October 6 Today in OPC History

The Rev. Laurence Vail was born on this day in 1924. Larry married Jane Fitch in 1946, and they were blessed with two daughters, Susan and Diane. After his graduation from Westminster Seminary in 1955, Larry was ordained by the Presbytery of the Dakotas to labor as home missionary in Thornton, Colorado. In 1961, Immanuel OPC, Thornton was established with Larry serving as the organizing pastor.

In 1963, Larry left Thornton to serve as a home missionary in Vienna, Virginia. The next year Grace OPC, Vienna was established and Larry pastored there for thirteen years. In 1977, he accepted a call to become the Associate General Secretary of Foreign Missions, and in 1979 became the General Secretary. He then served as pastor of Covenant OPC, Vineland, New Jersey from 1984 to 1989 before returning to church planting at New Life OPC, Lampeter, Pennsylvania.

With gratitude to God for his faithful labors, the Presbytery of Philadelphia accepted his resignation as missionary pastor of New Life OPC in order to retire from full-time ministry. Editor Thomas Tyson in New Horizons wrote of Larry and Jane's retirement, "They have touched the lives of many people over the years and have been used of the Lord to challenge and encourage a number of young people for foreign missions service. Their hospitality has been a model of loving, caring, and encouragement.