The first seeds of Resurrection were sown in 2007. In that year, a family from the State College area began worshiping at Westminster Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Hollidaysburg – a community about an hour south of State College. Though they settled into the Westminster congregation for several years, this family never lost the desire to see a new Reformed church planted in their hometown…
A few years later, in 2009-2010, the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) began plans to establish a new presbytery (regional church body) covering the central regions of Pennsylvania. With a passion for planting new churches, the churches that would soon form the Presbytery of Central Pennsylvania (PCPA) turned their eyes toward two communities: western Williamsport and State College.
As they considered State College, PCPA representatives made contact with the State College family who had joined Westminster OPC. They also held discussions with existing Presbyterian and Reformed congregations in the State College community about the possibility of starting an OPC work. These initial, exploratory steps yielded favorable results.
In April 2010, a monthly Bible study began in the home of the State College family under the oversight of Westminster OPC. Different men from PCPA made trips to State College over the next months to lead this Bible study and to help the group evaluate its potential as a church plant.
By the beginning of 2011, the Bible study had grown. Evening worship services began on March 21. By summer, Westminster OPC had selected a man to serve as the stated supply for the new mission church. The fledgling congregation chose the name 'Resurrection,' and in August 2011 added a morning worship service. A few months later, Westminster OPC called an evangelist to serve as Resurrection's organizing pastor.
From 2012-2014, God grew Resurrection from less than 20 to more than 60 members. On August 22, 2014, the members of Resurrection met and voted to petition PCPA to organize them as a new and separate congregation of the OPC. At this same meeting, they elected four men to become their ruling elders and called their appointed organizing pastor to continue as their elected pastor. PCPA approved Resurrection's petition at its 3rd quarterly meeting of PCPA on September 20, 2014, and organized the congregation at a special service on October 3, 2014.
Since that time, Resurrection has continued to worship God, walk together in love, and witness to the State College and Centre Region community. At present, there are more than 70 members. Between 50-70 souls regularly meet for worship on the Lord's Day. If you are curious about what these services look like, you may download our weekly bulletin.
Resurrection is an ordinary church that serves an extraordinary God. The heartbeats of our congregation are the weekly morning and evening worship services. Each service is followed by a time of coffee, conversation, and snacks. In addition to worship, there is Sunday School for all ages and several monthly events. Resurection maintains personal ministry to Penn State students, and seeks to assist existing campus during the fall and spring semesters – especially those ministering to international students.
Though you can always read more about us, the best way to get to know Resurrection is to join us for worship. Please come and be our guest!