August 9 Today in OPC History

On August 9, 1998, Sovereign Grace Covenant Church in Oak Harbor, Washington, was particularized as a congregation in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Robert Van Kooten, who had labored as an evangelist for three years with the core group, was installed as pastor. Twenty-five years later, Mr. Van Kooten continues to serve faithfully as pastor.

Picture: Sovereign Grace OPC members in the late 1990s/early 2000s (front left to right), Brian Weaver, Ben Duysings, Dale Hanaoka; (back left to right), David Merkl, Rob Van Kooten, and Tom Rivers. Mr. Merkl and Mr. Weaver are still members of Sovereign Grace OPC, and Mr. Hanaoka was ordained as an OPC minister in 2005.