January 2 Today in OPC History

On this day in 1966, Orthodox Presbyterians were reading in the January issue of the Orthodox Presbyterian Messenger about the SAVE team of young people who had helped Pastor Robert Graham and Bayview OPC in Chula Vista, California, the previous summer. One SAVE team member pictured doing outreach in the community was Christian "Chris" Walmer, a member of Calvary OPC, Middletown, Pennsylvania. Years earlier Chris's dad, Christian "Buzz" Walmer had been eating in a diner in Philadelphia. A man came up and introduced himself as Cornelius Van Til. After finding out that Walmer lived in Middletown, Van Til encouraged him to attend Calvary OPC. The Walmers became members of Calvary Church in 1948, where Robert Graham pastored from 1956 to 1961. During this time, Buzz would take Chris with him as the two of them canvassed homes in the Middletown area to invite families to attend one of the several branch Sunday Schools that Calvary Church conducted in and around Middletown.

Buzz and Chris Walmer, father and son, would both serve as ruling elders at Calvary Church for over seventy-five years combined. Buzz went to be with the Lord in 2001. Chris continues at Calvary Church as a ruling elder emeritus.

Picture: Chris Walmer calling in the Chula Vista area in 1965.