____________________________________________________________________________ Local Church To Celebrate Its 100th Anniversary in June Three Weeks Meeting Will be Held at Church of Christ Here. A three weeks revival meeting will begin at the Church of Christ in Delight, June 18, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the organization of the congregation. The church was organized on April 10, 1833 and its labors have been continuous since that time. All available record show that the Delight Church of Christ is the oldest congregation of that body west of the Mississippi River. It was organized with 75 charter members with Giles Kelley as church clerk. The services will be in charge of Elder J.A. Copeland of this place, editor of the Gospel Light, which is published in Delight. However, a number of visiting ministers will preach from time to time throughout the meeting. Also several nearby congregations will attend and take part in the song services. This meeting will not only be attended by a number of former ministers and other visiting preachers throughout the state, but many former members who are now living in other sections of the country will attend the meeting and enjoy several days of spiritual and physical recreation, reunion of old friends, acquaintance and general friendship. ____________________________________________________________________________ Pike County Tribune, Volume 12, Number 14, May 19, 1933, page 1, column 2. The first Sunday in April 1833 when the Antioch congreation was organized occurred April 7th. There are sixty-six listed as charter members in the church record. ____________________________________________________________________________ Local Church Is In Readiness For Big Revival Meeting Many Out of Town Visitors Expected to Attend Centennial. Plan have been completed for the centennial of the local Church of Christ which will begin Sunday. A three weeks revival meeting will be held in connection with the celebration, with Elder J.A. Copeland of Delight in charge. A number of preachers from other places will attend the meeting at intervals during the three-week period and will fill the pulpit from time to time. Among the out of town ministers who have promised to be present during the meeting and preach are: Elders J.N. Armstrong, president of Harding College of Morrilton; Loyd E. Ellis, Idabel, Okla.; Glen E. Green, Little Rock; R.H. Johnson, Morrilton; John F. Reese, Nashville; Jeff Reese, Center Point; J.G. Griffith, superintendent of the Jonesboro Orphan Home, and a number of others whose names were not available. The greatest meeting in the 100 years of the church's existence is expected from June 18 to July 2. A number of nearby congregations will send delegations during the meeting which will take part in the singing, and leaders of the church say that all who attend may be assured of a real treat in good singing and gospel preaching. A cordial invitation is extended the people of this community to join in making the meeting a blessing to all. ____________________________________________________________________________ Pike County Tribune, Volume 12, Number 18, June 16, 1933, page 1, column 4. ____________________________________________________________________________ Church of Christ Centennial Revival Drawing Crowds Various Preachers Filling the Pulpit From Night to Night. The big revival meeting in progress at the Church of Christ here in connection with that church's centennial is attracting large crowds. No day services are being hled this week, but each night the house is filled to capacity. Elder J.A. Copeland of Delight, minister with the congreation who is in charge of the meeting, has announced that day service will probably begin next week. All the former minister of the church who are now living have been invited to attend and preach, together with a number of other ministers and evangelists, and the plan is to have various preachers of the brotherhood fill the pulpit from night to night, with Elder Copeland doing the preaching when no visitng gospeler is present. Several have already arrived and others have indicated their intention of appearing this week-end or early next week. Elders John F. Reese of Nashville and N.J. Reese of Center Point arrived Tuesday night with the latter delivering the sermon Wednesday night. Word has been received from Elder W.W. Starnes of Idabel, Okla. advising that he will get here Saturday, and the committee in charge of the pulpit supply during the meeting has announced that if the Oklahoma preacher arrives on scheduled time he will preach Saturday night and probably Sunday at the 11 o'clock hour. A complete program of the preaching with the names of those who will deliver the sermons during the balance of the meeting has not been prepared owing to the fact that it is not known who among the invited ministers will be able to attend. Aside from the splendid gospel preaching which has been the feature of the revival services this week, the find song service, under the capable direction of Doyle Hughes of Delight, has added much to the meeting. A large choir is assembled each evening and several minutes devoted to enthusiastic song, with the vast congregation joining in on the old hymns until the entire building reverberates a melody of praise. Already this week delegations have attend the meeting from near and far, and it is expected that as the revival progresses others from distantly located points, as well as from the communities in this section, will put in an appearance. It has been announced that everyone is urged to attend and help in making this one of the greatest revivals Delight has ever had. The meeting is scheduled to close Sunday night, July 2. ____________________________________________________________________________ Pike County Tribune, Volume 12, Number 19, June 23, 1933, pages 1 and 4. ____________________________________________________________________________ Church of Christ Revival to Close Here Sunday Nite The revival meeting which has been in progress at the Church of Christ here since Sunday, June 18, will come to a close next Sunday night, it has been announced. The services have continued to draw enormous crowds each night, and interest in the meeting continues at high pitch. Day services are being held at 4 o'clock in the afternoon this week. A total of four additions to the church had been made up to Thursday morning. Among the out of town preachers who have attended the meeting and preached, are Elders W.W. Starnes, Idabel, Okla.; Glen E. Parkes, Patmos; J.G. Reese, Hope; A.R. Hill, Monticello; Elder Boling, Dexter, Mo.; Jno F. Reese, Nashville, and N.J. Reese, Center Point. Splendid singing is a feature of the meeting. The choir is under the direction of Doyle Hughes of Delight, and everyone has been enjoying this part of the meeting. ____________________________________________________________________________ Pike County Tribune, Volume 12, Number 20, June 30, 1933, page 1. ____________________________________________________________________________ 12 Additions in Revival Meeting A total of 12 additions to the church, all by baptism, resulted from the Church of Christ centennial revival meeting which was brought to a close here Sunday afternoon at the baptismal service at the creek. A splendid meeting washad during the entire two weeks and the fine messages brought by the various ministers who attended the service and preached were enjoyed immensely by all. The meeting began Sunday, June 18, and continued over three Sundays. ____________________________________________________________________________ Pike County Tribune, Volume 12, Number 21, July 7, 1933, page 1. ____________________________________________________________________________ HTML file and design by David Kelley, 1997. All rights reserved.