Chapter Thirty-One

Marion County Churches

by Mrs. Bernice Johnson

The Lutheran Church

Page 514-515

By: James A. Polecaste

So far as is known prior to 1975 there was no organized effort on the part of The Lutheran Church to have an established congregation in Marion County. There were a number of individuals in the county who were members of the Lutheran Church and these met and worshipped with the religious organization in the area in which they lived.

For some time prior to 1975 a group of Lutherans had been meeting for worship in the Diamond City Social Club of Diamond City, Arkansas. This, at first, was not an organized church, but was rather a mission effort, known as Lord of the Lake Missions.

A number of Lutherans in the Bull Shoals area, under the leadership of Pastor Eric N. Hawkins, Mission Developer, began a mission effort in Bull Shoals. The first meeting was on October 26, 1975. This mission is known as CHRIST BY THE LAKE and presently meets in the Presbyterian Church building at Bull Shoals at 11:30 each Lord's Day. The church has purchased land upon which a building will be erected.

Though small in number, this group is active in the work of the Lord with services each Sunday and mid-week Bible Study in the homes of the members.