HISTORIC CHURCHES
Conway County
Arkansas Genealogy Trails

PLEASANT
SPRINGS MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Organized April 30, 1870
Photo taken 1994 by
Sharon Smith
56th
Anniversary of Church Is Observed
The fifty-sixth anniversary of the
Pleasant Springs Missionary Baptist church, near Birdtown, was
celebrated all day Sunday. Approximately 300 people from all parts of
Conway county and different sections of the state were in attendance.
Rev Elliott JONES of Morrilton, pastor, preached at the morning service
at 11 o'clock. Following dinner on the ground at noon the afternoon was
devoted to singing. The Pleasant Springs Missionary Baptist church was
reported to have been established in 1875. --Morrilton
Democrat newspaper, Apr 30, 1931, pg 5; contributed by Sharon Smith.
Pleasant Springs Church Observes Anniversary
The Pleasant Springs Baptist
Church observed the 100th anniversary of its organization Sunday, May
3, with special services and activities.
Bro. Will Gordon preached the 11 a.m. service. Bro. Cyril Bishop gave the prayer.
Following the service, the congregation gathered in the church yard for
dinner and visiting. The crowd was so large that all could not
get into the church.
Bro. Gordon read some church minutes which were written in 1883 by a relative, Alex Gordon.
During the afternoon there was special singing, Alan Bishop read the church history, and Bro. Earl Smith preached.
Flowers were donated by Mr. and Mrs. Eudel Huett and Bill Plummer.
Bro. John Morrow is pastor of the church. --Morrilton Democrat; contributed by Sharon Smith.
The following is transcribed
from a booklet given out at the 100th Anniversary of the church and
transcribed here by Sharon Smith:
A Brief History
of Pleasant Springs Missionary
Baptist Church
April 30, 1870 to
April 30, 1970
Her first pastor was Eld. Thomas
Moody.
Her first clerk was M.E. Moore.
Elder R.L. Douglas had the
distinction
of serving the greatest number of
years as their
pastor.
A brief history of this church
revealing a faithful past when
souls
were won to Christ, sacrifices made
to preach the Gospel
uncompromisingly
from pioneer
days to the present.
1870 to 1970
"God is in the facts
of history
as truly as he is in the march of the
seasons, the revolutions
of the
planets, or the architecture of the
worlds." J. Lanahan

(Page 2)
AN EXPLANATION
The "Why" of sending forth this brief history
as a publication, is because of love and appreciation for PLEASANT SPRINGS MISSIONARY BAPTIST
CHURCH, the people whose effort were blessed of the Lord in leading me to
accept Christ as my Savior. Also as a minister called of the Lord to proclaim
the Gospel of Christ, this
church was help and encouragement while I was in school
I'm glad and rejoice
that our family the Gordons and other families, have had part in the ONE
HUNDRED YEARS of their noble history.
Distinct honors were bestowed upon
Eld. C. Bishop to bring the 100th Year Devotional Message when this history was
read by Bro. Allen D. Bishop. Also, Eld. W.S. Gordon was invited to bring the
100th Anniversary sermon and to
read from the original records as kept by his grandfather, Alexander Gordon, one
of the early clerks keeping the records of 1883. A former Pastor, Bro. Earl
Smith delivered the afternoon message and their Pastor Eld. John Morrow opened and led the
services in the 100th Anniversary
celebration.
My sincere thanks to Eld. Homer Gunn for his effors
in collecting this material for the 61st Anniversary celebration and to Bro.
Allen D. Bishop whose efforts bring this history for the ONE HUNDREDTH
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
My prayer is that this HISTORY will encourage
more efforts to publish truth as our blessed Lord PROVIDES.
W.S. Gordon,
1971.
(Page 3)
This partial history was taken from a paper compiled by Eld. Homer
Gunn and read at the sixty-first birthday observance of Pleasant Springs Church
April 26, 1931, with revisions and additions by Allen D. Bishop, in an effort to
give a short resume of this Church's one hundred years work for the Lord in this
community, Birdtown, Conway County Arkansas.
As Americans, we study the
history of the United States
from its beginning until the present time. We are concerned with facts of its
growth; and how it compared with other nations; and its relation to world
affairs, and if possible learn of conditions and forces that have contributed to
bringing about the present status of this nation. All of us are affected by the
laws of the land and the events that transpired down to the present
time.
Likewise we, as children
of God, study the progress of his churches down through the ages and
especially those churches that have held to the doctrines and principles once
delivered to the Saints. Members of Pleasant Springs Church should be
particularly concerned about its history, because of its influence on our
spiritual lives here and in eternity.
The community should know the
church's history, because it, through its members, has been intimately
associated with passing events in this area for the past hundred years, standing
fast for what it believes to be the Word of God and by precept and example
endeavoring to lift the surrounding area and as an instrument in God's hand,
offering Christ to all who will accept him on the terms set forth in God's Holy
Word.
While we are assembled here today, let us observe some of the facts
associated with Pleasant Springs Church during the past one hundred
years.
(Page 4)
The Pleasant Springs Missionary Baptist
Church was organized on
April 30, 1870 with 10 charter members. Elds. B.H. Bearden and Thomas
Moody served as council aiding in the organization. Following is a copy of the
minutes of the organization and a list of the charter members as recorded by
Eld. Thomas Moody, Clerk protempore.
Organization of Pleasant Springs Church,
Conway County, Arkansas April
30, 1870.
We, being requested by the brethren and sisters to meet them
for the purpose of organizing them into a church, having met them,
viz.,
Elias Tiner
Luciel Tiner (This name uncertain from old record)
Wesley
C. Bryant (This middle initial should be "T" according to relatives)
A.
Hood
Amanda M. Tiner
Kindness Tiner
Anna Johnson
Sarah Bryant
Elizabeth
Honeycutt
Susan
Hood
Having called the above brothers and sisters together and finding
them orthodox in faith proceeded to organize them into a church which is called
Pleasant Springs.
B.H. Bearden and Thomas Moody
Although Pleasant
Springs Church has never been what would now be called a large church, it
enjoyed a substanital growth from the first. The first few conference meetings
held after its organization, it received members from other
churches.
Several members came from Providence church in Jefferson County
Ark. Some from Friendship Church, which according to older people, was located
at Solgohachia, Arkansas. Through passing events of the past one hundred years
we are not able at this time to trace the letters of some of the other members
to their original churches, but undisputed opinion is these churches
were
(Page 5)
strictly orthodox in faith as held by this Baptist
Church.
Eld Thomas Moody was chosen as the first Pastor and M.E. Moore,
who united with the newly organized church at its second conference meeting was
chosen as clerk.
The first committee appointed consisted of M.E. Moore,
Elias Tiner, and Pastor Moody. This committee was appointed to draft rules of
Decorum for the Church. Under the rules drafted by this committee and accepted
by the church, the preacher in charge, moderating, the order of business was as
follows: (1) To invite visiting brethren and sisters to seats in conference, (2)
To give invitation for membership by letter or experience and baptism, (3) to
inquire for reference, or to bring up other business. In addition to these were
the usual rules of parlimentary procedure and further rules requesting that each
male member attend each conference and in case they failed twice, the church
requested they give reason for their non attendance. If they missed three times
the church reserved the right to "inquire after them as she deemed best." The
rules also set forth the usual policies of Baptists regarding the governing of
the church by the majority of the member's assembled in conference. This church
over one hundred years ago, has been one of the distinguishing marks of all true
Baptists down through the ages, since the first
Baptist Church was called out during the Personal Ministry of the Lord
Jesus Christ, and has been enjoyed by Pleasant Springs Church since the
day of its organization. This church has always stood in direct opposition to
the slightest tendency toward the destruction of local
church independence, and has constantly maintained "The existence of a
direct line of succession of the Lord's churches from Christ's Personal Ministry
until now."
As a rule Pleasant Springs Church has
(Page 6)
been regular in its
representation at associational Baptists. The first mention of it representing
at an association was in Sept 1870, when it was represented in the Cadron
Baptist Association by M.E. Moore, Cicero Tiner, and Wesley T. Bryant. (This was
prior to the organization of the United Association of Missionary
Baptists, which has held 95 sessions at this time. In the minutes of July 1873
we have the record of a motion being passed authorizing the Association
messengers of this church to do all in their power to bring about the
reconciliation of what was then known as the Springfield and the Landmark
Associations. In the year 1883 a resolution was adopted by the church, having
been previously adopted by the Association, this church agreeing by this action
to help support a home missionary. On one occasion, Pleasant Springs concurred
with Friendship Church in requesting that the mission board employ but one
missionary that year, instead of two. In addition to these activities we have
record of this body taking collections, on various occasions, for mission
purposes. If we may judge by witnesses and by records kept by clerks, we may
truthfully say that the Pleasant Springs Church, especially in its earlier
history, endeavored to play well its part in associational activities and has
stood firm for what it has conceived to be the proper method of doing mission
work, advocating a willing spirit of cooperation based upon the Bible spirit of
mutual help and brotherly love.
It seems appropriate to list a few of the
revivals of the church as we give this short history. The first revival held by
this church resulted in the salvation of six souls and the addition to the
church. This meeting was held in August 1879 and lasted nine days. Pleasant
Springs has held revival meetings

(Page 7)
regularly but we will list
only a few of what seems to be the better ones. In August 1883 there were twelve
additions in a meeting held by J.K. Broadaway. In 1895 there were fourteen
additions, twelve by baptism and two by restoration. The evangelist was Eld.
J.F. Ford. In 1921 Eld. R.L. Douglas held a revival with eleven additions. One
of the great meetings was held by Eld. G.E. Jones in the summer of 1930. There
were seventeen professions and seventeen were added to the church, sixteen by
baptism and one by letter. In this revival there was a great rekindling of God's
Spirit in the heart of the people of this community. In July 1941 there was a
great meeting that resulted in nine additions by baptism. In August 1950 perhaps
the greatest meeting was held by Eld Carl Williams (especially for additions).
There were nineteen added by baptism and seven received by statement. In 1961
there were nine additions in revival held by Elder Corbet Mask. In 1963 Eld.
Alvin Mayall was evangelist in a meeting, after which nine had come for baptism
and three by letter. This is by no means all the successful revival meetings
held by this church and souls have been saved in regular services throughout its
history.
It is not likely that Pleasant Springs would have made this same
progress without the able leadership and strong teaching of its many pastors.
Therefore we wish to list, as far as records will permit, the pastors for the
first one hundred years of this church's history.
1870-1873 Thomas
Moody
1873-74 B.M. Stevens
1874-75 B.H. Bearden
1875-76 Thomas
Moody
1876-77 O.M. Lucas
Sept 1877-April 1878 Thomas Moody
April
1878-July 1879 no pastor
1879-1880 J. Mayall
1880-82 G.W. Ford
1882-84
J.K. Broadaway
1884-85 No pastor
1885-86 J. Mayall
1886-94 B.M.
Stevens
1894-96 J.F. Ford
1896-98 G.W. Ford
1898-1904 Vacancy in
minutes.
1904-05 W.D. Driskell
1905-06 J.F. Ford
(Page 8)
1906-07 W.B.
Driskell
1907-08 E.L. Tiner
1908-09 J.F. Ford
1909-10 W.H.
Vest
1910-12 vacancy in minutes
1912-13 W.B. Driskell
1913-15 J.W.
Waters
1915-18 R.L. Douglas
1918-March 10, G.M. Ayers
March-Sept 1919
C.F. Medlin
1919-27 R.L. Douglas
1927-28 Terry Cole
1928-30 R.L. Douglas
1930-31 G.E.
Jones
From 1931-45 record is missing, but it is known G.E. Jones, T. Cole,
Roy Martin, Roy Moore and Carl William were some of pastors serving.
1945-47
Harvey Pane
1947-48 Ernest Davis
1948-49 H.S. Hankins
1949-52 Carl Williams
1952-53 No
pastor
1953-54 Roy Moore
May 55-Sept Niles Tripplett
1955-56 Guy
Lamb
1956-57 Eld. Croswell
1957-59
Earl Smith
1962-64 Robert Payne
1964-65 Joe Trafford
1965-67 Thomas L.
Bullard
1967-69
Olen Perry
1969-present John
Morrow
R.L. Douglas has the distinction of serving the longest as
pastor of Pleasant Springs Church. There can scarcely be too much credit given
the men who have so faithfully discharged their duties in the pastoral work of
the church. Pleasant Springs has had the services of many able men as pastors
during its one hundred years of services and the record bears noting their
labors were not in vain.
Pleasant Springs Church has had nine of its members
ordained to the Gospel ministry. They are here listed: R.L. Douglas, J.H.
Chambers, Cyril C. Bishop, Homer F. Gunn, Will S. Gordon, J.C. Crabtree, Lester
Wright, Harvey Pane and Thomas Bullard. C.C. Bishop was the youngest minister in
the United Association at the
time of his ordination, and possibly in the State, which was the year 1930. Some
of these ministers have gone to meet the Lord, but most of the living are still
active in the work.
This brief sketch of the history of Pleasant Springs
Church would be incomplete without mention being made of its discipline. The
first charge was preferred against a member.
(Page 9)
All through the pages of
the old record we have evidence of this body's strictness with regard to
Christian conduct and loyalty to Baptist doctrine.
There are various records of members being excluded from the fellowship of this
church for unsoundness in faith, non attendance, mis-conduct, dancing, Sunday
desecration, etc. This church has endeavored to deal fairly and in the spirit of
brotherly love when considering differences arising between brethren, or when
hearing charges brought against an unfortunate brother or sister. This procedure
usually brought about satisfactory settlement of all differences arising between
brethren in this body. To avoid being referred to as hypocritical it should be
confessed this body has not practiced discipline in recent years as it
should.
It would be unfair to try and mention all the outstanding names in
connection with the history of this church but in looking through the records
many of the old family names don't appear any more, as many passed on and others
moved away, others arose to take the leadership that the Lord's work could
continue here.
In closing this partial record of Pleasant Springs
Church's first one hundred years, it seems appropriate to list the following
facts relative to it history.
1. The Pleasant Springs Church was organized
April 30,
1870.
2. It was named after a spring located about one and one half miles
Southeast of the present location.
3. It was organized in a log school house
near the spring after which it took its name. Later it was moved to another
house, also near the spring, then to the present location and has occupied this
present building for fifty-five or six years.
4. Thomas Moody was the first
pastor and M.E. Moore was the first clerk.
5. The State of Arkansas was only
34 years old when Pleasant Springs church was organized.

(Page 10)
6. This Church is older
than the University
of Arkansas.
7. This Church first represented in the Cadron
Association.
8. This Church is older than the United Association as it is today.
In
concluding this short work we may note there is much in its history of successes
to build upon and we may further profit from its past mistakes.
Our
fathers have wrought well in God's vineyard. Let us vow at this time to continue
the work here for God's honor and
glory until He comes to take us home.
Note: In the paragraph
relating to the ordination of ministers, Will S. Gordon's name was listed among
those ordained by Pleasant Springs Church, but at the time of my surrender our
family had moved to England, Arkansas where the Union Valley Church called for
my ordination and did the work.
Nevertheless, I shall always remember with a
deep sense of loving gratitude what PLEASANT SPRINGS MISSIONARY BAPTIST
CHURCH did for my unworthy life.
W.S. Gordon, 1971

Petit Jean Country Headlight, April 26, 1995--The Pleasant Springs Missionary
Baptist Church at Birdtown had an overflow crowd with an attendance of
123 for the morning service. The floor has been poured for the addition to the
church and some of the wall studs are up. Several members have purchased struts
for the building. We're so thankful for the help from each and everyone and the
donations toward the building fund. God Bless you all.
If any of you would
like to visit our church on
Sunday, we'd love to have you. Visitors are always welcome. We had
another one saved on Easter
Sunday. Our membership is growing. Bro O.L. KINSEY always brings a good
message. He preached last Sunday on the " Resurrection." --Contributed by Sharon Smith.
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