May 1 Today in OPC History

On May 1, 1983, the Presbytery of the Northwest officially divided Southern Oregon OPC into two congregations, Faith OPC, Grants Pass and Trinity OPC, Medford with the Rev. Calvin Malcor pastoring Faith Church and the Rev. Jay Milojevich pastoring Trinity Church. The uniqueness of the situation up to that point was that although members of the two groups were part of a single congregation, Southern Oregon OPC, and shared one budget, they operated in Grants Pass and Medford with their own unique schedules and ministries.

Worship services had first started to take place in 1977 with help from the Presbytery before Mr. Malcor arrived that April. Knowing that another man would be needed, Mr, Milojevich, who had just graduated from seminary, was offered a yearlong internship in 1978. After completion of the internship, he was called as associate pastor of Southern Oregon OPC.

Each group then when through a time of transition in finding a rental place in which to hold worship. The group in Grants Pass eventually was able to meet in the local Seventh-day Adventist building and the group in Medford was able to met in the Roxy Ann Grange. But even with the transitions and uniqueness of the situation, the Lord continued to bless the groups, raising up men for leadership. Jeff Gilmore, Tom Roeloffs, Al Abee, and Richard Bourne were installed as elders serving with the Medford group, while Jake Vander Stoel and Frode Jensen were installed as elders serving the Grants Pass group.

Picture: Jay, Lucy and Tim Milojevich in the early 1980s.