August 28 Today in OPC History

Dick and Susan Stafford, founding members of Grace Presbyterian (OP) in Columbus, Ohio, were married on this day in 1948. Dick and Susan both grew up in the Methodist faith where there was a focus on keeping the Lord's day and practicing hospitality. Their son, Jim, was brought to faith in 1966 through a Billy Graham crusade and became involved with The Navigators. During Jim's time at The Ohio State University a roommate exposed him to the reformed faith. Being a close-knit family it wasn't long before Jim invited his family to join him in a Bible study he was attending. One of the books read during the study and that challenged Dick and Susan was "The Christian View of Man" by J. Gresham Machen.

Pastor Lawrence Eyres was leading another Bible study in Columbus and when that group resolved to move forward with starting a mission work, Mr. Eyres invited all to join them. From humble beginnings in the basement of a bank building in Dublin, the Lord has continuously been gracious to Grace Church through faithful ministers and supportive congregants. After Mr. Eyres, pastors have included Robert Y. Eckardt, Larry Wilson, and current pastor, Bill Kessler.

In 2019, Dick went to be with the Lord in Glory.