Hiwasse church to observe 25th anniversary

— First Baptist Church, Hiwasse, has announced it will celebrate its 25th anniversary, Sunday, Feb. 24, with an “Old Time Religion” theme during morning worship service with special speakers, followed by a fellowship dinner.

The church, which held its first services on Feb. 21, 1988, in an old renovated farmhouse at the intersection of Highways 279 and 72, was sponsored by Bentonville First Church, with Centerton First and Mason Valley Churches as associate sponsors.

Sunday School classes will take attendance Sunday at 9:45, followed by morning service to begin at 10 a.m., an hour earlier than usual, according to Pastor Clyde Garrett. The service will include music by Arnold Layne “and his cohorts” and special guest speakers.

Since the theme is “Give Me That Old Fashioned Religion,” people are free to dress for the occasion. It is also suggested to bring an appetite, since country fried chicken will be served during the noon meal, the announcement stated.

Thirty persons were present at that first service 25 years ago, and 150 attended a dedication ceremony that afternoon. The congregation outgrew the old farmhouse,and it was supplemented with a mobile chapel. A first service was held there on Feb. 18, 1990.

Construction on the new,permanent, brick structure began two years later, with the move to the new building occurring in March of 1993.

Chris Selby is youth pastor, and Merle Burnett is music director. The church also holds services Sunday evening at 6 and a prayer/Bible study is held each Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The church’s website is www.fbchiwasse.org. The phone number is 787-5596.

News, Pages 6 on 02/20/2013