April 19 Today in OPC History

On this day in 1971, Redeemer Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Dayton, Ohio officially came into existence. The beginnings of this congregation date back to the fall of 1967. The PCUSA had just adopted the Confession of 1967, a move that further undermined the doctrinal standards of that church. An elder in a PCUSA congregation in Dayton, Mr. J. Elmer Baird, decided it was time to leave and find a more Reformed option. Mr. and Mrs. Baird then asked the OPC Committee on Home Missions to start a Reformed work in the Dayton area. The organizing pastor was the Rev. Lawrence Eyres, who continued his ministry at Redeemer until 1982. Reflecting back, Rev. Eyres once said, “In my days of ministry there, I was often overwhelmed with distress at the lack of growth.” By God’s grace, the little seed planted in Dayton, Ohio has grown into a flourishing tree. In September of that year, the church called Michael Frangipane to become the next pastor. His ministry of 22 years concluded in February 2005. He was succeeded by the Rev. Robert Eckardt (2005 - 2000)and Ken Montgomery (2009 - 2016). Currently serving the 240 plus member congregation are pastors Robert Arendale, Brendan Westerveld, and Tyler Freire.

Picture: Mike and Sue Frangipane