December 17 Today in OPC History

On this date in 1972, the Presbytery of the South received Faith Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Ocala, Florida, as a particular congregation with the Rev. John H. Thompson installed as pastor. The previous year fifteen individuals met at the home of Dr. Robert C. Bartlett to be introduced to the OPC. The core group grew and the arrangements were made to worship at the local Seventh-Day Adventist building. The church purchased six acres of land and in 1977 its new building was finished. Pastors following Mr. Thompson included Gerald Quarles (1979-82), John Fikkert (1983-88), Ted Gray (1990-97), Richard Miller (1998-2000), Chad Sadorf (2002-09) and Greg Hoadley (2010-13). Faith Church's ministry was marked by hospitality to vacationers and visitors, outreach to aging and involvement in prison and right-to-life ministries. On December 31, 2013, Faith Church dissolved.

Picture: The congregation of Faith Church in the mid-1970s. Pastor John Thompson is on the far right.