History

The First RPC of Grand Rapids is new to the RPCNA but has a history of seven years of worship and witness as a congregation of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARPC).  Their first services were held in Feb. 2000.

Members came from Reformed and evangelical churches in and around Grand Rapids. The church has sought to be a refuge for those who have been hurt by many of the conflicts of the day, including the so-called “worship-wars.” They welcome all who desire to return to the old paths of biblical faith and worship, as identified in the Westminster Standards and the Three Forms of Unity.  

Since there was no piano or organ in the church’s meeting place, they decided to do without. With the aid of precentor and pitch pipe, they discovered the beauty of singing the Psalms with no instrumental accompaniment. Members and visitors often comment on how this practice makes the encounter with the words of the psalm much more distinct and impressive.        

Many members came from a Dutch Reformed background. They were familiar with The Psalter of 1912, so that became the church’s official book of praise.  Other Dutch Reformed customs, such as the reading of the Law, use of the Apostles’ Creed, and serial exposition of the Heidelberg Catechism, were also retained.  The result has been a blending of things “Dutch” and “Scottish.”  Experience shows that these two great Reformed traditions can coexist quite peaceably and fruitfully.   

As years passed, geographical isolation proved to be a barrier to full participation in the wider life and witness of the ARP Church. Although committed to the biblical principles of Presbyterianism, the church came to function more and more as an independent congregation.  The problem became acute when one member, Nathan Eshelman, enrolled in Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary to train for the ministry. It did not seem practical for him to apply to the ARP Northeast Presbytery to be taken under care as a student. Nathan felt the Lord leading him in a different direction, to ministry in the RPCNA.  

In late 2006, the congregation began to look for a solution to its problem. It was discovered that the congregation was encircled by RPCNA congregations, all within a few hours’ drive, in all directions of the compass: Hetherton, Mich.; Southfield, Mich.; Belle Center, Ohio; Elkhart, Ind.; Lafayette, Ind.; and Prairie View, Ill.; all belonging to the Great Lakes–Gulf Presbytery.  

Nathan Eshelman attended the fall meeting of the Great Lakes–Gulf Presbytery and brought back a glowing report. He asked the session to consider uniting with the RPCNA. The possibility was discussed at the Dec. 2006 annual meeting of the congregation. They agreed to invite representatives of that presbytery to visit and present the life and work of the RPCNA to the congregation. The church gathered to “Meet the Reformed Presbyterians” in Feb. 2007. In March, Pastor Ray Lanning, Doug Sikma, and Nathan Eshelman attended the spring meeting of presbytery to see firsthand how it goes about its work.  In May 2007, the session voted to recommend to the congregation joining the RPCNA. The congregation in turn voted to authorize the session to request “transfer of jurisdiction” from the Northeast Presbytery, ARPC, to the Great Lakes–Gulf Presbytery, RPCNA. 

After all the ground work was done, a meeting of Great Lakes–Gulf Presbytery was called for on Oct. 26-27 in Grand Rapids. One urgent matter was a new name for the congregation. An appeal for suggestions yielded a list of more than 40 possibilities; the session selected 7 to put before the congregation. In balloting on Oct. 14, a majority of votes was cast for “First Reformed Presbyterian Church.”  In due course, the presbytery met and adopted the recommendations of its Grand Rapids Commission.  On the morning of Friday, Oct. 26, Pastor Lanning was examined and received into presbytery, and that night, in a joyous service of worship, the members affirmed the vows of communicant membership, and covenanted to live together as an organized congregation, according to the Constitution of the RPCNA. 

Ministries

• Morning and evening worship each Sabbath with quarterly administration of the Lord’s supper.
• Sabbath school for all ages focusing on Scripture and the Reformed confessions.
• Wednesday evening Bible study and prayer meetings in the homes of our members.
• Fellowship meal and book study, featuring a “Puritan Paperback,” on the last Lord’s Day of each month, at the close of evening worship.
• The church web site featuring the sermons preached in the church, weekly bulletins and announcements, and other information about the congregation.
• A February conference on practical theology.

• Individual members are engaged in various local ministries, including Cross Road Ministries, Pregnancy Resource Center, Forgotten Man Ministries, Bible Study Fellowship, and Grace Home School Association.   Our Needs

• Pray for the session and congregation, as they learn to be Reformed Presbyterians, that they may quickly become fully engaged in the work of their new presbytery and denomination. 
  

• Pray that the members become better equipped to present Christ to friends and neighbors.
• Pray for those presently taking instruction to become communicant members.
• Pray for the midwinter conference on practical Reformed theology.
• Pray for seminarian Nathan Eshelman as he completes his training this year.
• Pray that this church will be used of the Lord in future Michigan church plants.
• Pray that the church can have a ministry to RP students who desire to attend one of west Michigan’s many colleges, universities, trade schools, art institutes, graduate schools, and seminaries.
• Pray that the transfer into the RPCNA will promote greater fellowship with the ARPC and our sister NAPARC denominations.