A SUMMARY OF POPLAR SPRING CHURCH HISTORY
By Otis Lovins
Revised by Dennis Norvell and Carol Kelly
A noted poet, Henry W. Longfellow wrote, “Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime, and departing leave behind us footprints on the sands of time”. In keeping with this poetical expression, our church records of bygone years reveal the fact that a group of men dedicated to the salvation of souls left their footprints upon this hallowed ground.
Although the leaflets of the record books are yellowed by the changing agencies of time and its bindings worn by hands which will turn their pages no more, it is a heritage that serves as a birth certificate to the present Poplar Spring Baptist Church.
It was on September 14, 1887, that a number of brethren, mostly from Elm Grove, met at Poplar Spring, 8 miles east of Murray on the road from Murray to Pine Bluff, for organization of a United Baptist Church. The introductory sermon was delivered by Elder J.C. Spann. A Presbytery consisting of Elders J.C. Spann, D.V. Outland, J.D. Outland and Deacons William Gardner, L.A. Futrell and George Craig. J.D. Outland was elected moderator and George Craig clerk of said Presbytery. Twenty-six individuals were charter members of this newly formed church.
J.D. Outland was elected as the first pastor, L.B. Vinson the first clerk and James Coleman the first treasurer. A committee composed of George Daniel, S.J. Coleman, J.M. Thurman, John C. Barnett and Eli Campbell was appointed to attend to the building of the first house of worship.
The church records bear little description of this first building, but according to two members, Mr. Ervin McCuiston and Mr. Claude Hale, this was a box type structure covered with boards, which were riven with a frow. For some time there was no ceiling overhead; thus the rafters remained in plain view. Brother Hale informs us that after a short time the strips over the cracks became loose and that one could peer through and see horses tied outside.
We are told that the building was later weather boarded. After a few years, the roofing boards became loose and warped in such a manner that the moon rays beamed so brilliantly at times as to almost dim the flickering lights of the kerosene lamps.
Brother Ervin McCuiston tells us that one of the earlier Pastors, Bro. Davie Outland, rode a little yellow mule to church. His saddle had large saddlebags in which he carried his Bible and other materials. During the winter he hitched his mule to a certain selected tree. However, in the summer he just dropped the reins on the ground and the mule grazed on the green lawn awaiting the end of the sermon and the return of his master.
Although the building of these early days was void of style when compared to modern day standards, many who worshipped there were possessed with a church loyalty and Christ like faith unexcelled by most memberships of today. So it was with one Willis Daniel. We learn by word of mouth that he was drawn with rheumatism in a manner that prevented his walking or even standing; nevertheless, his affliction did not prevent him from serving the Lord. On his hands and knees he crawled from his home on yon north hill to this old church house of bygone years.
On September 27, 1913, $413.50 was subscribed for the building of a new church house. On October 25 of the same year, it was voted that the church would meet at McCuiston School while the new building was under construction. The following February 21 the ladies of the church received a little unusual recognition. On this day the church voted “to make each lady member of this church a committee to solicit funds to pay the indebtedness incurred in the building of the new church house”. The dedication of the new building was held on August 2, 1915, when W.O. Hargrove preached the dedication sermon and J.H. Thurman lead the dedicatory prayer.
A Protracted Meeting at Poplar Spring was an annual affair for the whole community. Most all work was set aside in favor of the afternoon and night services. The lumbering of wagons could be heard for miles around as they slowly wound their way along the many roads leading to this place of worship. Pallets were placed on the floor for the youngsters and all others prepared for a warm-hearted, spirit-filled service. God was present and many lives were touched.
The church went through very hard times as people were forced to leave the community because of the creation of Kentucky Lake (lake formed in 1945). Many members had to leave the fertile bottomlands of Blood River and Wildcat Creek and seek a livelihood elsewhere. But a few valiant and faithful souls were convinced that the Church was still a valuable asset to this community. Hense, they put forth a dedicated effort to seeing that it should remain. Time has proven that their views were correct and that their efforts were not in vain.
On September 10, 1962, work started on the third house of worship for Poplar Spring Church. That new building was completed on January 26,1963 and consisted of a Sanctuary, nursery, two restrooms and two baptistery dressing rooms.
The portion of the building that was to become the Educational Building was begun in 1976 and completed in late 1977. This consisted of 16 classrooms, kitchen, fellowship hall and two restrooms.
The summer of 1992 brought more building when another addition was begun that was to be the Family Life Center. It housed a large kitchen, a large fellowship hall, nine more classrooms and two restrooms. At this point the old kitchen/fellowship hall was divided into the pre-school department.
After renovation on all levels, the entire complex housed 24 classrooms.
In 1999 it was decided that we needed to renovate the Sanctuary. We decided to bring it up to more modern standards. We tore out walls and steps, sheet rock, carpet and pews and other furnishings. There was a completely new sound system put in along with a video projection system and computerized lighting system. State of the art in everything. Also, at this same time we built an addition onto the Famly Life Center. This addition would house seven more classrooms and a large storage facility. At this time we have twenty-three classrooms that can be used for education purposes. We also have 5 offices: one each for the church secretary, pastor, minister of music, minister of youth and a Sunday School office for the Sunday School secretary and Sunday School Director.
As a last note, we are reminded that we no longer hear the rhythmic beat of the horses’ hoofs as they pound the rugged roads leading to the church house of bygone years. The singing, shouting and preaching of the elder members of this church have been silenced by that final beckoning call. But their footprints have been imbedded on the sands of time. May this generation and its posterity be as fruitful in this new edifice as were our forefathers in the buildings of old.
NOTES AND FACTS OF INTEREST
CHARTER MEMERS -G.W. Daniel, Lucy J. Daniel, Fanie Eliott, P.R. Washam, Pokie Barnett, L.B. Vinson, Lular J. Vinson, J.W. Daniel, Willis Daniel, Willie Daniel, Mary E. Self, Francis E. Self, Eli R. Campbell, Mary B. Campbell, Sarah J. Rolfe, Pennetie Kimbro, John C. Barnett, S.W. Morton, Mary V. McCuiston, J.P. Eliott, J.A. Eliott, Willie Morton, S.G. Coleman, N.V. Coleman, J.M. Thurman and Mary J. Thurman.
FIRSTS - * The first meeting time was 2nd Saturday and Sunday in each month; soon changed to 4th Saturday and Sunday. * N.T.
Barnett was the first to present himself to the new church for baptism upon his experience of grace. * First Deacons ordained were George Daniel and S. W. Morton. * First Sunday School organized in April, 1909, with J.H. Thurman as first Superintendent, 65 scholars. * First Sunday School Teachers: J.M. Thurman, Gary Armstrong, J. T. Blalock and Pokie Barnett.
* Prayer Meeting first started in October, 1926. In 1994 two worship services began to accommodate the growing numbers of people that were wanting to worship with us. These services were started at 8:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.. * On June 27, 1914, Bro. Howell Thurman was licensed to preach and in October, 1914, he was ordained. As you will notice, he was pastor here from 1935 through 1938. Before his ordination, he had operated a store at Brandon’s Mill. * On May 10, 1998 Mark Mohler was licensed to preach the gospel. He was ordained on November 28, 1999. We sent him out to pastor his first church, the Cherry Corner Baptist Church.
CHURCH CLERKS - L.B. Vinson (September 1887-November 1894), John C. Barnett (December 1894-May 1900), John T. Blalock (July 1900-March 1911), R.C. McCuiston (April 1911-September 1948, 36 years thus the longest office holder), Clovis Byerly (October, 1948-September 1955), J.D. Roberts (October 1955-October 1968 ), Jean Chancey (November 1968-September 1970), Guy Lovins (October 1970-September 1971, Danny Taylor (October 1971-September 1973), Gil Hopson (October 1973-September 1974), Dan Kelly (October 1974-September 1982), Terry Byerly (October 1982-August 1985), Danny Phillips (September 1985-September 2000 ) Carol Kelly (September 2000-Present ).
CHURCH TREASURERS - James Coleman, S. G. Coleman, N. L. Christman, John McNutt, J. T. Blalock, R. D. McCuiston. Hendricks, R. M. Morton, Tom Garland, G. W. Daniel, G. E. Shelton, J. M. Thurman, G. W. Daniel, Albert Johnson, Claude Hale, Robert Walker, Barry Rose, Connie Morgan, Larry Isbell, Amy Futrell and Ricky Stewart. In the early days the treasurer was specifically assigned the task of trying to raise the money to pay the preacher. Special offerings would be taken as needs would arise. Mission offerings would be taken occasionally. Money was often collected for such things a buying oil for the lamps for the revival, digging a well, etc.. As services were only held once a month, the habit of week by week laying in store, as I Corinthians 16:2 instructs, was not commonly practiced.
DEACONS - G.W. Daniel, S.W. Morton, John C. Barnett, N.O. Outland, John D. Outland, Bud Turner, Guy Lovins, Cordie Rushing, Galen Thurman, Claude Hale, Milton Owens, Jackie Byerly, Robert Walker, Gray Roberts Jimmy Outland, Dale Campbell, Danny Phillips, Ricky Stewart, Terry Byerly, Barry Rose, Steve Connor, Phillip Powell, Jack Sirls, Jason Phillips and Justin Phillips.
We as a Church have a fine heritage, but also a great challenge for today. Let us keep our eyes open to the fields white unto harvest and press on “Toward the make for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”. To God be the Glory!
PASTORS OF POPLAR SPRING BAPTIST CHURCH
1. J.D. Outland September 1887-September 1889
2. D.V. Outland January 1890-October 1890
3. John Stuart November 1890-December 1891
4. S.W. Morgan January 1891-December 1892
5. J.T. Stuart January 1893-December 1894
6. W.S. Morgan January 1895-December 1896
7. D.V. Outland January 1897-December 1897
8. W.S. Morgan January 1898-December 1898
9. Claborn Wells January 1899-December 1899
10. A.J. Byrd January 1900-December 1900
11. J.T. Enoch January 1901-September 1901
12. Charlie Stewart October 1901-September 1905
13. P.H. Harris October 1905-September 1907
14. J.D. Outland March 1908-September 1914
15. Ed Outland October 1914-September 1916
16. W.O. Hargrove October 1916-September 1925
17. Eddie Lassiter October 1925-September 1926
18. W.O. Hargrove February 1926-May 1929
19. F.B. Rogers July 1929-September 1930
20. Ed Outland October 1930-September 1935
21. J.H. Thurman November 1935-September 1938
22. L.D. Wilson October 1938-October 1941
23. Vernon Billington November 1941-June 1942
24. L.D. Wilson July 1942-February 1943
25. Buron Richerson November 1943-October 1945
26. A. R. Harris November 1945-September 1950
27. Harold Lassiter October 1950-December 1952
28. Jack Jones July 1953-June 1961
29. Charles Salmon October 1961-May 1963
30. Jerrell White November 1961-October 1967
31. Charles Chumbler February 1968-February 1969
32. Thomas Perkins April 1969-September 1972
33. Lynn Walker September 1972-October 1974
34. Loyd Perrin February 1975-June 1977
35. Ronnie Adams April 1978-September 1984
36. Chester P. Culver December 1984-August 1988
37. Dennis Norvell August 1989-February 1995
38. Scott Bivins November 1995-August 1998
39. Dennis Norvell October 1998-Oct. 2009
40. Rob Ison April 2010-Present
In early years when the annual call was faithfully practiced, there was a different man about every year.
