About Us

Why Another Church in Brainerd?

The Brainerd Lakes Area has many faithful churches, however, we are a group of believers longing and praying for a confessionally reformed church to flourish in this part of MN.

The closest reformed presbyterian churches in the state are 80-100 miles from Brainerd. We welcome others from all churches/denominations to join us in our book studies, Bible studies, and times of fellowship so we can build one another up in Christ. We are not yet at the point in our development where we are meeting for Sunday Worship services but are growing in Christ together as we wait on the Lord’s timing.

Thoughtful Study

We’re gathering on Monday nights to talk about why the world seems so divided and why we feel disoriented living in it.

Historian Carl R. Trueman shows how influences ranging from traditional institutions to technology and pornography moved modern culture toward an era of “expressive individualism.” We think that gathering together to discuss these important topics can help answer the longing questions about why the world is the way it is today.

We reflect on these issues with a Christian lens, and would love to show you why we think that’s healthy and good.

Our Beliefs

Simply put, we are a group of people who desire to bring glory to God and make known to the world the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.

We are proudly part of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC). We trace our historical roots to the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation and its seventeenth-century doctrinal statement, the Westminster Confession of Faith, along with its Larger and Shorter Catechisms.

The OPC understands the importance of defending and maintaining the truths of God’s Word. In fact, in 1936 the OPC was established as a testimony to the Bible when its authority was denied. Her ministers, elders, and deacons sincerely receive and adopt these Westminster standards as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures and known as the Reformed faith.

Rooted in Scripture, the Westminster Confession of Faith is a summary of the teachings of the Bible.

In 1643, during a period of civil war, the English “Long Parliament” (under the control of Presbyterian Puritans) convened an Assembly of Divines (mostly Puritan ministers, including a few influential Scottish commissioners) at Westminster Abbey in London. Their task was to advise Parliament on how to bring the Church of England into greater conformity with the Church of Scotland and the Continental Reformed churches.

The Westminster Assembly produced documents on doctrine, church government, and worship that have largely defined Presbyterianism down to this day. These documents included a Confession of Faith (1646), a Larger Catechism (1647), and a Shorter Catechism (1647), often collectively called “the Westminster standards.” Click here to see a full list of our confessions and catechisms.

Our modern age has witnessed the progressive rejection of authority. God’s Word, the Bible, has not been spared. However, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church believes that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God, the only infallible rule for our faith and conduct.

We believe that the Bible alone gives us the correct knowledge of who God is and how we may please him. It teaches that God the Father gave up his Son Jesus Christ to death on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of his people. We want to share with you the joy that comes from a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Why the Name “Orthodox”? Everyone knows that an orthodontist is concerned about straight teeth. The “ortho” in orthodontist comes from the Greek word for “straight.” The “dox” in orthodox comes from the Greek word for “thinking.” So, in an Orthodox Presbyterian church you will find straight teaching following the long-accepted pattern given in the Bible. We are a church that believes what the Bible says, and we try to put it into practice.