All Saints' Presbyterian Church

Our denomination is an historic association of churches which goes back to the turmoil of the Scottish Reformation in the 16th through 18th centuries. Groups of Scots dissented from English domination of the church, the control of the choice of pastors by the richest landowner in each area, and the dictate that the King of England was the Head of the Church on earth. Over nine hundred of our spiritual ancestors - men, women and children - died for their faith during what has come to be known "the killing time". Thus, our synod (national church body in America) is perhaps the only American denomination whose roots were formed during a period of martyrdom.

The Associate Reformed Synod is not large, consisting of less than three hundred congregations primarily found in the Southeastern United States and eastern Canada. A sizeable contingent of new Korean Presbyterian congregations has recently given our denomination a notable presence on the West coast. In the past, the denomination may have been hindered in growth by its refusal, for much of its history, to sing anything other in worship than the psalms of the Old Testament set to tune. That policy was changed in the last century (see Colossians 3:16), and the denomination is now one of the growing churches in the United States.

We share a common faith with all biblically-minded Presbyterian believers (see the insert regarding doctrine), and we recognize with thanksgiving the ministry of many Christians beyond the Presbyterian stream. Our denominational college is Erskine College and our denomination's seminary is Erskine Seminary, both located in the academic village of Due West, South Carolina. Our denominational headquarters are located in Greenville, South Carolina, and our retreat center, Bonclarken, is found in Flat Rock, North Carolina.

Our denomination supports church-planting missionaries and other mission work around the world, with especially important works in Pakistan, Mexico, Russia, and the Middle East. We at All Saints' contribute to this mission work now, and look forward to the day when we support missionaries in very substantial ways.

Our ministers are all trained men, and all are expected to have a sound faith, an exemplary life, and an evangelical spirit. All are under the authority of a shared church constitution and doctrinal standard (The Westminster Confession of Faith). In addition to Erskine Seminary, our ministers are trained at Reformed Theological Seminary, Westminster Seminary, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and others.

The A.R.P. Synod, like we ourselves, is far from perfect. But through the years, it has kept "the faith once delivered to the saints" and is a true family of faith in a time when many (even in our churches!) feel anonymous and lost in the crowd.

You may find out more about the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church by going to our denominational website.

Can a faith be as old as Abraham and as relevant as traffic jams in south Charlotte? Can something ancient be ever-new? Some will say we have a very "old fashioned" faith at All Saints'. Others will say what we are teaching is new and radical to their ears.

We do not try to sound old or new, but instead we seek to be faithful to what God has shown us in His Word written in the Bible and appearing in his Son, Jesus. We have no desire to preach or teach anything other than that which is taught in God's Word in the Old and New Testaments. Yet that is no simple task, for the Bible is a comprehensive unveiling of God's nature, His ways and His will. Believing that we are not the first generation of believers to be led by God's Spirit, we study the way the great saints in history read the Bible. Especially, we use the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Westminster Confession of Faith and catechisms as accurate statements of biblical faith. If you would like to read these statements of faith, just ask us for a copy, or go to www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs.

While the word "Reformed" is often used to describe our church, we just think of ourselves as trying to be "biblical." In fact, the word "Reformed" simply means that we are willing to be "re-formed," that is, changed, by God's Word. Certainly, this involves a joyful acknowledgement that Jesus is the unique God-Man who has come into the world to save human beings from themselves, and ultimately, from the wrath of the God who is our ever-holy Creator. By His living and dying and rising again, and by His Ascension to rule the universe, Jesus is the working out of God's own love and anger toward us, in such a way that we now describe our salvation as being

Our relation to God is not casual, but covenantal: that is, it is based in God's solemn, gracious promises to us as His chosen-by-grace people. Our theology is thoughtful but not academic or arcane, for in our faith, theology is always to lead to doxology (that is, the praise of God). The mind serves the heart. As Jesus Himself taught us, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."

The All Saints' congregation uses a church building that has been on this property for some time, but our own fellowship with each other actually began just several years ago. As our small fellowship has grown in numbers, we did not want to see the all-too-common barriers between the ages and sexes develop in our church. We believe that the Bible teaches that young and old are often to gather together and learn from each other (Leviticus 119:31-32, Titus 2:3-5, Galatians 3:28). Our monthly congregational Sunday dinners, our Wednesday evening prayer meeting, and special events with guest speakers all emphasize the "family togetherness" of our church. And we believe children can and should worship the Lord on Sunday with their whole family, with generations joined, not separated.

We also believe that our children are to be taught about the Lord first and foremost by their own parents (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Ephesians 6:4). The home and church-school use of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, family prayers, and the all-family participation in corporate worship on Sundays has proven time and again to be the best way to nurture Christian faith in the young. In addition, we have all the facilities necessary for children's Sunday School classes, a new children's outdoor play area, and the option of a nursery for the very young. Kindermusik, a musical program for children ages 1-7, is housed in our church facility and available to every church member at discounted rates.

Teaching is an important aspect of our life together. The pastor and other leaders in the church lead Sunday School classes and groups of women meet for shared study in the mornings and evenings. Emphasis in our teaching times is on the doctrines taught in the Bible and practical aspects of Christian life such as prayer, raising children, work and marriage. The pastor teaches a twelve-week class for inquirers during the Sunday School hour, beginning at 9:45. A teaching time is also often included at our Wednesday evening meetings. Seminary students enrich our fellowship and are sometimes asked to teach classes and assist in worship leadership.

At the end of our lives on earth, the quality of relationships we have had with God and other believers will be what has made the difference in attaining a joyful, faithful, and purposeful life. At All Saints' we are ever mindful of this fact, and prioritize relationships over programming in our life together.

We believe that preaching is more than just "sharing a message". We believe the Lord, the Holy Spirit, especially blesses the humble act of preaching (see 1 Corinthians 1:21) for the conversion of sinners and the growth of God's people in faith, hope and love. Worship is the church actually meeting with God and renewing the covenant relation we have with Him, and thus God Himself speaks to the church through faithful preaching! Our pastor generally preaches through one book of the Bible at a time, so that the full range of biblical truth is covered. His sermons are carefully prepared and passionately delivered, with trust in the Holy Spirit to be the true Teacher.

We seek to plan our worship services according to the simple example we see in the New Testament: the reading and preaching of God's Word, the sacred acts of Baptism and the Lord's supper (holy communion), serious and joyful praying, the adoration of God through the offering of tithes, offerings and vows, and the robust singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Because our worship is before God and for God, we seek to use the best music of Christian history and hymnody.

For us, Sunday, the Christian Sabbath or "the Lord's Day" is truly the "Queen of Days", a day of rest, reflection, joy and worship. Worship is the best part of this best day, as it prepares us for the glory and joy of Heaven, where we will worship God in blessing and glory unspeakable.

The best way to understand worship is . . . to do it! Join us in worship at 11:00 a.m. An evening service of worship is anticipated in the future of All Saints' Presbyterian Church.

Our Pastor was born in 1958 and has lived in the south all his life. He is married to his wife Nancy and they have three children: Rebekah, Aaron, and Lydia.

Pastor Dean was prayed for all his life by a devout grandmother who is now with the Lord. He was wonderfully converted in 1978 when he attended a concert by the late Keith Green. He has served four congregations in twenty years of ministry. He was pastor of Altavista Presbyterian Church in Altavista, Virginia, Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Hendersonville, and was pastor of Reformation Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina, before coming to All Saints' Presbyterian Church in the summer of 2005. He served as Instructor in Christian Doctrine at Veritas Christian Academy in Fletcher, North Carolina for several years, and has been a guest teacher at the Covenant Day School in Matthews.

Our Pastor is on the Board of Trustees of Erskine College and Seminary and has served on the Pastor's Advisory Counsel for Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, as well as serving as chapel preacher at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Greenville, South Carolina.

Dean was an honors graduate of the University of South Carolina (B.A.), and completed his seminary training at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. He counts his true "training for the ministry" to have been obtained under the influence of a godly pastor in Lynchburg, Virginia, the Rev. Lowell Sykes.

Beside Gospel ministry and family life, our Pastor enjoys fishing, reading, cooking, college football and all kinds of music.

You will never be an anonymous person at All Saints'. We are determined to know and love each other through all the trials and blessings of life. Our church members pray for each other, visit each other, and challenge each other to live gratefully and faithfully before the Lord.

We believe that Jesus Christ is not only risen from the dead, but ascended to Heaven, and that He lovingly governs our lives through His position of almighty power (see Hebrews 4:14-16). One of the very important ways Christ ministers to His people is through His officers in the church: the minister, the elders, and the deacons. Through the minister, Christ teaches us the Gospel. Through the elders (with the minister), He oversees the spiritual life of the people. Through the deacons, He cares for the physical and material needs of the church, as well as her missionaries and benevolent ministries. All our officers are carefully chosen and trained, and they are held accountable to their vows of service.

As a member of All Saints', you will have a gentle, spiritually mature elder assigned to you who will visit and pray with you. No one should feel alone in our pilgrimage to our heavenly Home!