RPCNA | Great Lakes/Gulf Presbytery | Lafayette (Indiana, USA)
Organized: November 1968
Elders: Pastor Adam Niess, Ken Nelson, Jeff Kessler, Chris Stockwell, Bob Bibby, and Dan Webb (who recently retired from active duties)
Deacons: G. Michael Fielding, Aaron Hartzler, Bob Sabolich, Nathan Stockwell, and Beni Wilson
Members: 83 Communicant, 37 Baptized
In 1965, Roy Blackwood, from 2nd RPC in Indianapolis, began a Bible study in the West Lafayette area. A couple years later, Ray and Alice Joseph moved to the West Lafayette area in order to become involved in the ministry. Boasting 15 members, the RPC of West Lafayette was officially organized as a congregation of the RPCNA in November 1968. The name was changed to RPC of Lafayette after purchasing the current building in Lafayette in 1996. God has been faithful in growing and sustaining us, and in November 2018, we celebrated our 50th anniversary as a congregation!
Ministries
Over the years, God has blessed the RPC of Lafayette with many ministry opportunities. God has birthed two congregations through the ministry of RPCL: Sycamore Fellowship in Kokomo, Indiana and Immanuel RPC, located in nearby West Lafayette. We now have a have a joint youth group with Immanuel RP.
Purdue CORPS is our student ministry (Purdue University is based in near by West Lafayette). Students meet regularly throughout the academic year for Friday fellowship, fireside chats on Sunday evenings, and smaller group discipling and Bible studies during the week. We also host an annual CORPS Winter Conference open to all college age young adults which includes teaching sessions, workshops, worship, outdoor activities, games, a “stump the pastors” session, and lots of fellowship!
Community outreach opportunities have included a jail ministry for over 30 years, community picnic, backyard Bible club in the summer, and a recent “Living With Cancer” seminar.
Get in Touch
If you’re in the area, please visit us! We are worshipping in person again, following parameters detailed on our website. Services are at 9:30 am and 6:00 pm EDT. We are also still live streaming our services, so you can visit us remotely. If you’re on Facebook, please check us out: RPC Lafayette and Purdue Corps.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for:
- God’s continued blessing on the labor of our members serving at home, in the community, and those in active ministry (Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. – Psalm 127:1)
- Continued growth in our service and love for one another (By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. – John 13:34)
- For the preaching of God’s word each week to accomplish all God’s purpose in the hearts of those who hear (…so shall My word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:11)
Special thanks to Mrs. Janet Wagner for compiling this information for the RP family around the world. Janet is the wife of Buck Wagner and mother of adult children Ruth and David. She married into the RP denomination and Lafayette congregation in 1983 and has been a happy Psalm singer ever since!
If you want to see your congregation featured here, get in touch through our contact page. We’d love to hear from you!
