January 21 Today in OPC History

On January 21, 1968, Spencer Mills Church was formally welcomed as the first congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Michigan. The Reverend George Marston presided on behalf of the Presbytery of Wisconsin. For a year and a half the work had been under the oversight of the Presbytery's Church Extension Committee consisting of the Reverends Henry Fikkert and Donald Stanton together with Elder Ralph Voskuil. At the same service Mr. Marston ordained and installed as elders Messrs. Clarence J. Worst, Chester E. Hunter, and Calvin K. Cummings, Jr.

Mr. Stanton would eventually serve as pastor of Spencer Mills Church from 1979–92, and emeritus pastor from 1992–2000. The Reverend Frank Marsh would serve as pastor from 1992-2008. In 2009, the Reverend Alan Flowers, who was ordained and installed as pastor of family ministries at Spencer Mills Church in 2004, became the senior pastor.

Picture: Top left to right: Don Stanton, Chris Cashen and Alan Flowers, and the Spencer Mills meeting place in the late 1960s.