Guest post by Zac Wyse.
Zac is is an Ohio native and intern at Oceanside United Reformed Church. He spent 5 years working with Christian university fellowships in Europe and is pursuing an M.Div. at Westminster Seminary California. He blogs at Cincinnati Reformed Church.
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Being Reformed is not only about defending the faith but also propagating it. As the Heidelberg Catechism reminds us, “the kingdom of heaven is opened to believers” by the preaching of the gospel “and shut against unbelievers” by church discipline (Questions 83–84). Therefore, we believe that the spread of Christ’s kingdom occurs as churches obey His command to preach the gospel, administer the sacraments, and exercise church discipline.
For a number of years, it has been my hope and prayer to plant such a church in west Cincinnati. German immigrants populated this city; Protestants tended to settle in the east and Roman Catholics, in the west. Today, crossing Interstate 75 can feel like swimming the Tiber. A map of the NAPARC congregations in the metropolitan area illustrates this divide.
A group of west side families has shared my longing, though, so I am spending January away from Westminster Seminary California trying to find more, hoping to assemble a core group. We are holding White Horse Inn Discussion Groups to meet new people and getting together on Sundays to discuss what it would be like to plant a URCNA church that is Reformed in theology, piety, and practice.
If you know anyone in Cincinnati, please pass along the word. More information is available at www.cincinnatireformed.com, and you can contact me here. If you don’t know anyone living in the Queen City, you can still help out by “liking” this Facebook page and this one.
R. Scott Clark
R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.
More by R. Scott Clark ›
I know there is an RPCNA church plant in process in the northern suburb of Sharonville.
http://www.reformedohio.com/index.php?p=1_4_About
My wife is from Cinci and they need as many reformed churches as possible in that town.
Zac is an amazing individual. He was an intern at Christ Reformed Church, Washington D.C. During such a short period of time, I saw him give selflessly to help our congregation. Personally, he helped me through some difficult times and I am thankful for his fellowship and wisdom. Cincinnati should be most thankful and supportive for a servant like him to lead and hopefully adminster Word and Sacrament.