Home Missions Today

February 8, 2006

This is Ross Graham reporting the February 8, 2006, edition of Home Missions Today. God is using your prayers to develop the ministries of Orthodox Presbyterian mission works across North America.

BRAINERD, MINNESOTA—Church of the Lakes began her second year in a new location last November, in the area of Brainerd, Minnesota. Pastor Roger Gibbons reports that the congregation is meeting in the Northland Arboretum, a new building with log-style construction. The location is convenient and visible, as 5700 cars per day pass the entrance to the Arboretum. It will provide them with room to seat 100 or more. They now have six families and four single young men of college age attending. Attendance averages about 25, sometimes going over 30. Most of the people are long-term residents of the area with many contacts. Congregational fellowship is a great delight, demonstrating the love and compassion of Christ. Pray for the faithful preaching of the Word of God and that it will be attended with the power and demonstration of the Spirit. Pray, too, that the Lord will bless the church with many new contacts as they reach out to the community with newspaper ads and mailings.

OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON—The congregation of Reformation OPC is excited that the Lord has continued into the New Year to bring a steady stream of visitors to their worship services. Five families have been added into membership in 2005 and several additional families are interested in joining this year. Pastor Brett McNeill is changing the advertising strategy of the church this year, reducing the number of newspapers in which they are advertising, and focusing some resources into radio advertising. Pastor McNeill rejoices to see the Lord bringing spiritual growth in members of the congregation. Please pray for the ministry of the Word at Reformation, that the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ will be held high and declared with great clarity and power. And pray that the Lord will raise up men from their midst to serve in the offices of elder and deacon.

HELENA, MONTANA—Since May 2005, when it became an organized congregation, Elkhorn Presbyterian Church has added one new family to its membership, and another family is regularly attending. Interim organizing pastor Richard Venema reports that the mid-week Bible study group has been studying A Christian Manifesto, by Francis A. Schaeffer, in an effort to learn how to more effectively come back to biblical standards from the influence of the humanistic cultural drift away from God's absolutes. A pastoral search committee was formed in October of 2005, and it has been receiving numerous applications and inquiries relative to the position. Pray for wisdom for the committee as it reviews applications in this most important matter.

ESCONDIDO, CALIFORNIA—The second of three "Readiness for Ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church" seminars will be held at Westminster Seminary California in Escondido on February 17-18. Pray that the Lord will use the seminar to help the men who attend to be more fully prepared for ministry. Pray, too, that the Lord of the Harvest will send laborers into his harvest field through the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

Look for the next edition of Home Missions Today on Wednesday, February 22 or call 215-830-9424 ext. 46.