September 29 Today in OPC History

On this date in 1996, Beverly OPC in Los Angeles, California, celebrated its sixtieth year in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Former pastors Dennis Johnson, Daniel Overduin, Calvin Malcor and Dwight Poundstone, and two ministers who grew up in the congregation, Donald Poundstone and John Garrisi, joined pastor Alan Pontier to give glory to God for his faithfulness. Mr. Pontier preached and sang a solo.

At its origin in 1936, Beverly Church was formed when members from two PCUSA congregations united, meeting first in a tent and then in a storefront. In 1947 under the leadership of Pastor Dwight Poundstone with a communicant membership of 165, the congregation erected a building in the Los Angeles countryside. Over the years the area first became suburban and then urban, but the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ continued to go forth.

Due to declining membership, the Presbytery of Southern California dissolved Beverly OPC in 2006.

Picture: Beverly OPC session in 1996: Wilson Albright, Alan Pontier, Joe Garrisi, John Shih, Grover Coleman, and Herb Pink.