March 12 Today in OPC History

On March 12, 1964, Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Modesto, California was received as a particular congregation by the Presbytery of Southern California. Originally, three families who had been growing in the knowledge of the Reformed faith formed Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in 1961 under Pastor William Hodge. After Mr. Hodge became ill and Sovereign Grace Church had to dissolve, the families joined with other families from Bethany OPC in Stockton, California to form a mission work under the Bethany Church session. The group held worship services and bible studies for two years with visiting ministers and elders helping. After the church was particularized, it offered a call to the Rev. Thomas Champness, who was installed as pastor of Grace OPC in January 1965.

Mr. Champness would serve until 1973. He was followed by Rollin Keller (1974-1983) and Tom Fincher (1984-1987). At the beginning of 1994, Grace OPC called Shaun Bryant, a graduate of Westminster Seminary in California. Mr. Bryant has faithfully served as pastor of Grace Church to the present time.

Picture: Tom Fincher, Tom Champness, and Rollin Keller at the 25th anniversary of Grace OPC in 1987.