August 31 Today in OPC History

On August 31, 1938, the Presbytery of California examined Russell Dale Piper, who had just graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. The presbytery, which consisted of three active ministers, Robert Churchill, Donald Blackie and Harllee Bordeaux, and chaplain Lynne Wade, was so excited to have Mr. Piper come join them as pastor-elect of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles that it failed to examine him in the original languages of Scripture. After correcting its oversight and licensing Mr. Piper, the presbytery ordained and installed him on February 3, 1939.

Eighteen years later on August 31, 1956, Faith OPC in Lincoln, Nebraska, faced a crisis when its pastor left to labor elsewhere and the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension determined to suspend its funding. When Faith Church informed the Committee that Mr. Piper was agreeable to serve as Faith Church's pastor, the funding was resumed. Mr. Piper would serve as pastor Faith Church for the next seventeen years.

Picture: Russell Piper (left) and Lynne Wade