HISTORY OF THE MILL CREEK CHURCH OF CHRIST
A deed currently in the possession of Tennyson Bailey, a member of the Mill Creek Church of Christ, documents that three acres of land were deeded from R.H. Smith and his wife Mary Smith, and R.C. Brown and wife Annie Brown, to R.H. Smith and R.C. Brown as trustees of the Church of Christ at Mill Creek on February 18, 1884. This method of transaction was evidently an effort by these pioneers to set the congregation apart as a corporate, rather than an individual, entity. On September 26, 1890, elders J.R. Shinn, F.M. Shinn, and J.D. Marley ordained “as a minister of the gospel, with the privilege and authority pertaining to the office of elder and preacher,” a gentleman by the name of George A. Bailey. The congregation met at a building near what is now Highway 333, which leads to Arkansas Nuclear One. This congregation continued until about 1930, when, for some unknown reason, it ceased to meet for about two years.
On September 15, 1932, William Ellis and N.S. Booher assigned the title of the Old Grange Hall property to three directors of the Christian Church, L.C. Smith, Fred Smith, and C.T. Shinn. This building is the core of the one still in use today, and rests on its original hand-hewn wooden foundation. The Old Grange Hall was a two-story building of frame construction, built in the 1880s. It was in generally poor condition, and thus was not suitable for church services. Meanwhile, plans were being formulated to remodel the Old Grange Hall. The work—all of which was carried out using voluntary labor—began, and was completed, in 1934.
To get to worship, people often rode into Russellville on the backs of flatbed trucks owned by L.C. Smithand C.T. Shinn. George W. Patterson, who had preached for the Christian Church in Russellville from 1921 to 1933, was one of the first preachers. Homer Haislip and John A. Morris were two of the First Christian Church preachers who preached at the Mill Creek congregation in 1935.
Sunday school was organized in April of 1935, with L.C. Smith as Sunday school superintendent and Homer Gibson as assistant superintendent. [Since all of these events were occurring under the auspices of the First Christian Church, some titles and procedures described at this point in the church’s history might appear denominational in character to those members of the Church of Christ reading about these events today.] Sybil Rachel was the secretary, having been preceded at that post by Hazel Rachel and Muffett Rachel. Truman Shinn taught the adult classes, John Shoptaw was the young people’s teacher, and Gladine Shinn taught the “little jewels.”
The dedication for the new building was held on June 9, 1935, with Homer Haislip of the Christian Church officiating. Dr. Erwin H. McDonald also spoke, and wrote a long article about the occasion for The Courier Democrat, for which he served as the editor. The building was considered very nice and complete for its time, having gasoline lanterns and a well with rope and bucket. Meanwhile E.R. Harper (born in Faulkner County in 1898, and later of KRBC radio and Herald of Truth fame out of Abilene, Texas) was serving as the preacher for the Fourth and State Street Church of Christ in Little Rock. He held a tent meeting at the South Denver and West Second Street congregation in Russellville, and the members of the small Mill Creek congregation attended nightly. This led to a re-organization of the Mill Creek church in ways more consistent with biblical doctrine. The sign over the front door was changed to “Mill Creek Church, 1935.” Prior to World War II, many people either walked to church or came by horse-drawn wagon. And each family usually was either a guest in someone’s home, or had guests in their home, for the afternoon. The style and status of preachers has changed over the years, too, of course. Some current members still recall one preacher who had a farm across the road from the Old Grange Hall. While still wearing his overalls, he would exit directly from the field and walk straight into the pulpit.
Mill Creek has seen many able teachers and preachers. Perhaps the best known and most able was Lucian M. Farrar, who was the preacher at the Fifth and Greenwich congregation for twenty-two years. It was he, above all others, who taught steadfastness and sound doctrine. Brother Farrar was well known for his willingness to preach the Gospel to anyone who would listen. Many students of Harding University have tested their wings at the little Mill Creek congregation, and some have gained prominence in the brotherhood. From among Mill Creek members also have come a number of capable teachers.
The building—originally built about 1885 and remodeled in 1934—was electrified in 1949, thus negating the need for the old gasoline lamps that had been used for so long. In 1956, the three classrooms were built; in 1968, the present pews were installed; and in 1976, the foyer and restrooms were added. Then, late in 1982, the interior was completely renovated with carpeting, central heating and air-conditioning, and indirect lighting being installed. The new roof and exterior painting were completed in 1982 as well.
Ray King and Sid Womack each preached at Mill Creek on a part-time basis for about thirteen years (1987-2000). Around 2000, Jack Barber began assisting Sid upon Ray King’s retirement. Jack preaches on even-numbered Sundays, and Sid preaches on odd-numbered ones. Ten Bailey, Paul Bailey, and Edwin Shinn have taught Bible classes. Herman Bailey, Ten Bailey, John Jennings, and Sid Womack have led singing. Mary Jo Connerly taught the teen class until about 1992, followed by Paul Bailey (this class was sometimes taught by Maggie Rachel, who subsequently taught the young children’s class, while Rebecca Ware served as a substitute teacher). Daren and Lou-Ella Johnson taught these classes before moving away. Daren was in charge of the Sunday-school program for years, as was Paul Bailey at times, too.
In October 1989, Rebecca Ware began working with World Bible School (WBS). Since that time, she has mailed introductory courses in Bible to well over 2,000 individuals in Nigeria. Wanda Bailey (who, at the time of the printing of this directory, was a member of the West Side Church of Christ in Russellville) started with WBS in August of 1990. Sybil Lloyd also worked with a phenomenal number of people on the African continent through her WBS efforts, having taught over 6,000 people through international mail. To date, Mill Creek members have taught more than 10,000 World Bible School students.
The church could be termed “conventional in character” as a congregation among the churches of Christ since it teaches that people are lost without Jesus Christ, and that to accept Jesus Christ as one’s Savior, one must hear and believe the Gospel, repent (turn away) from a previous sinful life, confess that Jesus is his Lord, and be baptized (immersed) in water, as the Scriptures teach in passages such as Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:26-39, Acts 10:47-48, and Romans 6:1-11. The Mill Creek congregation sings a cappella in worship, as commanded in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16. Members partake of the Lord’s Supper on each first day of the week, per the example provided in Acts 20:7. We also lay by in store (give of our means) as 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 teaches. Serving the Lord, and loving Him above everything else, is taught at every service in some way.
The Mill Creek congregation routinely sends contributions to orphans’ missionaries (2 Corinthians 8:18-19). On any given Sunday morning, there will be 20-25 people present, and the contribution will be around $400. The congregation has supported, or continues to support, missionary efforts in Mexico, Panama, Uruguay, Nicaragua, Columbia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Congo, and Uganda. Mill Creek also supports various works in the United States such as World Video Bible School, In Search of the Lord’s Way, and others. Edification of the saints (2 Timothy 4: 2) is carried out through both Sunday-school classes and preaching. It is not uncommon to have more than 50% of the members attain the goal of being a daily Bible reader during any given week.
Additionally, since 1999 the Mill Creek congregation has been supportive of the jail-ministry work carried out at the Pope County Detention Center. As of this writing, more than 500 inmates have been baptized and over 800 have been restored. Mill Creek has donated hundreds of World Bible School lessons, some of which have been completed by inmates and returned to Mill Creek for grading and feedback.
The Mill Creek Church of Christ also has a long and storied history when it comes to helping train young men to preach the Gospel of Christ. The congregation has always had a soft spot in its heart for those men—young or old—who want to use their talents to help spread the good news about salvation. To that end, the Mill Creek congregation has opened both its door and its heart to those who have a desire to preach, and has provided a proving ground of sorts to those who needed a place to “get their feet wet” or “test their mettle” as they prepared and presented sermons.
On the first Sunday afternoon of each month, Mill Creek hosts young people from area congregations who participate in the Lads to Leaders program so that young men may participate at Mill Creek in such activities as song leading, Bible reading, and preaching. Some of the young men who have spoken at Mill Creek can quite literally say that they gave their very first public lesson within the confines of the small, rural building in which the congregation currently meets. And a number of those youngsters grew up to be not only faithful Christians, but also Gospel preachers!
The tradition of training young men to serve the Lord in a public way is very much “alive and well” at Mill Creek. Currently, there are two young men—Blake Brown and Justin Stuntz—who attend at Mill Creek and who regularly participate in worship services by reading Scriptures, leading singing, and preaching. Those of us who are members are Mill Creek have seen these two youngsters grow, mature, and flourish as they have created and presented their lessons. It is not an exaggeration to say that the boys have done a truly outstanding job with each of their presentations. And it is somewhat of an understatement to say that all Mill Creek members have been richly blessed by every one of the boys'
presentations. The young men take their role in public leadership at Mill Creek very seriously. And it shows in everything they do—whether it is the professional way they handle God’s Word as they read it aloud before the congregation, the confident approach they use in leading singing, or the powerful and persuasive manner in which they present their sermons. [The text of each of the boys’ sermons is posted on the Mill Creek Website. Click here to
access those lessons.]
Members of the Mill Creek congregation strive to live properly before God, to carry out the commandments contained within His inspired Word, and to participate in evangelism, edification, and benevolence as He has instructed.