December 25 Today in OPC History

On December 25, 1944, J. Lyle Shaw, pastor of Trinity Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Newport, Kentucky, was rejoicing in the giving that had taken place during a Christmas morning service. Most members of Trinity Church lived in severe poverty in slum properties along the Ohio River. Shaw, however, was determined to bring the gospel to these folk and labored heroically in their midst from 1937-1952, the high point perhaps being this particular Christmas day. He exclaimed the day, "The richest, happiest Christmas in the history of the mission."

A member had donated money for white gift Christmas boxes which were distributed to the members of the congregation for gathering pennies. Other OPC congregations heard of the gift boxes and started sending pennies for the brethren at Trinity Church. Shaw described the Christmas morning service as exhibiting "a spirit of almost hilarious giving." The Bible school teachers counted 2,250 pennies, and the rest of the offering brought the total to nearly $50. The offering would be the most noteworthy sacrificial offering in Trinity Church's history.

Homepage Picture: Lyle Shaw (far left) with a group of young ladies from Trinity OPC in Newport, Kentucky