The Mountain View Church of Christ congregation first met at the Stone County Courthouse on the second Sunday in November, 1943. Brother Leland H. Knight of Booneville, Arkansas began a Gospel meeting with twenty in attendance on that Sunday.
Three other congregations in or near Mountain View had ceased to meet by the fall of 1943. At one time, there was a congregation on Highway 66 west, near the “Old Mill”. There were at least two other congregations, Liberty and Bickles Cove, near Mountain View.
The courthouse was used for Sunday worship services until land on School Avenue was purchased and a church building was completed in 1949. A minister’s home was built in 1956, but was later sold.
The present church building was used for the first time on April 8, 1968, and the interior was renovated in the spring of 2005. The church building built in 1949 was used for class rooms until a new educational unit was completed in 1992, composed of class rooms and offices. The building built in l949 is now being used as a fellowship hall and food pantry room.
The Mountain View Church of Christ has been instrumental in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ here in Stone County as well as numerous other locations either through members going out from this congregation or through financial support to others. We currently support mission efforts in Guatemala; Africa; China; Norfolk, Virginia and Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition, monthly support is sent to the Children’s Home in Paragould and the Southern Christian Home in Morrilton, Arkansas.
God has blessed us greatly and we believe that God is positioning us to do great things for Him.
The first elders and deacons were selected soon after the congregation moved into their first building in 1949. Newton Kemp and William Potter served as the first elders. Thurman Anderson was one of the first deacons. Wilton Ferren was one of the first to preach for the Mountain View congregation. Wilton served as preacher for nine years while continuing his well drilling business.
The men who have served the congregation as full-time preachers are Anthony Bryant, Charles Pierce, Jerry LeFevers, Bob Thomas, Jim Howard, Floyd Motes, Lonnie Smith, Frank Curtis, Brad McAfee, Joe Chesser, Scott Martin and Mike Spillman.
Several men have served as part-time youth minister while attending Harding University in Searcy. In September, 2005, Jamie Kurpiel, began serving the congregation as our first full-time youth and family minister.
HISTORY OF THE MOUNTAIN VIEW CHURCH OF CHRIST
