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History of the
Texarkana Church
By Marie Prindle
Editors Note: The following
information was sent to the Heritage Room at Loma Linda University on
October 28, 1997 by Marie Prindle, who was a charter member of the
Texarkana Church. Marie Prindle’s letter was acknowledged by Lawrence A.
Skinner, Library Volunteer at the university.
In 1905, a company of
Seventh-day Adventist Christians began meeting in different homes to worship
and study the scriptures. They realized the “Third Angels’ Message” must be
preached in the city of Texarkana. Sabbath after Sabbath, year after year,
these faithful believers met and prayed for God to open the way. However, it
wasn’t until 1924 that God answered their prayers. Two ministers, Elder R.
P. Montgomery and Elder Isaac Baker, arrived to hold Evangelistic meetings.
As a result of these inspired messages, a church of fifteen members was
organized.
Satan is always ready to take advantage of opportunities to hinder God’s
work and in less than six years there were only five baptized members
carrying on the Lord’s work. Those five members again worked and prayed and
in 1930, another series of meetings were scheduled. A three poled tent was
erected on the corners of Fifth and Hazel Streets. The Lord was again
impressing people to preach His message of Salvation. Handbills were
distributed all over the city, countryside, and highways and byways to alert
the people of Texarkana to the coming meetings. Anticipation was high. When
the words, “Bible Chautauqua”, flashed across the front of the tent, an
interest was aroused that had not previously been known in this city.
Elder E. G. Crossier, the Arkansas Louisiana Conference evangelist, was the
dynamic speaker. Each night the seats were filled with people eagerly
absorbing the message. Leading the singing was Elder Ben Hassenflug, a young
ministerial intern from Southwestern Union College in Keene, Texas.
This wonderful effort continued thirteen weeks. Then a sermon titled, “THE
MARK OF THE BEAST” was given. At the first altar call, ninety six precious
souls took their stand for the Lord; however, many rejected it. After Elder
Crossier held baptismal classes, forty more people accepted the message of
salvation and were also baptized. Sister Helen Maxwell, the bible Worker,
was a dedicated assistant in visiting the homes of interested people.
History of ArkLa: Assistd by Ben Hassenpflug, song leader and tent master on
opening night had to hurriedly add 250 more seats making the total capacity
1200. Nell Beem of Little Rock, assisted Helen Maxwell in visiting and Bible
teaching. The meetings were advertised as the Pictured Bible Chautaugua.
After eight weeks of meetings, 204 attended Sabbath School and construction
was begun on a new brick veneer church with seating for 200 and rooms for a
church school. The first meetings were held in the new church on October 4,
1930. Nearly 100 new members were brought into the church. Only eight were
attending before the evangelistic meetings.
On Sabbath, October 4, 1930, the first church service was held in the new
church constructed on the corner of Tenth and County Avenue.
County Ave Church - 1930
Pastor Elder Isaac
Baker, served here for two years. This special church was a monument of
truth for the Lord in this city. Elder Baker strengthened the new members as
well as studying with and baptizing more souls. In his gentle way, he gave
the church members the assurance of being in a very solid foundation with
Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone. During 1931, Crosier held major campaigns
in Hot Springs and Little Rock, with a short follow up series in Texarkana
sandwiched between. The short follow up campaign in Texarkana added 24 more
members.
It was under the leadership of the next Pastor, Elder A. F. Ruf, that our
first church school was organized in 1932. Elder Ben Hassenflug and his
wife, Lucille, were the teachers. Parents were concerned then, as now, for
the full education of Christian character for our children.
In 1943, Evangelist Mitchell Garrett along with the Texarkana Pastor Albert
Butler, 37 new members came into the church.
In 1950, under the Pastoral leadership of Elder William H. Elder, the
property on County Avenue was sold and three lots purchased on Thirty Fourth
and Laurel Street. The new school was built there and the church members
also worshipped there until that property was sold and a new church
constructed at 2422 Texas Boulevard. Three acres were purchased at 2201
Arkansas Boulevard and our present school was erected. The school is still
in full function with Frank Meidell and his wife, Marilyn as the able,
dedicated teachers.
In 1996, having outgrown the Texas Boulevard Church, we sold it and have
purchased twenty seven acres on McKnight Road, in the Pleasant Grove area of
Texarkana, Texas. It is on this site we plan to build a Church Sanctuary,
Fellowship Hall, Church School, and Pathfinder Clubhouse. Construction is
scheduled for the latter part of 1997.
Pleasant Grove Church - 2008
Currently our membership is 174. We
are continuing to witness for the Lord through group Bible Studies and the
constant fervor of Prayer Meetings and regular Sabbath Services.
Surviving Charter members of the original church are Margie Hopkins, Marie
Martin Prindle and Ruby Martin.
(NOTE: In 2007, only Margie Hopkins
survived. Margie passed away in February of 2008. All
charter members are now deceased.)
Elder Harold White and his wife, Doreen has pastured the church with
outstanding enthusiasm since 1995. When Satan has tried to throw
discouragement in our path, Pastor White has been the Lord’s man to
encourage us.
Texarkana Pastors
1955 1956 - 1957 1958 - 1960 1961 -1963
J D NICHOLS C L BEASON
CC BALSER J L BOWERS
1964 - 1966 1967 -1968 1969 - 1971 1972 - 1973
J H WARDROP
D W SCHIFFBAUER TREVOR HOOVER RICHARD WILLIAMS
1974 1978 -1979 1980 -1981 1982
W W TUCKER E E JACKSON
E A ROY JIM RISK
1983 -1984 1985 - 1987 1988 - 1995 1996 -1998
DONALD C LONG JAMES TAYLOR MICHAEL TOMLINSON HAROLD WHITE
1999 - 2000
2001 - 2006
2007 ....
LAURIE DEWITT DAVID FARMER REGGIE PHILLIPS |
