After leaving the Pastoral Ministry for some years to teach in a Christian School, he was called back into the Pastoral Ministry to serve the Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, congregation.

In September of 1995 Pastor Bruce became the Teaching Elder of the Geneva RPC.

On February 2, 2005 the Geneva RP Church and the First RP Church came together to unite as one body. Pastor Bruce is now serving as the pastor of the First Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Pastor Backensto is an Adjunct Professor at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary and a member of the Board of Trustees of Geneva College.

He and his wife, Kim, live in the house they purchased on College Hill and enjoy entertaining guests for the noon meal on the Lord's Day.  There are four children of Bruce and Kim's eight children and two grandchildren living at home.

Hospitality is a significant part of the  Backenstos' ministry.

Pastor Bruce Backensto is a native of Woodbury, New Jersey.

After graduating from Woodbury High School he attended Geneva College, here in Beaver Falls. He became a Christian while attending Geneva. 

After graduating from Geneva he entered the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

After graduation in May of 1972 he accepted the call to shepherd the Sterling, Kansas, RPC.

Pastor Bruce was ordained to the Gospel Ministry in the RPCNA on May 31, 1972,  when he became the Pastor of the Sterling, Kansas, RPC.

After laboring there for seven and one half years, during which time the congregation moved into a new building, he served as the Church Planter of the Springs Reformed Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was called to be the first Pastor of that congregation which he served five and a half years.

Rev. Bruce Backensto

First RP Church: 724-846-6877

First Reformed Presbyterian Church