Thankful for the Orthodox Presbyterian Church

Through the years I have been thankful to God for the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and for leading me to be a part of it. Recently I have wished for an opportunity to share this with the church at large as Psalm 92:15 says “To declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

One feature I have noted about OPC ministers, and many adherents, is that we are transplants often from other church backgrounds. Growing up in a Mennonite family in Nebraska, I learned the truth of being a sinner, and needing a Saviour. My father came from Russia very young and was wary of education, feeling it led people away from God. So family members stayed home until the age 21. I went to a one-room grade school, worked at the family farm, and any monies earned were part of the family provender. Through the years I felt a compulsion to serve God and was called to the ministry at age 18. So, a week after I was 21, I left home with a tin suitcase and $5 from my father. God graciously helped me get high school, college, and seminary education, and in the process I came to understand more completely the glories of God’s Word as outlined in the Reformed faith.

What is precious to me is the OPC’s faithful teaching concerning our salvation that is wholly of God who opens our eyes to this and enables us to believe and accept his gift of salvation, and to seek to live in obedience to his Word. The emphasis on the chief end of man being “to glorify God and to enjoy him forever” is directive in more completely understanding the gift of salvation.

Also, the question and answer, “What is God? — ‘God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth’ — outlines a life of quality and service that is indeed satisfying and challenging with worship and trust in God. This I am persuaded is the teaching of Scripture which the OPC clearly holds.

Now retired, I rejoice in more time for Christian fellowship. My soul is blessed in the exchange of concepts of the Reformed faith and experiences in the Christian life. This fellowship is a foretaste of heaven to which we look forward with great longing and expectation. As we learn to appreciate and support one another in love and fellowship, we testify to the world that we are the Lord’s disciples (John 13:35). May the Lord help us to become deeper in our commitment to him and one another.