Chapter Thirty-One

Marion County Churches

by Mrs. Bernice Johnson

Baptist Churches

New Hope Baptist Church

Page 488-489

The New Hope Baptist Church is located four miles south of Yellville and was organized in 1881. The charter members were: J. H. and Elvira James, Jim Nanney, John Homer, Mrs. Pat Carson, Mrs. Sam Whitson and Mrs. Sis Cleghorn. The first pastor was Henry Sasser, who served seven years and for more than one period, including years 1891-1897. Other pastors were: C. H. Mayfield in 1890; J. P. Lovelace; A. M. Crane; A. M. Reed; J. H. Marler-1902; J. G. Walker 1903-1905; G. M. Taylor-1906; J. C. Cooper-1907; H. C. Lamb 1908-1911; R. L. Carson 1912-1914; W. H. McCuistion 1915-1916, 1918, 1929-1930, 1944; Fred Ward-1917; W. B. O'Neal-1919; W. L. Mumcy-1921; J. J. Ivey-1922; M. C. Clampitt-1938; H. R. Messick-1943; Carl Huddleston-1948; Lloyd Perry-1949; S. W. Wilkerson-1950-1951; Ben Kelly-1952-1953; Dick Hurst-1954.

The location of the church building has been changed twice and is now located on Highway 14 about 4 miles south of Yellvile. The land was donated by Virgil Ott.

New Hope has sent out two strong and useful ministers-Rupert Nanney, a successful pastor in Oklahoma City for many years and is now a pastor in Texas, and Abe James, pastor at Lamesa, Texas in 1953. Among other active leaden in this church who are not named above are the families of Garland, J. E., Joel, and Alex James, W. P. Cantrell, J. G. Dillahunty, Smith Matlock, R. D. and W. H. Reeter, J. L. Williams, G. W. and H. C. Callahan, R. R, D. R. and Henry Camp, H. L and Walter Fireston, R. Jenkins, Elnora Phillips, J. A. Pasco, Tinnie Watts, H. C Lamb, Ewing Cheek, W. F. Nanney, L.G. Clem, Mrs. Virgil Ott, W. S. T. Janes, Mrs. C. W. Pyle, Buck Harris, Charlene Stephenson, and G. H. Horner. The membership in 1953 was 129. This information was copied from A History of White River Baptist Association of Arkansas 1840-1954 by H. D. Morton.

Later pastors have been: Roy Dunn, 1960-1961; Herbert Blanton, 1962; Raymond Edwards, 1964-1965; Calvin Henderson, 1965; Coy Womack, 1966; Dick Hunt, 1966-1967; Lee Bowers, 1968-1976; Richard Melton is the present pastor. Raymond Edwards, Calvin Henderson and Randy Shipman were ordained to the ministry by this church.

In the past ten years (1966-1976) this rural church has made much progress under the pastoral leadership of Bro. Lee Bowers and the dedicated membership. It is now considered one of the stronger rural churches of White River Baptist Association.

In 1975 New Hope Church sent the following report to the Annual Association:

Resident Membership 98

Non-resident members 87

Total Membership 185

Sunday School Enrollment 58

Yearly offerings $5,716.00

Gave to Missions 998.00