WHO WE ARE
We are a God-Focused, Christ-Centered, Bible-Based, Confessionally Reformed Church
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MISSION
We are a gathering of believers in Jesus Christ who seek to worship God in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23, 24), live to God’s glory and spread the good news of the gospel in our community and abroad.
As a church, we are devoted to focusing on Jesus Christ through biblical preaching, the use of the sacraments, and faithful church discipline. Through our worship, lives, and witness, we are called to show the word of life through Jesus Christ!
HISTORY
During 1979 fourteen families met together with the desire to start a Free Reformed Church in the Langley area. With the advice and guidance of emeritus pastor, Rev. Jacob Tamminga, they began to meet for services with this end in view. Rev. Neil Pronk, then of Grand Rapids, led us in our first worship service.
We petitioned the 1980 Synod of the Free Reformed Churches of North America to accept us as a new congregation of their federation. To our gratitude and great joy, the institution of ‘The Murrayville Group’ was mandated by synod.
On July 9, 1980, Rev. C. Bos met with us in the Murrayville Presbyterian Church and after installing a consistory, he preached on the beautiful words of Romans 8:32, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
That’s when “The Murrayville Group” became the Free Reformed Church of Langley with a membership of 66 (27 confessing members and 39 baptized members). And for many years now, under the blessing of God, it has been our endeavour to be a witness in the community of Langley to the wondrous love of Jesus Christ, Who was delivered for our sins, and in Whose life we live and rejoice.
A little over one year after our institution we were blessed by receiving our first pastor. Rev. Pieter VanderMeyden was installed in September 1981. For nine years he laboured in the gospel among us, leaving us for Grand Rapids in October 1990.
Three years later, in October 1993, Rev. Wim Wullschleger was installed as our pastor. He and his family came to us from The Netherlands, quite an uprooting for them. He accepted a call back to The Netherlands in August 2007 having been our pastor for just short of fourteen years.
Our third pastor, Rev. H. Thomas Aicken, served as our pastor from July 2008 to June 2014 when he officially became emeritus. However, although nominally retired, he continued to serve and guide us for another seven years.
Our fourth and current pastor, Rev. Ben Van Liere was ordained and installed as our pastor in April 2021. FRC Langley is his first congregation. He, his wife Ingrid, and their six children are a vibrant part of our fellowship and will remain so for many years we pray.
NAME
ZION
So why are we called Zion? Well, Zion is the name given in the Old Testament to Jerusalem. It was the place where God’s house was and where He dwelt in a special way among His people. In the New Testament, Zion is the name given to the New Jerusalem, Heaven. There God dwells in the midst of His saints and angels. As a church, we recognize our need for God’s presence among us and trust His promises that He dwells with His people (Matt 18:20; Eph 2:19-22). Therefore, we worship with the expectation that while on earth, we are participating by faith in Heaven’s worship (Heb. 12:22-24).
FREE
Maybe you are wondering why we are called Zion Free Reformed Church. This reflects our historical roots in the Netherlands, where we freed ourselves from the civil tyranny and the religious liberalism of the state church that was occurring in the 19th century. We are still affiliated with our sister denomination in the Netherlands, the CGK.
While many of our members trace their roots to Dutch descent, we celebrate God’s grace in saving brothers and sisters from all groups of people, and gladly welcome people from all backgrounds into our fellowship (Gal 3:28).
Zion FRC is affiliated with the Free Reformed Churches (FRC) of North America. The FRC is a family of churches across North America that are both doctrinally and governmentally Reformed. Please visit our shared website here: https://frcna.org/
REFORMED
Being a Reformed church means that we aim to be re-formed according to the Word of God. Our life and worship must be shaped by Scripture. This is reflected in how we strive to keep God’s Word central in every aspect of our worship service.
Further, we believe our Reformed confessions are faithful summaries of the Bible, and therefore, help us to be reformed by Scripture Alone. The confessions we adhere to are the Three Forms of Unity: The Belgic Confession (1561), the Heidelberg Catechism (1563), and the Canons of Dort (1618-1619). The confessions summarize scripture in teaching us that we are justified by Grace Alone, through Faith Alone, in Christ Alone, to the Glory of God Alone.
CHURCH
The Church is the Bride of Jesus Christ. As such, she is precious in His eyes. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus promised that He would triumphantly build His church, and for the past 2000’s years He has been fulfilling that promise.
As a church, Zion is devoted to focusing on Jesus Christ through biblical preaching and the use of the sacraments. Through our worship, lives and witness we want the world to see the beauty of our Savior!
One way we celebrate Christ’s work of building His church through history and across the globe is by confessing the universal creeds of the historic church (Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, and Athanasian Creed).
BELIEFS
We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the inspired, inerrant Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
As Free Reformed Churches we fully subscribe to the three creeds of the early church:
(i) the Apostles' Creed (+-150 A.D.)
(ii) the Nicene Creed (381 A.D.)
(iii) the Athanasian Creed (500 A.D.)
We also fully subscribe to three of the historic reformed creeds:
(i) the Belgic Confession of Faith (1561)
(ii) the Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
(iii) the Canons of Dort (1618-1619)
We believe that these latter three, called the Three Forms of Unity, in all respects agree with the Word of God.
Below is a summary of core beliefs which are more fully developed in the above-mentioned Reformed Confessions. For a more detailed explanation of our beliefs, please visit our denominational website at https://frcna.org/our-beliefs
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All Scripture is self-attesting and being Truth, requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. The infallible Word of God, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is a complete and unified witness to God’s redemptive acts, culminating in the incarnation of the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible, uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, is the supreme and final authority on all matters on which it speaks.
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We believe in one God, the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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Jesus Christ, the living Word, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. He who is true God became true man united in one Person forever. He died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. On the third day He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of God the Father, He now is our High Priest and Mediator.
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The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. He convicts us of sin and draws us to the Savior. Indwelling our hearts, He gives new life to us, empowers and imparts gifts to us for service. He instructs and guides us into all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption.
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Being estranged from God and condemned by our sinfulness, our salvation is wholly dependent upon the work of God’s free grace. God credits His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, thereby justifying them in His sight. Only such as are born of the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ by a true faith become children of God and heirs of eternal life.
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The true Church is composed of all persons who through saving faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit are united together in the body of Christ. The Church finds her visible, yet imperfect, expression in local congregations where the Word of God is preached in its purity and the sacraments are administered in their integrity; where scriptural discipline is practiced, and where loving fellowship is maintained. For her perfecting, she awaits the return of her Lord.
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Since baptism is a sign and seal of God’s covenant of grace, both believing adults and their children ought to be baptized.
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Jesus Christ will come again to the earth – personally, visibly, and bodily – to judge the living and the dead, and to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20).
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The Lord Jesus Christ commands all believers to proclaim the gospel throughout the world and to make disciples of all nations. Obedience to the Great Commission requires total commitment to “Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.” He calls us to a life of self-denying love and service. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).