Nation’s oldest Presbyterian church reaching into community with PD principles
by Allison Cox

"Together God has given us responsibility for this larger thing called his Church," said Rev. Patrick O'Connor, senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Queens. "Everybody can take a step forward to make it what Jesus wants it to be." Photo courtesy First Presbyterian Church

New York (PD) — Turning 345 doesn't mean you have to show your age – just ask First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Queens.

The same church that once harbored Connecticut Yankee soldiers during the Civil War is now celebrating its 345th anniversary by welcoming hundreds of students through the church's doors for leadership training and to hang out in the bowling alley or on the basketball court. Weekday Bible studies meet in the same building as a soup kitchen, clothing closet, and 12-step programs. The nation's oldest continuously serving Presbyterian congregation is also continuing work on a $7.5 million family resource center on the church grounds.

First Presbyterian is not just a church; it is a historical landmark and a community center that has worked to remain relevant and vital to the life of its neighborhood.

"The community thinks of us as a church that serves the community, a church committed to influencing the community, a place where people can experience love and support," said Senior Pastor Patrick O'Connor.

But First Presbyterian was not always so relevant. O'Connor can point to a time in his 15 years in leadership when the church was driven more by internal motivation rather than the needs of its community.

"[We were] driven by events, programs, and sometimes by buildings," O'Connor said. "We weren't fulfilling our purpose in the way that God has called us."

In 2002, First Presbyterian became one of the pilot churches for the 40 Days of Purpose campaign, and O'Connor credits the experience with a "rebirth" in his congregation.

"It opened the door for us to review how we were doing church," O'Connor said. "It taught us that God had us here for a reason – to reach the community."

After the campaign, O'Connor worked with the church board to revise their vision, aligning it with the five purposes and with the goal of reaching their community with the Gospel.

Other changes were made, including revising the membership covenant and a membership renewal class. First Presbyterian was a church in transition, and inevitably lost some of its members. However, transition has also meant new members for the church, and O'Connor has seen God at work in the midst of change.

Children participate in worship during services at First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Queens. Photo courtesy First Presbyterian Church

"It feels sometimes like it's taking a while to turn the church in the direction where God wants it," O'Connor said, "but if you change direction, you have to commit. We're committed and God has been good – a number of things have fallen in place."

One of those things is the "Tree of Life" family resource center that is being built on the grounds of First Presbyterian. The project grew out of the response from a community survey the church conducted two years ago, asking 1,500 community members "What is important to you?" and "What are some of your needs?"

From their responses came a list of needs, including help with jobs, education, and housing, and concerns about crime and homelessness in the area.

"40 Days of Purpose helped us see that the only way we were going to be relevant was if we were responding to these needs," O'Connor said.

Instead of being driven by buildings and programs, First Presbyterian began to use them as a means to serve the community. The Tree of Life Center focuses on holistic ministry, addressing the community's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

40 Days of Purpose

Help your church discover the eternal purposes of God through this special 40 day campaign. Through the campaign, you'll have the opportunity to get all of your church focused together on the same purposes each week through – sermons, small group Bible studies, personal devotions, and Scripture memory. Learn more >>

"[It's] meant to be a beacon, to tell people that ‘your life matters'," O'Connor said. "We're expecting that God will open the doors for us to successfully minister to this community."

The center's buildings are multi-purpose, being used for activities as varied as Girl Scouts and support services for immigrants. More than 15,000 young people pass through the community each day, 60 percent of whom are not expected to graduate, and First Presbyterian has become an especially welcome place for these students. A comprehensive youth program offers recreation, mentoring, socialization, and leadership training.

"We feel we can make a difference," O'Connor said, "but we also feel like a part of what we're doing is helping to serve as a catalyst for other churches and other institutions in the community to see that people deserve to live a full and complete life, and here are some of the things that need to happen for this change [to come about]."

A Friday night anniversary event in April brought together past and present church members as well as community members, not only to celebrate 345 years of being in the same community, but also to look ahead to a long future of serving the community.

For any church to stay relevant to their community, O'Connor encourages other pastors to first start with themselves, through self-assessment by asking the question, "If I disappeared and my ministry in the church disappeared, would anybody miss us?"

"It forces you to recognize that some of the things that you're doing may be really nice, but you're not really representing Christ; you're representing something else," O'Connor said.

"There are always signs of grace along the journey. Be courageous and willing to step out and make it happen, knowing that this is what God has called us to do."