July 19 Today in OPC History

Richard Lewis, longtime pastor of Covenant OPC, Berkeley, was born on this date in 1925 in the Eastern Ohio town of Uhrichsville. At the age of 19, Dick enlisted in the Navy and and served aboard the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) during World War II. It was while serving on the Wisconsin that Dick met a group of Christian sailors who led him to the Lord.

Following his honorable discharge in 1946, he enrolled at Wheaton College where he met Jeanne Elfline. They married in 1950 upon his graduation from the school.

He then entered Westminster Seminary and earned a B.D. in 1953 and a Th. M. in 1954. Dick's relationship with Westminster would continue following his graduation as he served as a special lecturer in systematic theology, and was even offered a permanent position at the school following John Murray that he respectfully declined.

On May 15, 1957, Dick was ordained and installed as pastor of Covenant Church. He would serve a then OPC record of forty-four continuous years until his retirement in 2001. He entered into glory on November 9, 2007.

Picture: Richard, Jeanne, Linda, and Richard Lewis in front of Covenant OPC in the early 1960s.