About us
The Opportunity
Why here? Why Lake County? Another church? Aren’t there enough? The beginning of this church plant raises these questions and more. We might add our own questions, “How many churches are needed to serve Lake County’s one-half million people?” “Who will speak the good news to the 300,000 or more people not committed to worshiping in Jesus’ name?” We are looking to plant a church in the spiritual void.
Before the recent economic downturn, the Crown Point area saw dramatic growth. As the economy picks up, indications are that significant growth may start again. During this time of population increase, new churches have started. While the population has diversified and grown and the varieties of churches increased, why another church plant? Simply interpreted, the spiritual need continues to outpace population growth.
What is the real opportunity for church planting? “Population growth” is a tempting answer. “Not enough churches” seems compelling. And “not having a certain variety of churches” has an attraction. But ultimately, none of these pass a biblical “smell test” for the key reason to plant a church! The real opportunity is to obey by faith Christ’s directive: “Go… and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mat 28:19-20 ESV)
We are not content to define the need for a church in secondary terms but can find our fulfillment only in the triune God himself and the grace, promises, and blessings which flow from him. The purpose of this mission is to plant a Christ-exalting, Spirit-dependent, God-glorifying, gospel-saturated, biblically-faithful, presbyterian and reformed church in Northwest Indiana, specifically in the Crown Point, Merrillville, Schererville, and Hobart area of Lake County.
Our opportunity is to glorify God and enjoy him forever!
our pastor:
Ryan Cavanaugh is a Pastor, ordained in the Presbytery of Michigan and
Ontario. Ryan was born in Fresno, California where he came to faith at the
age of 24. Ryan was called to ministry and so went to Christ for the Nations
Institute in Dallas, where he met his wife. They were married in 2009 after
graduation. From there, Ryan attended Dallas Baptist University where he
received a B.A. in Christian Ministry. During this time, the Cavanaughs had
their first child. After graduating from Dallas Baptist University, the family
moved to Escondido, CA, to attend Westminster Seminary California. Ryan
graduated in 2016 with an MDiv. During this time, Ryan was able to do
internships at several OPC churches.
After graduation from Westminster Seminary California, Ryan completed
a year-long internship in Prescott, AZ, at Prescott Presbyterian Church. After
this internship, the Cavanaughs had their second child. Ryan was called to be
the church planter for Northwest Indiana Mission Church (now Mission Church)
in April of 2018.
Ryan is passionate about evangelism and apologetics. It is his desire to bring the love of Christ to the world and give a defense for the truth of Christianity in the world. Ryan is also passionate about God-glorifying, Christ-exalting, biblically-saturated preaching. He strives in his preaching to edify the saints with the work of Christ for them and to present the work of Christ to the lost, imploring them to repent and believe in Christ. He is also zealous to demonstrate through scripture and example a culture of hospitality and love within the church and to the world.
