Anniversary | New Building | Glimpses from the past | 10 Years
Celebrating over 10 years in Glassboro, New Jersey
1994 - 2008
“March 7th 2004”
Original title: "Providence OPC Celebrates their 10th Anniversary"
Article originally ran in Presbytery Life April, 2004, The Presbytery of New Jersey (PNJ) regional Newsletter
On March 7, 2004, the congregation of Providence OPC celebrated their 10th anniversary of the start of worship in their current building. PNJ pastors and other friends of the congregation joined the activities that included a covered dish supper followed by a special worship service. Rev. Ross Graham preached from the Word of God while other visiting pastors led in Prayer and scripture reading
The work began in October of 1985 when the then PNJ Regional Home Missionary, Ross Graham, began a bible study in a doctors office in Turnersville, NJ. Five Families made a commitment to begin a new work. On April 1986 they held their first worship service in the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Washington township. Rev. Rob Rienstra became the organizing pastor. In September 1986 charter members joined Cross Keys Fellowship Presbyterian Church (CKFPC). In September 1988 Rev. Rienstra moved on and Rev. Graham became the interim pastor of CKFPC. The cross Keys Grange Hall in Cross Keys became their new home. On June 4, 1989 their first two elders were ordained and CKFPC became an organized Church in the OPC
In January 1980 Licentiate Alan Strange was ordained and installed as their pastor. In 1994 they purchased the building in Glassboro and held their first worship service there in February. Because of the new location and new beginning, they changed the name to Providence OPC (POPC). In January 1999 Rev. Alan Strange accepted a call to Mid-America Reformed Seminary (MARS). God placed many challenges before them during the next two years. In December 2000 Rev. Claude D. DePrine received a call from POPC and in February 2001 was installed as their pastor.
Note: This article was transcribe to fit the web format with some minor changes from original
The Hymn playing is number 501, "Guide me, O thou great Jehovah" ©1961