April 11 Today in OPC History

On April 11, 1999, New Covenant Community Church, of New Lenox, Illinois was received as a new and separate congregation of the OPC in a special service of recognition and installation held at Covenant Church in Orland Park. New Covenant had begun as a mission work four years earlier. The church was received with 50 communicant members and 28 non-communicant members.

Rev. Lendall Smith, pastor of Bethel OPC in Wheaton, and moderator of the Presbytery of the Midwest, brought the call to worship and conducted both the receiving of the congregation and the installations of officers and pastor. Rev. Douglas Clawson, pastor of Grace OPC in Hanover Park, preached a sermon from Luke 6:12-19, entitled, “Sermon on a Level Place.” Rev. Bruce Hollister, organizing pastor of the mission work, was installed as pastor of the congregation. Keith LeMahieu was installed as a ruling elder, and Leonard Nedza was ordained and installed as a ruling elder. Rev. Alan Strange gave the charge to the officers, Rev. Lawrence Eyres gave the charge to the pastor, and Rev. Jim Bosgraf, Regional Home Missionary, gave the charge to the congregation.