April 16 Today in OPC History

On April 16, 1967, the first worship service was held for Falls Presbyterian Church in Menominee Falls, Wisconsin. Mr. Erwin Claerbout, an elder at Calvary OPC, Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, brought the message. Forty-one individuals were in attendance. Louis Voskuil, professor at Trinity Christian College, helped to fill the pulpit for the summer. On August 16, the church charter was signed by Murray DeWaard, Will and Kay Gesch, Carol and Son Kernwein, Cal and Betty Leys, Bob and Bernadine Otte, Stan and Delores Molter, Mark and Joan Then, and Ron and Judy Weigel. The Presbytery of Wisconsin recognized the group as a particular church on September 15, 1967, and Mr. Molter and Mr. Otte were ordained and installed as ruling elders. On March 28, 1968, the Rev. George Haney was installed as the organizing pastor.

Picture: Bob Otte, Don Stanton, Henry Fikkert, Will Gesch Jr., Stan Molter and George Haney.