|
|
Christ
by the Lake First
25 Years
Before September 1975, Lutherans
living in the Bull Shoals- Lakeview-Flippin area had to drive to Mountain Home to Redeemer Lutheran Church
(Missouri Synod) to worship within the Lutheran faith. That scene changed when Pastor Eric Hawkins, a Lutheran
Church in America mission developer, began knocking on doors to see if there was enough interest from Lutherans to begin a
mission in the area. He had moved to Arkansas in June 1975, and completed the same duty in the Diamond City area earlier in
the year. Hawkins reported a warm reception, not only from the many Lutherans in the area, but from area
residents as well. He was greatly aided in his task by Irlawaine ''LoIIy'' Roepe, Lakeview postmistress. The
decision was made to develop an LCA mission, the fifth mission in Arkansas since 1973.
The first service was Oct. 26, 1975, Reformation Sunday, at Imperial Resort (now Rocky Hollow) in Bull
Shoals. Dr. William Little and his wife Dorothy, opened their personal living quarters for the inaugural service and those
to follow. Dr. Little served as usher, Steve Little was acolyte, Julie Little played the piano, and Mrs.
Little served refreshments. Forty dedicated Lutherans attended the service.
Hawkins and his wife,
Ive, lived in the Diamond City area. He traveled more than 100 mites at least four times weekly to serve both missions, including
services at both missions each Sunday. A service committee was appointed to lead the operation of the mission. Hawkins began
confirmation classes for younger mission members and held the first wedding and funeral in November 1975.
The tiny congregation gratefully accepted an offer by Bull Shoals Presbyterian Church on March 10, 1976, to use its
church facilities for worship. Lutheran services were held each week following Presbyterian services. Presbyterian organist
Margaret North served the congregation until Dawn Cantwell took over the duties.
Dr. Harvey Prinz,
Central States Synod president, commissioned Pastor Hawkins as mission developer for the two mission congregations on March
14, 1976. Also in 1976, the mission was featured in The Lutheran, as part of an article written on Arkansas missions.
Hawkins, the Littles and the Eastwold family of Bull Shoals Boat Dock were some mission members pictured and recognized.
Robert Little was confirmed on May 23, 1976. The church took part in the 1976 Bicentennial parade in Bull Shoals with Hawkins,
and mission members, Otto Swanson and a Kendall Hill, riding in a boat entitled ''Fishers of men” .
The year 1977 brought both joy and tragedy. The mission officially began the steps of
organizing into a church with the opening of the charter on May 29. Through a generous gift of Caterpillar stock totaling more than $25,000 by Otto
Swanson in memory of his wife, Ethel, plans were made for a building. The elation of the tiny congregation
was dashed in August with the sudden and unexpected death of Pastor Hawkins. The congregation was not only sorrowed
to lose its spiritual leader, but saddened to think after working so hard and diligently, Hawkins would not see the
fruits of his labor.
The church and services continued
with Presbyterian Pastor Ken Reeves preaching a Lutheran service following his own church's services. A church council
was elected and installed on Oct. 2, 1977. Under council guidance, eight lots at the corner of C.S. Woods Boulevard (then
West Broadway) and Marilyn Avenue were purchased. Bull Shoals resident and businessman Roy Danuser offered the lots at a reduced
price in keeping with longstanding tradition of town support in the development of churches.
Pastor Charles Ledin interviewed
with the church on Jan. 8, 1978. He was accepted and installed Feb. 12, 1978. In March, nine new members were received, the
first new members since the closing of the charter. Lutheran Church Women (now WELCA) was established and women of the church
began serving church, community, area and world needs through various fund-raisers.
Summer brought
final approval of building plans from the Synod and later in the year, the building was started with Almond and Richardson
Contractors at the helm.
Ledin and his wife, Ruth, chose to move on to a larger congregation and left in June 1979
before the building project was completed. Pastor Herbert Johnson - came out of retirement to serve as interim pastor in August,
and the first service i in the new building was Aug. 5, 1979. Dedication of the new facility was Dec. 2, 1979 by the Rev.
Jearl Shaft, American Mission consultant. Under Johnson's leadership, the congregation grew. Meg Hanna
began as organist and choir director in 1980, and the parking lot was paved in 1982.
Eventually the congregation
outgrew the original building. On Oct. 21, 1984, the congregation voted to expand. An expansion project with contractor Monte
Buel extended the chancel across the front of the church, added a sacristy, added an addition to the south side of the building
with enlarged seating for the choir, increased general seating by two-thirds, remodeled pastor's study and office, increased
the narthex and added an inside stairway to a remodeled lower level.
The expansion was dedicated June 16:
1985 with the Rev. Roger Gieschen, LCA Central States Synod president, and the Rev. Jearl Shaft, American Mission consultant,
participating in the service.
Pastor Johnson decided to re-retire in 1987 and left in July. In October, Pastor Robert Hulse assumed the pastorate.
He and his wife, Verienne, served the growing congregation for nearly four years. During his tenure, LCA merged with other
Lutheran groups to become the present Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Hulse accepted another
call and left in August 1991 .
Pastor George
Halsted and his wife, Arlene, came to the congregation in' December 1991. Under his pastorate, growth continued. A Baldwin
electronic organ was purchased in 1993, and a second expansion project began in 1996. A 1,6O0-foot addition for a fellowship
hall and kitchen was added to the south end of the building as well as an equal expansion on the lower level, the sanctuary
was remodeled, a new stained glass window added and seating capacity increased. The new addition was dedicated
Jan. 10, 1997, by Bishop Floyd Schoenhals. The expansion was financed by loans from members, and the financial obligation
was lessened by a generous gift by the sons of the late Louise Hermann after her death. In 2001 , longtime organist and choir/director
Meg Hanna retired. She was replaced by organist Lou Ainswodh and choir director Nancy Kohlhof.
Current pastor, the
Rev. David Mattson and his wife, Anna, came in December 2001 after Pastor Halsted accepted a call in Indiana. Participation
in the 50th Anniversary and Rededication of Bull Shoals Dam parade yield the church a first place float award. With members
just recently received, Pastor Mattson has added 24 new members to the congregation in less than a year.
Under
his guidance, the congregation looks forward to continued growth and service to the community area and our Lord.
Compiled by Linda MastersSeptember 2002
|