Our Roots

Although we officially become “Heartland Community Church” on January 1, 2008, the story of our congregation finds its roots back in the Reformation of the 1500s. Leaders of this movement were pastors and professors who studied Scripture, read church history, and recognized a disturbing difference between the Roman Church of their day and the beliefs and practices of the first 600 years of the church. One of those leaders was John Calvin. His thoughts – guided by Scripture and its early interpreters – spread throughout all of Europe. Eventually his way of thinking about the Christian faith found a home base in the Netherlands, which was named the “Dutch Reformed Church.” 
 
When the Dutch immigrated to America in the 1600s, they brought with them their understanding of the Christian faith. Starting in New York then heading west, they established churches in line with the Reformed thought of Calvin. Thus was born America’s oldest Protestant denomination with a continuous ministry: The Reformed Church in America (RCA). In 1888 a group made a home in Lafayette, IN and started First Reformed Church. That’s us!​
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More about our Beliefs and Practices

Our Start

Originally, the church met in the pictured white meeting house on N. 14th St. In 1955 the congregation needed more space so they moved a block away. In the 1970s, the congregation again needed more space, so half of them moved to the South side and planted Community Reformed Church.

In the 1990s, there was a growing sense that God was calling them into something new. Meanwhile, a plot of land on the Northeast side became available at a great price, and the owner even thought it’d be a great place for a church! Slowly pieces fell into place, and finally on January 1, 2008 the first service was held at our new location. Since the congregation trusted that God was leading us into a new phase of ministry – which included an embrace of those outside of the Dutch Reformed circle - the church was renamed Heartland Community Church. Heartland, because of its proximity to the Hoosier Heartland Highway. Community, because of a renewed commitment to the health of the surrounding community.

Our Future

We believe God has brought two streams together into one river called “Heartland.” Those with deep roots in the Dutch Reformed tradition have been made one in Christ Jesus with those from all different backgrounds. We don’t all agree on everything (imagine that!), but we do believe that God has moved into the neighborhood in the person of Jesus Christ. So we make it our aim to follow Jesus together. And we love each other. And we trust in God, who has been faithful to this congregation since its start in 1888. This is a river always eager to welcome in new streams. Because in the heart of Heartland is a passion to see Jesus’ mission of love spread throughout Greater Lafayette. We are a small church on a big mission. And we’d love for you to join us!

Our Purpose & Vision