Los Angeles RPC

Location: Los Angeles, Calif.

Presbytery: Pacific Coast Presbytery

Organization Date: March 11, 1904

Membership: 58 communicants

Pastor: Nathan Eshelman

Web site: www.rpcla.org

The History

“Los Angeles is a rapidly growing and beautiful city. The winter resort of thousands and the home of many thousands more who have found the climate, both winter and summer, and other surroundings the most ideal of any part of America,” wrote P.J. McDonald in 1903 to the Christian Nation magazine. One year later, First Reformed Presbyterian Church (RPCLA) was organized under the authority of the Colorado Presbytery. The original building was a wood-framed tent that was covered in canvas. It was never intended to be permanent, and by 1907 the congregation had erected a new building in a well-suited area of Los Angeles. The congregation was debt free at the building’s dedication. The current location of the congregation was built in 1947 and had a major Sabbath school and fellowship wing added in 1959. Over its 105-year history, RPCLA has seen 11 pastors and numerous elders and deacons. RPCLA has also sent out and supported a significant number of global missionaries.

The Ministry

The congregation’s leadership currently consists of Elders David Ashleigh, Tim McCracken (Fresno, RPC), and Hector Pino. The pastor is Nathan Eshelman. The diaconate consists of Ingrid Birdsall and Mike Heft. The congregation is also blessed with the faithful labors of a beadle, Scott Fleming.

Pastor Eshelman was ordained and installed on Feb. 14, 2009, which served as a milestone for the congregation. This was marked with the restoration of the pastor’s study and Mr. Eshelman working out of the church building. This has given many congregants new hope and concern for the neighborhood in which the building is located.

The leadership is organizing a ministry planning day. The congregation will gather for prayer, singing, meditation, and seeking the Lord’s desire and strategy for 21st Century urban ministry with her members and towards the community.

The pastor is currently preaching a series entitled, “The Church Christ Builds” (available on Reformed Voice). The congregation meets for a prayer meeting on the Sabbath Day, followed by Sabbath school. The Sabbath school classes consist of a study of the book of Genesis, a Spanish-speaking class on the Westminster Standards, a young people’s society working through worldview-related courses, a catechumens class studying the Shorter Catechism, and a Bible stories class for the youngest members.

Morning worship begins at 11 a.m. and there is an afternoon service that follows (new as of Mar. 1,). Fellowship meals are on the first and third Lord’s Day of each month. The leadership is exploring ways to make the mealtime more spiritually beneficial. There is a congregational prayer letter that is sent out entitled Before the Throne of Grace (email if you would like to be added to the prayer list).

RPCLA has a Spanish-speaking ministry in which the worship services are translated into Spanish and heard through earbuds. Joel Chairez and Higinio Hernandez faithfully serve as the translators. RPCLA also has Missionary Heather Huizing serving as a Cush4Christ member. RPCLA has had members serve in Armenia, China, Cyprus, Japan, Sudan, Syria, and other places.

Prayer Requests

• Please be in prayer for RPCLA’s senior members and the trials that come with this stage of life.
• Praise God as the congregation seeks a common vision and strategy for ministry.
• Seek the Lord’s will for how RPCLA would best serve the Glassell Park and Eagle Rock neighborhoods of Los Angeles.
• Pray for the upcoming election of elders and deacons on Apr. 25.
• Continue to uphold Missionary Heather Huizing in Sudan.
• Pray that RPCLA would be a blessing to the city in which God has placed it.