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On December 8, 1946 eleven
members of the church of
Christ met in the home of
Pearl Anderson and her
mother, Laura Anderson, for
worship and planning for the
establishment of a
congregation of the Lord's
people in Mountain Home.
There was not a lot of
planning, but there was a
determination to continue.
The next Lord's Day the
small band met in the home
of brother and sister
Chester Gloer; from there to
the Robert Henley home.
Subsequently the group
alternated between these two
places for some time,
meeting mainly in the Henley
home.
In March 1947, they
began meeting in the chapel
of Roller Funeral Home. Here
the first meeting, a mission
meeting, was held and
conducted by brother E.T.
Bomer of Robstown, Texas.
Brother Bomer, a native of
Baxter County, was greatly
interested in the
establishment of the church
here and encouraged the
small group to build a house
of their own. He donated the
old church building at
Arkana, which was salvaged
to great benefit.
While meeting in the
funeral home membership had
grown through baptisms,
placing membership and new
members moving into the
community. During this time
the Messicks, Pleasant,
Griffiths, Partons and
others joined in the work.
Brother Messick, being a
builder by trade, became the
leader in a drive for a
building of their own.
A lot at Third and
Baker Streets was donated by
M.E. Curlee and Jack
Hornbuckle, and construction
of the first building (a
little 30x40 foot structure)
began in 1947. The first
meeting in this building was
on March 28, 1948, with
fifteen members present.
Here regular services
continued with brother
Henley taking the active
lead in talks, teaching and
song leading. The
congregation continues to
grow.
The first gospel
meeting in this building was
held by brother Sterl A.
Watson in May, 1948,
resulting in seven baptisms.
Brother4 Z.D. Barber
conducted the meeting in
1949. He also assisted in
the appointment of the first
church officers. Woodson
Messick, John Kent and
Robert Henley were the first
elders of the congregation.
From that beginning other
men have been chosen to help
lead. Eli Sharp, Euless
Simpson, Elmer Davis, Don
Turney, Carl marshall, Don
Ruff, Joe Messick, Jerry
Honey, Robert Lawyer and
Jack Jones. Presently Lindel
Anthony, T.J. Henderson,
Jimmy Horton, Randy Mcnabb,
Theo Rowe, Jim Scott, Doyle
Davis, David Pichford, Cecil
Tilly and Roger Stroud,
serve as elders.
In 1950 the number had
grown to about 100. The
original building was
enlarged 30'x60' with the
addition of three
classrooms. A baptistery was
also added. During 1950 and
1951 several young preachers
from Harding did the
preaching for Sunday
services - principally
brother George Snure.
In 1952 Robert
McDougald began regular work
here. He has been succeeded
by Glen Shaver, J.R. Newman,
Arthur P. Davis, Bobby
Hilburn, Bill Richardson,
Don Smith, Tom Green, Bob
Kiser, Mike Shero and Bill
Dillon. The youth of the
congregation have been
assisted by Russell Wright,
Bob Glover, Matt Condon, Tim
Kidwell, Terry Frizzell,
Mike Spillman, Devin Swindle
and Philip Medlin.
In 1954 a dwelling on
Circle Drive was purchased
for the preacher's home and
used as such until 1965 when
a new house on East Fourth
Street was built. as built. as built. |
