REACHING THE SOUTHWEST
Starting with Prayer
The most common way churches get started is via Mr. iphone. A phone call stirs up things— “Hello, my wife and I live in Pecos, Texas. Is there anyway you might be able help us. We’re interested in starting an Orthodox Presbyterian Church.” After that initial conversation, we set Mr. iphone to the side and we pray.
"What is prayer?"
"Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to His will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgement of His mercies." From the Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 98.
We can begin to pray and pray with our eyes open. “Oh God, who lives around us? Gracious Father, lead us step by step. Exalt Your own name. Show us opportunities.”
One opportunity can mean turning to established churches, their leaders and members, in the area where you live. Turn to them and ask for their prayers. That might seem odd. Is it out-of-line to ask neighboring believers to pray? To pray with you for the start of another church? Doctrinal convictions held by our varied local churches are to be prized. Think of the Apostles’ Creed. Our doctrinal convictions root us with the historic professing church. There’s one bedrock foundation that we all share. It’s getting down with bended knee—side by side to acknowledge God is Lord and we are but men. So we pray.
On this matter of bended knee before the Lord of lords and going to prayer, the author and teacher, James I. Packer, put a sweet-smelling pie into the oven and baked us a good’n. What do we mean? Square one for all theology is the reign of God—the Bible teaches of Him who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who, in His Lordship, is over all and in all and through all. That is square one for the professing Christian. Packer writes:
“…God is sovereign in His world…if you are a Christian, you believe this already. How do I know that? Because I know that, if you are a Christian, you pray; the recognition of God’s sovereignty is the basis of your prayers. In prayer, you ask for things and give thanks for things. Why? Because you recognize that God is the author and source of all the good that you hope for in the future. This is the fundamental philosophy of Christian prayer.” Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, p. 11
Starting churches requires genuine, Christ-exalting, fervent prayer. Contact me, I am willing to pray with you; 541-450-1982 or gmarksumpter@gmail.com.
"Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up."
(Romans 15:2)
"There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold"
(Acts 4:34)
"...but let us encourage one another..."
(Heb 10:25)
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."
(2 Pet 3:18)
For The Harvest
Begins with you
Easel evangelism delivered to the Chinese-American Fellowship near downtown Houston
Mission
For The Harvest, the church planting arm of the Presbytery of the Southwest (OPC), provides hope in neighborhoods and cities of Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas by reaching out to hurting couples, lonely singles, wayward teens, and forgotten children. We affirm: starting new churches moves the gospel forward transforming lives. The message of Christ changes everything. It always brings hope. Your prayers and your financial gifts move forward the good news of Jesus Christ!
Purpose
To proclaim Christ, share the gospel - the good news of God's plan of salvation - to strengthen our local churches and to plant new churches in the spirit of the Great Commission.
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20
Proclaiming Christ
With trusting Christ, comes a new desire to live in the strength of the Holy Spirit and follow the Word of God, the Bible. With gladness and joy believers and their children worship the Lord each Sunday. As local OPC churches throughout the Southwest, we show love to God and others that they might learn of Christ and be saved.
Building Churches
For The Harvest reaches out to everyone. The seeker, skeptic, and spiritually hungry. We anticipate God will minister to us, transforming us by his grace. In studying the Word of God, we see the unfolding message of Jesus Christ light up across the pages of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. He ignites our faith to build something eternal. He draws near to us and challenges us to grow.
Changing Lives
For The Harvest promotes the biblical truth that through the person and work of Jesus Christ, God’s wonderful gift of his Son, any man, woman, and child, may call upon the Lord and be saved. By Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, Jesus secured forgiveness for all who desire it. He offers new life—hope, purpose, and wholeness in order to glorify and enjoy our God forever. Faith in Christ leads to thankful service. What good news for our day and time! The message of Christ changes everything! Hope abounds in the grace of the gospel, and we find ourselves awed by the truth, goodness, and beauty of who God is and what he has done for us.
Mission Fields
New Mission Churches
We invite you to pray for new churches springing up around the Southwest. We are seeking to establish the faithful worship of God, Christ-centered discipleship and fellowship, care and compassion for the physically and emotionally weak, and training one another to move forward with the gospel, starting more churches. By God’s grace alone, our efforts are expanding and growing.
Arkansas
New Mexico
Oklahoma
OPC Prayer Group, Oklahoma City, OK
Contact: Pastor Mark Sumpter
Phone: 541-450-1982
Email: gmarksumpter@gmail.com
Texas
Hays County OPC, Kyle, TX
Pastor Corey Paige
Phone: (512) 265-5465
Email: opccoreypaige@gmail.com
Our meeting place: Comfort Suites in Kyle, 5213 Physicians Way, Kyle, TX 78640
Good Shepherd OPC, Sugar Land, TX
Pastor Mark Wheat
Phone: (346) 291-5741
Email: mark.wheat@gsopc.org
Our meeting place: 8202 Homeward Way, Sugar Land, TX 77479
Heritage Presbyterian Church, New Braunfels, TX
Pastor Carl Miller
Phone: (830) 358-7020
Email: miller.7@opc.org
Our meeting place: 1495 North Business 35 Suite 130, New Braunfels, TX 78130.
Living Stone OPC Mission, Wichita Falls, TX
Contact: Mr. Jaron Judd
Phone (940) 263-1293
Email: livingstonefellowshipwf@gmail.com
Website: livingstonewf.org
Our meeting place: 3115 Buchanan Street, Wichita Falls, TX 76308
Providence Church, Bryan, TX
Pastor Harry Monroe
Phone (682) 234-4282
Email: HarryLMonroe@gmail.com
Our meeting place: 501 Industrial Blvd., Bryan, TX 77803
Redeemer Fellowship, Crosby, TX
Contact: Pastor Aaron Mize (Pastor, Providence OPC, Kingwood, TX)
Phone: (281) 846-5573
Email: aaron@providencepres.com
Our meeting place: 5202 1st Street, Crosby, TX 77582
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Waco, TX
Pastor Miller Ansell
Phone: (254) 374-0774
Email: info@trinitywaco.org
Our meeting place: 4600 Sanger Ave, Waco, TX 76710
Other OPC Sites
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