Faith Orthodox Presbyterian
Church
1654 Old Rte. 119 Hwy. N.
Indiana, PA 15701
Douglas W. Snyder, Pastor
(724) 464-2210
This page last updated 1/5/04
Services and Activities:
Faith Orthodox Presbyterian Church gathers each Sunday for Sunday School and Worship at 1654 Old Route 119 Highway North of Indiana, PA. Sunday School begins at 9:30, morning worship begins at 10:45 and evening worship at 6:30. On Thursday evenings we have our midweek Bible Study and Prayer Time beginning at 7:00 also in the church building. Fellowship activities are held regularly and are announced as they are planned. You are invited to come visit and worship with us as often as you can.
Our Congregation's Short History:
Faith Orthodox Presbyterian Church held its first worship service at the Indiana YMCA building on May 7, 1995. Through much prayer and counsel, a group of more than fifty people took a step of FAITH and set out to establish a Presbyterian Church that was solidly biblical and Calvinistic where the lost can hear the gospel and be saved, where the saved can hear the word of God preached and taught and grow in the grace, faith and service of the Lord Jesus Christ. And finally, they wanted a church where they could minister to one another and reverently and simply worship God in the joy of His salvation. One month later this group of believers were officially received as a mission congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church under the oversight of the session of Westminster Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Hollidaysburg, PA, which is approximately fifty miles east of Indiana, PA. Elders and deacons were elected and on May 2, 1997 and FAITH Orthodox Presbyterian Church was recognized as a new and separate congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church at that time. On Sunday, September 2, 2001, FAITH Church moved worship services from the Indiana YMCA to her new and present location just two miles north of Indiana along old route 119, just before the intersection with route 110 (Ernest/Creekside Road). Not all who began this journey of FAITH have remained, but others have joined and the commitment to the initial goal is still strong.
What We Believe:
A more detailed summary of what we believe as a Church is found in the historic Westminster Confession of Faith and the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms. Very briefly, we believe that the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ are the final, inspired, inerrant and living Word of God to mankind for all time and the only rule for true faith and practice. We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal and divine Son of God, who took on the form of a man and lived a sinless life. We believe in His virgin birth and the miracles which He performed during His earthly ministry. We believe that He willingly offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice on the cross for the sins of His people. We believe that He died as a substitute for His people on that cross, taking upon Himself their sins and the judgment of God for those sins once and for all. We believe that He was buried and on the first day of the week He rose bodily from being dead. We believe that after appearing to many witnesses, Jesus ascended to heaven where He sovereignly rules over all the affair of mankind and will return in all His heavenly glory with His angels at which time He will judge mankind. We also believe that every person is born a sinner, spiritually dead and is in rebellion against God, and because of this, every person is in need of a Savior. We believe there is nothing that anyone can do or contribute in any way to earn their own salvation, it is a free gift of God's grace. Therefore to know the salvation of God in Jesus Christ, a person must be born again spiritually by Holy Spirit that they then might believe and be saved. These are some of the tenants of the Reformed Faith as summarized in the Westminster Confession and its Catechisms. For more information on the Reformed Faith click on "What is the Reformed Faith?"
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church came in to being in 1936 under the leadership of Dr. J. Greshen Machen through a controversy over liberalism and foreign missions in the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. The word "Orthodox" in the name of the Church indicates the OPC's commitment and adherence to the straight teaching of the Bible and historic Presbyterianism. For more information about the Orthodox Presbyterian Church click on "What is the OPC?"
Where Should I Worship?
There may be no more pressing question for you to ask yourself today. How would you answer? Many would say: "In the church where I was raised," or "Where there is warmth and friendliness." Others seek security in a big church or fellowship in a small church. Choirs, organs, active children, youth and adult programs, beautiful buildings and yes, even the personality of the preacher are primary considerations for many.
But none of these are basis for a proper decision on where to worship. Instead look for these qualities: First -- Faithfulness to God's inspired and infallible Word, the Bible, in doctrine and practice. Many churches today have strayed from this faithfulness. Second -- Biblically correct understanding and practice of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Many churches add other rituals which they call sacraments while still others use the sacraments in ways inconsistent with their biblically intended use. Third -- Seriousness about the people there growing in their understanding and faithful living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every area of life. Many churches uncaringly and unlovingly allow their members to follow the path of destruction rather than trying to lovingly return them to the path of eternal life.
This is where Faith Orthodox Presbyterian Church begins! We cordially invite you to come and worship the Lord with us each Sunday. Faith Orthodox Presbyterian Church is a Gospel believing Presbyterian Church. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church is an evangelical and Calvinistic denomination which believes and teaches that the Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God to mankind for all ages and the only rule for faith and obedience.
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