The Reformed Parish Mission is the outreach effort of Pr. Michael Ives, minister of the Presbyterian Reformed Church. A big part of my vision over the years has been to introduce a robust, confessionally Reformed witness to the inner city—to immigrants, minorities, blue collar whites, and especially Hispanics. I pioneered this work in Providence, R.I. back in 2008 while serving in my first pastoral charge, and am now expanding the work in my new charge in South Jersey (October 2023).
As the name also suggests, I target and ‘adopt’ a defined neighborhood for pastoral, evangelistic care. Inspired especially by Scottish preacher and theologian, Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), I first “chalked out” several streets bordering the north and west sides of Roger Williams Park in South Providence back in 2008. I also later took on a smaller district in my own neighborhood, mostly of working class white folks, though minorities have slowly been moving in. I’ve gone door to door through these districts, introducing myself to them, setting forth the Gospel, and sometimes praying with them. After each year, I would start over at the beginning once again. My aim has been to seek and save the lost, though practical life-help often follows the spiritual care.
I believe that those “on the other side of the tracks” desperately need the Gospel. Yet tragically, its soundest religious expression has little presence there. Instead, one encounters a range of ‘Christianities,’ from well-meaning but misguided forms to downright shameless quackery. What it cries for is the Reformed faith, as expressed masterfully in the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646). It doesn’t need another program or service. It needs rich, expository, doctrinally-sound, and experimental preaching. Preaching that aims for true conversion. It needs regulated worship. It needs Presbyterian church government, starting with a plurality of male elders who are biblically qualified—examples of what a godly man looks like. It needs ministers who are formally accountable to their colleagues. It needs godly discipline, and tender, faithful pastoral care. It needs deacons who can help without hurting. It needs more Reformed churches to move beyond the comfort of their white, middle-class ghettos. Like the lepers outside the city, it is not right for us to horde our newly discovered riches.
I’m not suggesting that there aren’t faithful Christians in the inner city or depressed rural towns. There are many humble saints there of varying tongues and tones that could put many white Reformed types to shame in one area or another. But the truth is no one’s preserve and everyone’s right. For that matter, I’m glad that darker toned Christian missionaries once ‘patronized’ my white, savage European ancestors!
So this is RPM. Among my other blog posts, I share updates of the work in South Jersey and the ongoing effort in Providence. Feel free to visit The Reformed Parish site I use in the community, which is targeted more towards unbelievers and evangelicals unfamiliar with the Reformed faith. So keep in mind that it tends to be evangelistic, apologetic, and doctrinally introductory.
Would you pray for us? E-mail michael@reformedparish.com to be put on our quarterly update list. Or sign up to receive automatic updates from the West Port Experiment site here.
“Except the Lord do build the house,
The builders lose their pain.
Except the Lord the city keep,
The watchmen watch in vain.”
Psalm 127:1 (1650 Metrical Version)
Governance & Donation Information
The Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) is an outreach effort of the Presbyterian Reformed Church, under the authority and oversight of presbytery through our missions committee. If you would consider supporting this work so that I can devote myself more to it, or even to go full-time, it would be a great blessing!
Make a contribution online through our PayPal account. You can also set your contributions to recur monthly or yearly. As alternative to making monthly contributions through PayPal which involves fees, consider setting up a free automatic payment/bill pay by check through your bank.
Checks can be made out to “Reformed Parish Mission.” Mail any contributions to: Reformed Parish Mission, PRC of Corbin City, 1870 Route 50, Woodbine, NJ 08270.
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