Home Missions Today

October 19, 2005

This is Richard Gerber reporting the October 19, 2005 edition of Home Missions Today. God is using your prayers to develop the ministries of Orthodox Presbyterian mission works across North America.

PURCELLVILLE, VIRGINIA—The congregation at Ketoctin Covenant Presbyterian Church is excited about God's grace to them in getting ready to be organized as a new and separate congregation. By the loving mercies and grace of God, the congregation is self-consciously a Reformed family, self-governing with two elders-elect and one deacon-elect, self-propagating, and self-supporting. The church planter, Rev. Charles R. Biggs, is being called as KCPC's first pastor. By God's grace growth in maturity as a congregational-covenant family and in numbers has been evident. KCPC is thankful for this special time and continues to see many evangelicals coming to the Reformed faith because of their witness in the community. Pray that God would help Ketoctin Covenant Presbyterian Church to be even more solidly grounded in his Word. Pray that God would watch over the body as it is formally established as a congregation and that he might give much wisdom to the new session—Mr. Jeff Caspers, Mr. Steve Peters and Pastor Biggs—and bless the service of their deacon-elect Mr. Mark Albright. The service of organization and installation will be on Saturday, November 5th.

ESCONDIDO, CALIFORNIA—Our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ continues to show mercy to Escondido Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Pastor Zach Keele reports that there are four families and a single man who are about to join the church. Additionally, they have begun the process toward organization as a new and separate congregation. Please pray that the Lord would continue to nourish the congregation in the faith, building her up in love and grace as the body of Christ. Pray for the men in elder training class that they may be fully equipped and ordained to the noble office of elder. Pray for the congregation's continued effort to proclaim the gospel to the community, and for the overseeing session as it seeks to shepherd God's flock in the love of Christ.

WEST ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA—Pastor Rob Broline gives thanks to the Lord for the faith of the saints in Immanuel OPC and the love they have for one another. The Lord has blessed them again with the recent births of two covenant children. At the end of the summer, the congregation held a free car wash at the local McDonalds, talking with folks about Immanuel Church and handing out brochures. Some fruit was evident the very next Lord's Day. The Lord also brought visitors throughout the summer months. Please pray that the visitors will return. Pray that God would enable the church to be financially self-supporting during 2006. Pray that God would provide a meeting place for Immanuel to purchase. Five members, including the pastor, were part of "OPC Team 2" that traveled to Picayune, Mississippi, to help in the hurricane relief effort with the PCA. Pray that the Lord would use the efforts of the OPC together with the PCA to encourage the saints in their faith, and to open doors for the preaching and reception of the gospel.

Look for the next edition of Home Missions Today on Wednesday, November 2 or call 215/830-9424 ext. 46.