New Hope Church

(1923-)

The Gospel Messenger Oct. 27, 1923 page 683 Vol. 72 No. 43

NEW HOPE CHURCH, ARKANSAS

Perhaps the youngest member of the Brethren family is the New Hope church, near Hickory Ridge, Ark. Several weeks ago the writer was asked to come here and hold meetings in a schoolhouse, known as the Cow Lake school. It is about six miles from Hickory Ridge—the nearest town. I found eleven members of the Church of the Brethren, who had remained faithful in spite of isolation. Two other denominations hold services at this schoolhouse—each having one Sunday of the month to its preaching service. Brethren Woodiel and Lilly have been preaching for our members. Bro. Smith, who was at Austin, last summer, as summer pastor, held a series of meetings here last fall. A union Sunday-school is live and active—Bro. Luke Burnett being the superintendent. As a result of the meetings this fall, thirteen were baptized and one reclaimed. This makes a membership of twenty-five here. Some organization seemed to be necessary, to hold those gained, and to foster their Christian life. Sept. 29 we met and organized. As this is in what was once the Mt. Hope congregation, we decided to call this New Hope. Bro. Clarence Burnett was elected church clerk, James Birkhead, treasurer, and the writer, elder. Bro. Luke Burnett was licensed to preach. He will make a good leader for these people. He is not without experience at preaching—-having done this quite a bit before, in cases of necessity.

  On Sunday evening a love feast was held. People came for miles in wagons, to sec this. Our people are not very well known here, and most of the people had never seen the Lord's supper observed as we do. I heard some say that it was the biggest crowd they ever saw at Cow Lake. We had a very impressive service and a very attentive audience.

   The country around Cow Lake is new, and much of it is still uncleared. Roads are not improved—simply trails through the woods, in many places. Cotton is the principal crop. This seems like a good place to start a church, especially if that church persists in the purpose of serving. Too many ot the preachers of the South, in the rural sections, are uneducated and are not qualified to lead people on to better things. There is great need of a church and of a leader who will serve spiritually, and also strive to lead his people on to better conditions, socially and economically. The evils of the credit system, and big landowners will not help the people to get a strong, progressive community. This very problem makes it hard to establish permanent churches. It will take outside leadership, it seems to me, to help pull them out of the rut, as well as some outside financial aid, The South is one of the weak spots in our civilization, and it needs to be strengthened, if our nation and church are to become strong. There are many places in the South where there is no church, or else the church has lost its vision, and is failing to serve the people. There is need of leaders who will give their life to this work and stay by it until the church becomes strong. It will take much of the love of Christ and his Spirit to meet these problems. E. R. Fisher.

Essex, Mo.