OUR CHURCH HISTORY (continued)
With an expanding vision to reach this area with the gospel of Jesus Christ, new souls are being added regularly to God's Church. First Pentecostal Church is a revival church which reaches into the community to provide for the needs of the people. We now have a very successful jail ministry, in which concerned saints minister monthly to the incarcerated. We have seen many hungry souls baptized in Jesus' Name through this ministry alone. The credit for the continued growth of the Church goes first to God whose blessings to us cannot be measured, and to a group of dedicated believers who love God with all their hearts, who worship God in the "old fashioned" way, and who, under the leadership of our Pastor, are anxious to work for the building of the Kingdom of God. First Pentecostal Church of Booneville is a Bible believing, family centered, group of followers of Jesus Christ who want to fulfil the great commission of reaching the World with Bible Salvation.
In addition to the Charter members who have gone on to receive their rewards, throughout the years many loved ones associated with First Pentecostal Church have passed on, including: Carl Ashcraft, Lerlean Ashcraft, Bud Ashcraft, Ether Lene Barnes, Maggie Bishop, Jackie Bonds, Travis Brasel, Delzie Bumpers, Ocie Burress, Effie Cappleman, Cecil Cole, Clyde Cook, Esther Cook, Margaret "Polly" Cotton, Beular Felks, Richard Felks, Bell Ford, Lillie Mae Ford, and Ottie Kizer.
Whether it was gathering rocks and clearing this hill to build a Church, selling donuts the ladies made in the Donut House, or spending Sunday afternoon down in the woods at the young people's prayer meeting, we have a great tradition left to us by those who have paved the way for us, including: Rev. & Mrs. H.L. Hatten, Rev. G.H. Hill, Maudie Hare, Russell Henry, Veronica Henry, Clyde Hicks, William A. Jackson, Chris Jones, Allen Kizer, James Knight, Mary Ellen Knight, Rev. L.B. Knight, Addie Lindley, Gerald Long, Willie Mae Long, Altha Morgan, Mozelle McAnally, Thomas McAnally, Edith McKinney, Davy McMurry, Wilda McMurray and W.C. Miller.
Many hours of prayer are encircling the throne room which was sent up by the Ladies from their Tuesday morning cottage prayer meetings; hours of chain prayers have strengthened the spiritual growth of this Church; and hundreds of hard earned dollars have gone to spread the gospel to our area: this is a part of the legacy left to us by those who have already gone before us, including: Ruth Newcomb, Hattie Nichols, Valcar Nichols, Bun Nicholson, Lorena Nicholson, Sandra Padgett, Eula Price, Newt Nicholson, Velma Nicholson, Louise Nicholson, R.B. Nicholson, Frances Ricketts, Lawrence Ricketts, Ruby Rogers, and Thelmer Rogers.
Many more of the Church have blazed a trail for us to follow and left us an example to which we can strive to live in our walk with God including: Sonny Depoyster, Floyd Shook, Lillie Shook, Junior Sartin, J.P. Southern, Mary Southern, Raymond Spencer, Bro. L.T. Strong, Mildred Gentry Strong, Rachel Willis, Leonard Willis, Phil Windham, Vera Windham, Emma Jean Wren, Monty Yates, E.E. Yates, Gary Young, and Irene Young.
For the past 66 years the people who have made up the First Pentecostal Church of Booneville have established a legacy for those of us who now are left to carry the banner of the Church and to be the light which has been set upon this hill and cannot be hidden. It is our challenge to continue into this new millennium with a renewed dedication to see that we present "the whole gospel" to each person with whom we come in contact and to be certain that, aware of our great heritage, we prepare for the future, by living so that others might see Jesus through us in our present day lives. Here at the First Pentecostal Church, the gifts of the Spirit are at work. We have seen the sick healed, the broken-hearted lifted up, the lost saved, and the saved strengthened and ministered to. Won't you come and join us as we serve our Lord and Master Jesus Christ?