August 17 Today in OPC History

Happy Anniversary to Larry and Gail Mininger! In 1955, Gail's Dad began ministering in Souderton, PA at Grace Bible Church, founded by Larry's parents and other former Mennonites. When Larry saw Gail, he decided he wanted to marry her! She was 9 years old and not interested in boys. He was 11 and persistent. He wrote her Dad a note, "I like your preaching, but I like your daughter more," and dropped it in the offering plate. The dime store birthstone ring he sent Gail on her tenth birthday embarrassed her, but her mother convinced her to wear it, until it turned her finger green.

In high school Larry and Gail dated. But attending different colleges kept them mostly apart for the next six years, while God wondrously brought them each to the Reformed faith. Her Dad married them in the church where they had met, assisted by their new pastor, OPC minister Henry Coray.

In 1971, after completing two degrees at Westminster Theological Seminary, Larry accepted the call to Lake Sherwood OPC, Orlando, Florida. His passion is "to preach the Word of God in its theological richness, yet in a way that is accessible to all who hear, with Christ being the center of each sermon. This is how God changes lives." Having served Lake Sherwood for so many years, he says, "It is a great privilege to love and serve succeeding generations of the same family units, maturing in the faith together." In the course of his ministry he has mentored numerous seminarians and assistants and helped establish two daughter churches. At various points he also taught at Reformed Theological Seminary, served on the board of Covenant College, earned the Doctorate of Ministry and moderated the 66th OPC General Assembly. At present he continues to serve on the denomination’s Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension.

As their nest emptied, Gail taught public high school piano classes and choirs until retiring this year. She serves the congregation as Music Director/Pianist, Scripture Memory Coordinator, and hostess to many guests at home. God has blessed the Miningers with 5 children--a marketing manager, two pastors' wives, a seminary professor, and a substitute teacher--plus 13 grandchildren.

Picture: Larry and Gail Mininger on August 17, 1968