About Pisgah ARP Church
Who We Are
For 200 years, Pisgah ARP has been deeply rooted in Gaston County, welcoming generations of believers into our spiritual home. We are a community united by faith, committed to our vision of Reaching Up through worship, Reaching In through discipleship, and Reaching Out through service and evangelism.
We believe that church isn’t just a Sunday destination but a family where everyone belongs. Whether you’re exploring faith for the first time or seeking a church home, we invite you to discover more about our story, values, and beliefs through the links below.
Our Vision
At the heart of our church family is a simple yet profound vision that guides everything we do: Reach Up, Reach In, and Reach Out. Our vision is based on the Great Commision found in Matthew 28:18-20.
When Jesus ascended into heaven after he was raised from the dead, he gave his disciples a mission:
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
As Jesus’ Church, this is our mission too. We seek to go and make disciples through our Vision: Reaching Up, Reaching In and Reaching Out for Jesus Christ.
Reaching Up
Worshiping, Sacrificially living, and Responding to God’s grace in Jesus Christ.
Reaching In
Serving, Supporting, and Strengthening each other for life in Christ.
Reaching Out
Creating and Strengthening Relationships as witnesses for Jesus Christ.
Our Beliefs
Our beliefs are taken from and are in solidarity with our denomination, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. You can learn more about our denominational beliefs and standards on the ARP church website.
We, as members of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, in order to carry out God’s mission, profess our life together in Christ and our desire to set forth a united strategy for the work of His church. We express our desire to continue to be a Presbyterian and Reformed church committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to the Bible as the Word of God. Rooted in and shaped by a living tradition, we are part of the new creation in Christ which God is bringing into existence.
Therefore, we are committed to:
- The worship of the Triune God.
- The Holy Scriptures as the basis for our faith and activity.
- Unity with other believers in Christ.
- Total stewardship of life, including tithing of time, talents, and money.
- Excellence in education and equipping leaders for tomorrow.
- Loving and caring for one another and for other people.
- Spreading the Gospel to all parts of the world.
- Evaluating and changing church structures and priorities in order to meet the challenges of the future while preserving the best of the past.
To this end and in humble reliance upon the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, we covenant together to pray steadfastly that God will open doors of opportunity so that we may declare the riches of Christ.
More about our denomination
What is "ARP"?
We are a part of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian denomination.
The ARP has its roots in Scotland where two churches, the Associate Presbytery and the Reformed Presbytery, split from the Established Presbyterian Church of Scotland. During the years of 1750-1770, groups from these churches emigrated to the Pennsylvania area where they joined together officially in 1782.
Learn more about the ARP’s History through our ARP History Series on Youtube. This series was taught by our former minister, Rev. Rick Lewis, in 2021.
Associate
Associate refers to our adherence to the Bible as the inspired and infallible Word of God, serving as our highest authority for faith, worship, and life.
This word was adopted by the Associate Presbytery in 1733 when it divided from the Church of Scotland when King William III began using secular authority to oversee the church.
Reformed
This refers to our Reformed theology, which is essentially Calvinistic in its doctrine. We follow the Reformed faith as expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger & Shorter Catechism.
Our theological foundation rests upon the historic doctrines of the Protestant Reformation, summarized through two key frameworks: The Five Solas and The Five Points of Calvinism: TULIP.
Presbyterian
Presbyterian refers to our form of church government. We recognize Christ as the head of the Church, with leadership in the local church entrusted to elders (presbyters) elected by the congregation.
Our government model has built-in accountability at every level. Local congregations are led by elders who are accountable to regional Presbyteries—groups of churches represented by their local church elders— which in turn answer to our denomination’s highest authority, the General Synod. The ARP Church operates through three General Synods worldwide: North America, Mexico, and Pakistan—ensuring both local autonomy and global connection throughout our denomination.