Both born in Syracuse, New York, Susan on April 12 and Dick on July 11, 1948 (Coincidentally the day prior to both the birth of John Calvin and the famous Battle of the Boyne, won by the Protestants!).

Both graduated from North Syracuse Central High School in 1966 as “good friends.”

Dick attended Adelphi University/ awarded B.A. from Westminster College in 1970.

Susan graduated from Rochester State Hospital (NY)/ University of Rochester as a Registered Nurse in 1969. She had a major in psychiatric nursing.

Dick and Susan were converted to Christ in late 1967 (Dick) and early 1968 (Susan). Upon his conversion, Dick had written Susan and witnessed to her, and God blessed the process!

Dick and Susan Married on August 30 th, 1969, and headed off to Dick’s last year of college at Westminster. Eventually, God blessed the Knodels with three sons, Richard (34), Karl (32) and Christopher (28). Both Richard and Christopher hold office in Calvinistic churches.

Entered & then graduated from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1973.

Ordained by the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (UPCUSA) in July, 1973, to a call from the North & South Plain Grove Churches (UPCUSA), in Plain Grove, Pennsylvania.

Renounced the jurisdiction of the UPCUSA in 1975 over the issue of the Ordination of Women.

Started Hillcrest Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) in Volant, Pa., in 1975. Hillcrest continues to thrive as a confessional PCA church. Dick was a charter member of the Presbytery of the Ascension – the first presbytery organized outside the South by the PCA. It covered Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio.

In 1978, received a call from the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) to Church Plant (Trinity Chapel) as tentmakers in Syracuse, New York. Dick worked as a meatcutter at his father’s family wholesale meat company for three years!

Became pastor of Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Lynchburg, Virgina, in 1981.

Actively worked to promote the orthodoxy of the OPC, even starting Journey magazine in 1986, for the promotion of confessionalism within the conservative Reformed Churches in the U.S.A. Journey editorship continued until the summer of 1991. Part of its aim was to bring about as much consensus – along confessional lines – as possible, within the reformed world. Journey was one of the preeminent players that helped the OPC hold the line in the 1980’s and early 1990’s.

Founding Board member for Christ College ( Lynchburg) in 1989. Became an adjunct Professor of Philosophy there in 1994, and continues to the present at that task.

Knodels took their first trip to Scotland-Northern Ireland in 1989. Took subsequent trips in 1991, 2001, 2003 and 2005.

Served on the OPC’sdenominational Committee on Ecumenicity and Inter-Church Relations (CEIR) from 2003-2005. This committee interfaces with churches worldwide.

Presently working to finish a Ph.D. project through Reformed International Theological Seminary (RITS) on Christianity & Culture.

Resigned position at Grace OPC in Lynchburg, in March of 2005, after 24 years.

Invited to supply the Rev. Andrew Quigley’s pulpit in Airdrie, Scotland during the summer of 2005.

Accepted by ReformationChristianMinistries (RCM) for mission work in Scotland and Europe in January, 2006, in Fellsmere, Florida.

Departing for their base in Scotland in May, 2006! Much work to do in Airdrie (& UK), Russia, Poland, France and other destinations as they become viable.