About Indy Reformed Church
Who We Are
Indy Reformed belongs to a growing denomination called the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA). If you are looking for a church focused around God’s Word and care for His people, then Indy Reformed is for you.
Though we currently meet in Westfield, Indiana our diverse group travels from various communities in the Indianapolis Metropolitan area. These locales include Brownsburg, Clermont, Greenwood, Avon, Fishers, Frankfort, Rossville, Lawrence, Indianapolis, Peru, Sheridan, Carmel and Zionsville. However, we all have this in common: We desire to worship our triune Lord in Spirit and truth and grow as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. The fellowship and growing friendships have been a blessing to all of us.
The Lord has used various means to draw each of our families to the Reformed faith. Some grew up in the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), while others were drawn to a confessionally Reformed church through the teaching and resources provided by the White Horse Inn, Ligonier Ministries, The Heidelblog, Modern Reformation, Reformed Forum and a number of other avenues.
Central to our theology, piety and practice is the comfort provided by Jesus Christ for the saints which is expounded upon in all the Scriptures and summarized in Heidelberg Catechism question o which asks, What is your only comfort in life and in death?" The answer: "That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has delivered me from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, also assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him."
You will find that our services are structured around Scripture, which means from start to finish you will hear from the Bible and participate with other Christians as we receive from God through His Word. You will hear the Word sung, the Word prayed, and the Word proclaimed. You will also be encouraged by other believers as we share fellowship and learn how to best care for one another.
We are confident that by participating in a service informed by the Word of God, and by joining with one another in fellowship, you will receive nourishment for your soul and find rest in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our History
Back in 2013, two families in Indianapolis contacted a fledging church plant in Cincinnati, OH—Westside Reformed Church (WRC)—to inquire about church planting support. Pastor Zac Wyse of WRC remained in contact with the families which led to holding regular meetings starting in September 2018. Meetings continued monthly, and then twice per month, for about nine months. At that point, the group had added two more families and consisted of 24 souls. As the group showed a greater desire for the work to progress, regular meetings continued, and WRC found it pertinent to have a church planter on the ground to develop the work. With the increased load that came with 2020, and further attention given to planting a church in Madison, IN, WRC requested oversight support from Zeltenreich Reformed Church (ZRC).
ZRC took up the planting efforts and eventually contacted Austin Reifel who was in his final year of studies at Westminster Seminary California. After visiting Indianapolis in January, 2021, establishing contact with the core group, and participating in two worship services, both ZRC and the Reifel family heartily agreed to pursing the work upon Austin’s graduation. The Reifel’s arrived in June 2021 and the group began meeting weekly for a home bible study. As the weeks went on, reality set it, the living room was too small to accommodate growth, praise the Lord! Indy Reformed continued to develop, nearly doubled in size, and showed a readiness to begin meeting publicly—so, we started searching for a building. We thank the Lord for providing a central meeting location with enough space for continued growth. Our first service was held on August 29th, 2021 and we are greatly encouraged by what God is doing among us.
Our Pastor
Austin Reifel grew up in Bakersfield, California. He and his wife Sharon have three daughters. After graduating college with a business degree and a passion to teach God’s Word, the Lord led Austin to pursue a seminary education at Westminster Seminary California. In seminary, the Reifel family was introduced to the URC where they were warmly welcomed and further prepared for ministry. Austin heartily looks forward to ministering God’s Word in the Indianapolis metro with the prayer that the Lord would be pleased to bless the planting efforts at the Indy Reformed Church.
