OUR HISTORY

The Lord created a hunger in the hearts of some people in New Westminster to hear the whole counsel of God, and, with that, to worship God in spirit and truth. Early in 1990, therefore, a few families started meeting together, privately and in their own homes, to encourage one another in their Christian faith, and to see, at the same time, whether it was the will of the Lord to organize them as a church. Every Sunday morning these families attended whatever church they wanted on their own, but then in the evening they would come together, listen to tapes of sermons, and engage in corporate worship.

These were fearful days, at times, but also days of joy and blessing. The people sensed that they were not alone, but that, despite their small number, the hand of God was clearly upon them. By June of that same year, however, some people within the group felt that the time had come to take the next step. Having heard Mr. Aicken preach at the Surrey O.C.R.C., they approached him and requested that he meet with them at one of their own evening services. Mr. Aicken had been a Presbyterian minister and was open to receiving a call. He met with them, as requested, and, after a time of worship, plans were made to hold regular services, morning and evening, every Lord’s Day from then on with Mr. Aicken as pulpit supply.

The first such service was held on Sunday morning, 1 July, 1990, at Shiloh United Church in Sapperton, with eleven households in attendance. Before the end of the year, the group (now calling itself the Orthodox Reformed Church of New Westminster) extended a pastoral call to Mr. Aicken, which he happily accepted. Early in 1991, less than a year after its formation, the O.R.C. of New Westminster (along with another newly formed church, the O.R.C. of Kelowna) joined the federation of Orthodox Christian Reformed Churches.

The O.R.C. of New Westminster began to grow, numerically, as the years passed. It also continued to meet at Shiloh United Church until that building was sold in 2005.  By God's gracious provision, however, the very day they learned they would have to vacate that property they secured another place to meet.  And, in a very short time, it was confirmed.  Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in uptown New Westminster gave them permission to begin meeting there.  Here, once again, was clear evidence of God’s hand upon them, leading and blessing them along the way.

The Orthodox Reformed Church of New Westminster is presently an independent congregtion, but is looking to join another federation of churches in the near future. 

With the Lord’s help, let us press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus ( Phil. 3:14)!

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