March 13 Today in OPC History

On this date in 1966, the Rev. Jay Adams, moderator of the Presbytery of New Jersey welcomed Good Shepherd Church, Neptune, New Jersey, as a particular congregation in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Nearly 150 people were in attendance and tightly packed into the tiny (30' x 40') building. The Rev. LeRoy Oliver preached from Malachi 3:16-17, "God's Remembrance."

The roots of the Good Shepherd congregation traced back to 1960. At that time, the H. C. Pipeling and B. R. Robinson families had found that there was no Presbyterian church in the whole township. The Neptune Christian Sunday School held its first meeting in the Pipeling home on December 4, 1960. With the help of Rollin Keller and Rex Boda, then students at Westminster Seminary, worship services began in March 1961. Mr. Keller was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1962 and worked to bring the congregation into the OPC.

Pastors after Mr. Keller included George Cottenden (1967-77), Douglas Rogers (1978-84), and Charles Robbins (1986-89). Good Shepherd Church closed on March 31, 1991.

Picture: Rollin Keller