Home Missions Today

November 11, 2009

This is Richard Gerber reporting the November 11, 2009, edition of Home Missions Today. God is using your prayers to develop the ministries of Orthodox Presbyterian mission works across North America.

SAINT MARY'S COUNTY, MARYLAND—Pastor Edd Cathey gives thanks that Grace and Peace OPC recently received twelve communicant members and six non-communicants. Three of the communicants made a public profession of faith and one was also baptized. The congregation continues to become more organized. A board of trustees is now serving. The session is planning a conference on Biblical conflict resolution with Rev. Andrew Selle of the Presbytery of New York and New England for January 22-24. A conference on church music is planned for April 30 - May 1, with Dr. Tim Shafer, professor of piano at Pennsylvania State University and member of Westminster OPC in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, and Mr. Bernard Vallandingham, violinist, who is music director at Grace and Peace. They will also perform together in a public concert. Please pray that these events will edify the congregation and increase their witness in the community. Pray for the session as they forge ahead with plans to expand the church facility and for unity in the face of new challenges and opportunities.

CALHAN, COLORADO—Praise the Lord for a young man who was received into membership in September and for a young woman who will be received via transfer this month. Thank the Lord that he has seen fit to raise up a man from within the congregation as a ruling elder candidate. He is currently in training and will be voted upon at the annual congregational meeting in January. Recently a couple was lost to a move to the Seattle area. Pray that God would provide good OPC fellowship for them there. Pray also that upcoming worship services at Thanksgiving and Christmas will be of profit to growth in grace and outreach into the community.

ELMONT, NEW YORK—Cristo el Rey OPC, a Spanish-language mission near New York City, is now meeting in a rented American Legion hall each Sunday for worship at 11a.m. The congregation is thrilled to be in this new spot at this prime time and has been working to reach out to the Spanish-speakers of Elmont. This is where the famous Belmont Racetrack is located. Please give thanks for the Lord's provision of this meeting place. Cristo el Rey recently lost their biggest family (they are Calvinistic Baptists), and so attendance for morning worship has been down a little lately. Please remember to pray for more families to join the congregation, especially men. The free English classes Evangelist Nathan Ketchen teaches have been the best way to open up opportunities to talk about the gospel. Of the eight students in the class, six are new contacts, and one has already begun to attend morning worship with his son. Pray that the Lord would lead Pastor Ketchen to more solid contacts like these. Remember these students in your prayers, that they would learn the language and respond to the gospel. Give thanks to the Lord that the Reformed faith is being proclaimed in the Spanish language near New York City!

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Please continue to pray for outreach efforts in Anacostia, an area of Washington, D.C. Currently, efforts are underway to establish a Monday night fellowship in order to make new disciples in this very needy area. Pray that this outreach would grow. Please pray that the Lord would grant church planter Joshua Curl wisdom in meeting physical needs where he can, but also that he would have a love and boldness to point people to their true need. Pray that there would be good cooperation with those ministries already in Anacostia and that God would continue to open doors to spread the gospel.

Look for the next edition of Home Missions Today on Wednesday, November 25 or call 215-830-9424 ext. 46.

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