March 12 Today in OPC History

On March 12, 1964, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Newberg, Oregon was organized and received as a particular congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The group had taken shape through a Bible study led by the Rev. Albert Edwards, then pastor of First Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Portland, at the home of Marinus and Catherine Vanden Hoek in September 1961. Looking for a Reformed church in the Newberg area, the Vanden Hoeks had first become aware of the OPC's interest in planting new churches through a radio ad and had contacted Pastor Edwards for help.

By March 1962, worship services were started. The Marcus Becktell, Fenn Bourland, Laurence Bourland, and Richard Hill families soon began attending, as well as Mrs. Gay Buckley. The group called the Rev. Herbert Butt as its first pastor, but Mr. Butt left the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1965. The Rev. Robert Newsom served as pastor from 1966 – 1972, and the Rev. Arthur Ames from 1973 – 1976.

In 1977, the congregation called the Rev. John Mahaffy, who has served faithfully up to the present time.

Picture: Core families in1962 - Front row: Gay Buckley, Fenn and Sally Myrtle Bourland, Ida Vanden Hoek, Julia Vanden Hoek. Back row: Fenn Bourland, Catherine Vanden Hoek, Marinus Vanden Hoek, Gertrude Bourland, Laurence Bourland.