August 2 Today in OPC History

On August 2, 1981, Covenant of Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Oxnard, California, was organized as a particular congregation by the Presbytery of Southern California. A midweek Bible study led by the Rev. Dwight Poundstone, pastor of El Camino OPC in Goleta, had begun at Oxnard six years earlier. The Rev. Henry Coray assisted with the study, and then at the end of 1976 Stephen Doe was ordained and installed as associate pastor at El Camino with the responsibility of laboring at Oxnard. By 1981, the chapel at Oxnard had over 50 members and was ready to become a particular church. Mr. Doe announced a desire to return to seminary for further education and the group called the Rev. Donald Duff to serve as pastor. Mr. Duff would labor as pastor of Covenant of Grace Church until 1992 and since 1992 the Rev. Mark Mueller has served as pastor.

Picture: Left to right clockwise, Steve Doe at the Oxnard meeting place in the late 70s, Dwight Poundstone, and Don and Peggy Duff.