Chapter Thirty-One

Marion County Churches

by Mrs. Bernice Johnson

Baptist Churches

Pleasant Grove No. 1 - Rea Valley Baptist Church

Page 492-493

 "The Pleasant Grove No. 1 - Rea Valley - 1882 - Marion County, was received into the Association in 1883 with C. H. Mayfield pastor; B. F. Hand clerk; T. M. Rea, A. L. Blythe, E. F. Hand and G. H. Ballard messengers. Received by baptism the first year 9, total membership 29. In 1892 this church, organized as Pleasant Grove, became known as Pleasant Grove No.1, after a church by the same name was organized in Baxter County. This later church became known as Pleasant Grove No. 2. In recent years the original church has been known as Rea Valley. C. H. Mayfield continued as pastor through 1892 and probably later. Other pastors were: J. H. Parmer -1889; H. Sasser 1894-1897; W. D. Jennings 1898 (at which time membership was 81); C. H. Mayfield - 1899; H. H. Hilton 1900-1901; J. G. Walker - 1902; W. J. Barnett 1908-1910; W. H. McCuistion 1913-1918. In addition to families named above as messengers or officers, who have been active in this church, are families of Wm. Parnell, John Bench, J. F. Rea, McMannes, and Toulson. Minutes for 1919 give the latest available report to the Association from this church which, at about that time, became inactive and remained so for 20 years or more, finally becoming a mission of the Flippin church in 1950 or 1951." (This information was copied from Associational minutes.)

In 1959 Dale Barnett, Associational Missionary, held a two-week revival and eight people accepted Christ as Savior. The First Baptist Church of Flippin adopted the Rea Valley church as a mission. Those sent to carry on the work were: Howard King, pastor; Mr. and Mrs. Albert Reed, Margaret Reed, Sharon Rea, Mrs. Howard Rea, Mrs. Baker, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Joe Hodges and all of these served until 1960. From 1960 until 1964 the workers were: Howard King, pastor; Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Sanders, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Rea, Mrs. Otis Humphrey, Mrs. Lloyd Baker and Mrs. Faye Martin. Among those who served as pastors were: R. V. Carroll, Dick Hurst, S. D. Hacker, J. H. James, Troy Melton, Mike McCoy, Coy Womack, and Lee Bowers.

In 1967 under the leadership of Lee Lewis, a building fund was set up and Mr. and Mrs. Sam Martin donated land for the church. In 1971 J. H. James was called as pastor and a building program was begun. The building committee consisted of Howard Rea, Ray Rorie and Marilyn McGuire. The first services in the new building were held in October 1972. On October 8, 1972, the Rea Valley Mission became again the Rea Valley Church.