourage and edify residents with the truths of Scripture through one-on-one interaction and discipleship. Some of the residents who are recipients of this ministry have had little or no exposure to the gospel. Many are open to discussions and are very inquisitive. Some know the Lord but have not talked about Him in a while to anybody. Please pray for these gospel efforts.

The spiritual needs of the residents are also addressed by the opportunity to attend morning and evening RPCNA worship services every Lord’s Day at the Home. Local RP ministers and professors from the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary preach and lead the worship services. Members of local RPCNA churches often attend the evening worship services. Weekly Bible discussions and prayer meetings are also available to the residents.

Please pray for the administration, staff, volunteers, and residents of the RP Home. Also, pray for the fulfillment of the vision of the RPWA Board of Directors that, in the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual care of the residents, all will be done in the spirit of Galatians 5:14: “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

The Youth Ministries Committee of Synod

Is your congregation blessed with young people? Infants immediately bring smiles to our faces and make us feel loved when they notice us. Toddlers amaze us with their newfound mastery of motor skills and with their eagerness to pray. Grade schoolers excitedly take us into their world by sharing some new thing they have learned or accomplished, and we are blessed to see their faith in God grow. High schoolers use their energy and developing social and spiritual gifts to help the congregation. College-age folks begin to take up responsibilities of church committees. The body of Christ includes these younger folks, and, like everyone else in the body, they have gifts to share for the good of God’s kingdom.

This younger demographic also has needs that the body of Christ is to help fulfill—the most crucial of which are instruction in the Reformed faith and loving discipleship. Instruction and discipleship cannot start too soon. We must keep our young people in prayer and be purposeful when we have interactions with them.

Ministering to our young people on a larger scale, and specifically geared toward our high school and college-age youth, the Youth Ministries Committee of Synod (YMCS), a recipient of RPM&M funds since 2006, encourages presbyteries to offer biblical instruction and fellowship through weekend retreats, conferences, and programs. These events are designed to encourage individual spiritual growth, promote greater understanding and appreciation of Reformed Presbyterian teachings, and spur young hearts to personal evangelism and service in the church. The YMCS will often supply seed money to presbyteries who are seeking to establish these events for their congregations. Funds are also used to help young people from the more isolated presbyteries attend retreats and events so they can build friendships and have the encouragement of fellowshiping with others who hold to the same biblical convictions. YMCS also supports the young people’s activities and events at the RPCNA International Conference, which help build global bonds in the body of Christ.

The YMCS supports Youth Leaders Conferences, focusing on Sabbath school teachers and youth group leaders. Instruction, thoughtful discussion, and encouragement give these leaders helpful insight in the discipling of our youth. YMCS also encourages presbyteries to hold Youth Leadership Conferences for young people, ages 18–25, who desire to be leaders in the RPCNA.

YMCS also uses RPM&M funds to support Theological Foundations for Youth (TFY) and Theological Foundations Backpacking trip (TFB), two programs designed to give intensive training and instruction in Reformed theology, godly living, service to the church, and personal evangelism.

Established in 1999, Theological Foundations for Youth, a joint effort of YMCS and RPTS, is a three-week intensive Reformed theological training program for high school juniors. Participants receive in-depth theological instruction from professors at RPTS in Pittsburgh, Pa. Personal evangelism is also taught, and TFYers share the gospel door-to-door and on local college campuses. TFY students are given the opportunity to serve in the Pittsburgh RP congregations and at the RP Home. They also enjoy fellowship activities with their host church and host families.

Participation in TFY is a life-changing experience that has been a springboard for many young people of the RPCNA to serve the kingdom of God more fully. Please keep this year’s event (July 15–Aug. 2) in prayer. To read more about TFY, go to rpglobalalliance.org and http://rpts.edu/tfy.html.

In summer 2012, the Theological Foundations Backpacking trip made its first trek into the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Now an annual event, it was initiated to offer intense Reformed theological training to young adults of the RPCNA who desire to experience the beauty and challenge of backpacking in the Rocky Mountains. Participants receive instruction and discipleship in the principles of Reformed faith and life from RP pastors Shane Sapp and Jason Ryce, who also serve as their mountain guides. Much of the theological teaching and discipleship is given during the backpacking adventure into the wilds of the Rockies.

TFBers spend six nights and five days on the trails, drinking in the vistas and wonders of the mountains, facing the challenges of the wilderness, bonding with each other, and soaking in the wonderful truths of God’s Word. Participants in TFB are also blessed to worship with the saints at the Westminster, Colo., RPC for two Lord’s Days. These below-the-tree-line days also include instruction in Reformed faith and life from Colorado and Wyoming RP pastors. You can learn more about TFB’s blessings by going to westyrpc.org/the-tfb-experience or rpglobalalliance.org/2017/07/31/tfy-backpacking-trip/. Please keep this year’s event (July 12–22, Indian Peaks Wilderness Area) in prayer.

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The Trustees of Synod are thankful for the financial gifts given to the Reformed Presbyterian Missions & Ministries fund. It makes a difference in the ministries of the RPCNA, including those that benefit the young and old.

Mary Brown lives in Nunn, Colo., with her husband, Clyde, and their four children, Charity, Timothy, Hope, and David. She is a member of Laramie, Wyo., RPC, where her husband serves as an elder.

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Visit the RP Home Facebook page.