Hopewell Presbyterian Church (PCA)

We are located on 1571 South Anderson Road in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Parking: We have a large parking lot right in front of the church.

There is no dress code here: some of our people wear a coat and tie, some are more informal.

We encourage children to remain with their parents during worship, however we do provide an option for children under the age of 5 during worship. Our nursery room is also available for parents to use when needed.

Hopewell is blessed to have a large Family Life Center with a dining hall, full gym, and a large kitchen. There is a newly installed playground and a renovated nursery. Our cemetery is located on Neelys Creek Road.

Question 88 from The Shorter Catechism tells us: “The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption are his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.”

In plain language, there is no need to add sensational components to the worship service to worship God. So if you are looking for loud music, lights and smoke, skits and videos, Hopewell is not going to be what you are looking for. If you are looking to worship God in Spirit and truth, that is what we strive for. What can man add to what God has already provided – the Word, the sacraments, prayer?

The term “presbyterian” refers to the type of church government we have. It means “rule by elders” and that is how our church functions. We have elected elders who manage all affairs of the church – physical and spiritual.

Since “presbyterian” only tells you what type of church government we have, you may want to know what kind of Presbyterians we are. We are a member church of the Presbyterian Church in America (www.pcanet.org).

“Organized at a constitutional assembly in December 1973, this church was first known as the National Presbyterian Church but changed its name in 1974 to Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). It separated from the Presbyterian Church in the United States (Southern) in opposition to the long-developing theological liberalism which denied the deity of Jesus Christ and the inerrancy and authority of Scripture. Additionally, the PCA held to the traditional position on the role of women in church offices.

In December 1973, delegates, representing some 260 congregations with a combined communicant membership of over 41,000 that had left the PCUS, gathered at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and organized the National Presbyterian Church, which later became the Presbyterian Church in America.

The PCA has made a firm commitment on the doctrinal standards which had been significant in presbyterianism since 1645, namely the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms. These doctrinal standards express the distinctives of the Calvinistic or Reformed tradition.” History of the PCA from https://pcanet.org/history/

The PCA is part of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC), a fellowship of like-minded denominations including: The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP) and The Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) among others.

We believe in the inerrancy and authority of the Bible. We believe that all people should hear the gospel of Jesus Christ because it is the only way to salvation.

“Among the distinctive doctrines of the Westminster Standards and of Reformed tradition is the unique authority of the Bible. The reformers based all of their claims on “sola scriptura,” the Scriptures alone. This included the doctrine of their inspiration which is a special act of the Holy Spirit by which He guided the writers of the books of Scriptures (in their original autographs) so that their words should convey the thoughts He wished conveyed, bear a proper relation to the thoughts of other inspired books, and be kept free from error of fact, of doctrine, and of judgment — all of which were to be an infallible rule of faith and life. Historically, the concept of infallibility has included the idea of inerrancy.

Other distinctives are the doctrines of grace, which depict what God has done for mankind’s salvation: (1) Total depravity of man. Man is completely incapable within himself to reach out towards God. Man is totally at enmity with God, cf. Romans 3:10-23. (2) Unconditional election by the grace of God. There is absolutely no condition in any person for which God would save him. As a matter of fact, long before man was created, God chose or predestined some to everlasting life. He did this out of His mere good pleasure, cf. Ephesians 1:4 and 5. (3) Particular atonement. God in His infinite mercy, in order to accomplish the planned redemption, sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, to die as a substitute for the sins of a large but specific number of people, cf. Romans 8:29 and 30. (4) The irresistible grace of God. This is the effectual work of the Holy Spirit moving upon a particular person whom He has called, applying the work of redemption, cf. John 3:5 and 6. (5) The perseverance of the saints. This is that gracious work of God’s sanctification whereby He enables a saved person to persevere to the end. Even though the process of sanctification is not complete in this life, from God’s perspective it is as good as accomplished, cf. Romans 8:30, 38, and 39, and Philippians 1:6.” from https://pcanet.org/history/

We are a church that holds to the historic Confessions and Creeds of the Reformation. While the PCA accepts The Westminster Confession of Faith together with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms a part of our constitution, we also acknowledge many other Confessions as useful and helpful for summarizing the doctrines of the Word of God such as: The Three Forms of Unity (The Heidelberg Catechism, The Belgic Confession, and the Canons of Dort).

Two helpful, but not comprehensive summaries of what it means to be Reformed can be found in The Five Solas of the Reformation and the TULIP acronym drawn from the Canons of Dort.

The Five Solas of the Reformation expressed the Reformed church’s desire to return the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

Sola Scriptura – Only Scripture is the source of divine revelation, the only inspired, infallible, final, and authoritative norm of faith and practice. Scripture points us to Christ.
Solus Christus – Only Christ Jesus is the one whom we must trust for our salvation. Trusting Christ is by Faith.
Sola Fide – Only faith in Christ Jesus is the instrument of justification, and even this faith is a gift of God. It is by Grace.
Sola Gratia – Only an act of pure grace and grace alone, on the part of God brings salvation. Grace displays God’s Glory.
Soli Deo Gloria – Only God is due glory for the work of Salvation. The Spirit inspired the Scriptures to God’s glory, Christ humbled Himself to death on the cross and rose from the dead to God’s glory, Justification is by faith in Christ alone to God’s glory, and the grace of God is given to sinners to God’s glory.

TULIP

Total Depravity – Sin has impacted every part of who we are and without the grace of God, we are eternally dead in our sins.
Unconditional Election – Being dead in sin means we cannot seek God on our own. He alone can give us new life in Christ. God chooses to save some from sin by grace and not because of anything about us.
Limited Atonement (Particular Atonement) – All whom God has elected to eternal life receive the atoning work of Christ on their behalf and are saved by the grace of God.
Irresistible Grace – If God has elected one to salvation in Christ, they will be saved. God’s electing work and Christ’s atoning work cannot be resisted.
Perseverance of the Saints – God never stops loving His people and thus they cannot fall away from Him. He will finish the work He has started.