April 5 Today in OPC History

On this day in 1939, a congregational meeting was held in the home of Mrs. Anna Rath for the First Orthodox Presbyterian Church of Waterloo, Iowa. The congregation had its beginnings during the summer of 1936, when Dr. J. Gresham Machen spoke at Grundy Center, Iowa. His purpose was to expose the rampant unbelief in the Presbyterian Church to “conscientious Presbyterians in the Middle-West.” Enough interest was stirred in central Iowa that the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension appointed the Rev. Edward Wybenga to begin a work in nearby Waterloo. The first service was conducted at a local YWCA with thirteen in attendance. The work developed over the next two years and on March 24, 1939, the Presbytery of Wisconsin met to organize the First Orthodox Presbyterian Church of Waterloo. The congregation then met on April 5th and unanimously voted to call Rev. Wybenga as their first pastor. The congregation continued meeting in Mrs. Rath’s home for Lord’s Day worship, midweek prayer meeting and Saturday Bible classes until 1942, when they purchased their first building. Dr. Cornelius Van Til preached at the dedication service for the new building, on April 5, 1942. Wybenga served until 1947, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Oscar Holkeboer. The installation for Rev. Holkeboer was conducted on July 21, 1947 with Professor John Murray preaching, the Rev. George Marston giving the charge to the congregation and the Rev. Edmund Clowney giving the charge to the pastor.

Picture: Anna K. Rath