Location: Indianapolis, Ind.

Presbytery: Great Lakes–Gulf

Organization: Oct. 16, 1964

Membership: 195 communicant; 44 baptized

Pastors: James Faris and Joel Hart

Website: www.2RP.church

Church App: get.theapp.co/69f8

Second Reformed Presbyterian Church (2RP) in Indianapolis was named “Second” at its inception to pay homage to the first RPCNA congregation in Indianapolis (1867–1870). The congregation is centered in the green space on the northwest side of the city that was Indianapolis’s first suburb.

The Lord has provided a place to worship in a garden-like, seven-acre plot. The setting fosters rest and refreshment for the people of God. Then, as the saints leave worship each week, they pull onto Michigan Road with a clear view of the downtown skyline and a vision to seek first the kingdom of God in all the relationships of life.

However, some stay throughout the week. Three residences on the church property house members seeking to grow in the Lord; their presence fosters a strong sense of community in the neighborhood.

The age-diverse congregation has its heaviest concentration of members in the baby boomer and millennial generations. Second RP sent more than 75 members to daughter a church (Christ Church RP) 12 years ago, including many then-young families. Consequently, 2RP today notices a gap of members in their middle years who would ordinarily be ready for leadership positions.

However, the Lord has blessed the congregation with many wise elders and active deacons. The elders shepherd the flock in groupings of 50, with two elders taking foremost responsibility for each group. Ruling elder Dean Filson serves part-time to assist the pastors, and office manager Jenny Blankenship and facilities manager Aaron Murray also serve as staff.

In 2017, the congregation sent many people to India to church plant and sent many to other congregations as well. With a desire to foster local and global vision in 2018, the elders led the congregation in new ways. Joel Hart was called as associate pastor. A renewed focus was placed on zealous worship. Through preaching on Acts and Ezra, the congregation has considered Jesus’s work of building and rebuilding today. Attention has been given to more reverent, orderly, personal, and expansive public prayer as well as prayer in small groups. New emphasis is also being placed on teaching our children, raising up leaders, and stewardship of our facilities through updating and renovations. As we have prayed for revival in our midst, the Lord has graciously returned to us several prodigals in recent years, and we pray that they will be firstfruits of more to come.

The congregation has many active ministries both within and without the walls of the church that serve the church and give opportunities for service. Recently, one new ministry has been facilitated through Harvest USA to equip members to come alongside those struggling with sexual sin and addiction.

Digital-age ministries include live-streamed worship services for shut-ins through the church website and a congregational app to share information and resources. Social media outreach is a new area of focus in hope of putting the gospel before the eyes of many and to strengthen personal outreach of individuals to their friends.

Jesus promised to build His church. We are grateful that He continues to do that work today in Indianapolis at 2RP. Pray that He would keep us and glorify His name in this city.

Prayer Requests

• That the Lord would raise up elders and deacons in coming years.

• That students of theology would know God’s call on their lives.

• That our children would be taught of God and that prodigals would return.

• That Jesus would build His church through the ministries of the church.