Annual Prayer on the Square Observance Set for Tuesday Evening

September 30, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

A group of people will gather downtown Smithville Tuesday evening for a worship service called “Prayer on the Square” at 6 p.m.

(VIEW VIDEO BELOW OF JOSH CHAPMAN SINGING AT PRAYER ON THE SQUARE LAST YEAR)

Local ministers and singers will offer up songs of praise and prayers for our families and community.

Join in a time of prayer, praise, and worship. Bring your lawn chair.

September 29, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

When they gather next weekend for their annual homecoming and gospel meeting, members of the Smithville Church of Christ will also celebrate the 150th anniversary of their founding.

The observance will be Sunday, October 7 starting at 9 a.m. Three ministers, including two former pastors of the Smithville congregation, will lead the morning service followed by a fellowship lunch and then an afternoon service at 1 p.m. led by current minister Dan Gulley. Everyone is invited to attend.

“We are celebrating 150 years of service in this community and will feature three speakers who have a great connection with our congregation, Jim Dearman, Wayne Lankford, and Aubrey Johnson,” said Gulley.

Dearman was born and raised in this area and has been a gospel preacher for many years. He will speak at 9 a.m. on the origin of the church. Lankford, a former minister here who now preaches in Murfreesboro will speak at 9:35 a.m. on how the church is engaged today. Johnson, another former preacher here  will follow at 10:15 a.m. during the worship hour. The focus of his message will be looking ahead and the church’s hope for the future,” Gulley continued.

After the morning service a fellowship lunch will be served in the Annex followed at 1 p.m. by another retrospective featuring remarks by Gulley on the church’s former locations and the move in 1971 to its current home.

The gospel meeting will continue Monday through Wednesday, October 8, 9, & 10 at 7 p.m. each night featuring speakers Aubrey Johnson on Monday evening, Wayne Lankford Tuesday night, and Jim Dearman on Wednesday evening.  This annual meeting is a tradition that has been observed by the Smithville congregation beginning the first Sunday in October since 1874, six years after the church was founded.

The Smithville Church of Christ was established in 1868 under the leadership and ministry of J.M. Kidwell of Alexandria. The first worship assemblies took place in the old town courthouse. Six years later, the congregation moved into a frame building at the corner of North Mountain and West Main Streets which was replaced with a more modern brick structure in 1903.

“A tornado came through in October 1902 and damaged the church. After that the members at that time decided they needed a stronger structure. That’s when they built that brick building there on that corner,” said Russell Watson, an Elder of the Smithville Church of Christ. A church building still stands on that property.

After his passing at the age of 56, Kidwell was laid to rest in Cannady Cemetery in Smithville, which is located near the golf course.

Over the years as the church continued to grow in attendance and membership, the congregation decided to relocate and in 1971 a spacious modern church building was completed on Dry Creek Road and became the new home for the church.   In 2000 the building underwent a major renovation with the addition of 3,000 square feet of space to accommodate more people, a new church secretary’s office, and two ministers’ studies. A special re-dedication service was held for the new addition on February 4, 2001, thirty years after the church’s relocation to Dry Creek Road.

Watson said he has been a member of the church for more than 50 years.

“The first recollection I have of this church is when our family would often visit my aunt and uncle who went to church there. We would go with them. It wasn’t until 1968 that I started going to the church full time. Today I am one of probably 45-50 people who have been going to church there for at least 50 years or more. Two or three are now in their 90’s, ” he said.

The church has been served by many Elders and Deacons in its 150 year history. More recent ones include A.P. Conger, Billy Young, Joe T. Young, Edward Lee, Glen L. Nichols, Sr., Dr. Larry Puckett, Amos Hedge, Neil Dudney, Clay Farler, and Billy Willingham. In addition to Russell Watson, current Elders are Shawn Jacobs and Dan Gulley.

Although the mission and message are still the same as in the beginning, Gulley said the church has tried to keep up with the times and expand its community and international outreach over the years.

“Technologically we have changed. We have tools that our spiritual forefathers did not have. We have the power point computer where we use slides and occasionally a video to support a sermon or class. Churches have to find innovative ways to better serve the community and this congregation has done that. Our church is up to date and our young people are well plugged in with modern society. They know how to use all the new technological tools and we use some of that with our worship but we still try to have an old fashion approach to Bible study, preaching and acapella singing,” said Gulley.

“We have a very active church. We have reached Smithville with different kinds of good works but we have also literally reached around the world to places like Africa and we are currently involved in Australia, South America, Central America, and we’re supporting a ministry and mission work in Scotland. Until it got too dangerous to go there, we went to Monterey Mexico and worked on a church building every summer and took a group of 15-25 people. We had a young lady who traveled to Peru and East Africa this year to do medical mission work. We have special requests from all over the world. Locally we started an Hispanic ministry four years ago and today a couple from Panama are carrying on the work and doing a fantastic job in the old Philippi Church of Christ building on Cookeville Highway,” said Gulley.

In addition to the local and foreign mission work, other activities of the church include a Benevolent Ministry, Food Program, Brothers Keepers, Day School, Vacation Bible School, Youth Programs, Webb House Services, Bible Study, Home Service Ministry, support of the Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Fund in Nashville,  and the Annual Work Camp.

“Our Work Camp is perhaps our greatest claim to fame . Our community has become aware that we build handicap ramps for elderly people and especially concentrate on that for four days each summer. We also have a small crew of retired men who recently built one (handicap ramp) and are planning to build another one,” he continued.

“We’re proud of our youth minister, Jonathan Anderson who is actively involved with our young people and deacons in providing activities for the training of these young people,” added Watson.

“We have about 225-250 people who attend church regularly and we’re always especially glad to see college students when they come back home. We send notes and cards to many of them when they are away. Lots of work goes on behind the scenes to serve the Lord and the congregation,” said Watson.

“Its amazing what a group can do when they put their minds to it. Even in a small town like Smithville, a congregation that has faith and unity can still literally reach around the world and touch people’s lives. There are 150 years of pioneer people who have gone before us and left behind a tremendous legacy for this congregation. We are hoping the young people today and those coming after us will continue the good fight and serve this community for many more years,” concluded Gulley.

September 29, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

The 13th Annual History Hayride, a fundraising event for the Friends of Edgar Evins State Park, will be held on Saturday, October 13 at the park.

Registration is now open for the Hayride. The cost is $15.00 per person. Seating is limited. This event sells out very quickly so be sure to get your reservations made early to ensure your seats! A Visa or Master Card will be accepted.

Ride hay wagons back into the “olden days”, with approximately 9 stops along the route where costumed characters will reveal the history of the park and area. A guide on each wagon will provide additional narratives between stops. This year’s hayride offers history, mystery, and theater. This is not a Halloween themed event and is not suitable for small children or those who have difficulty sitting still for 2 1/2 hours.

Ten wagons will leave at approximately 30-minute intervals from the park office and return approximately 2 1/2 hours later. Reservations will be for specific report times from 1:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The Friends of Edgar Evins State Park will provide complimentary hot beverages and sell individual sized servings of home baked cookies and brownies in the park office. As in past there will also be complimentary marshmallows to roast over the campfire in front of the office.

Friends of Edgar Evins State Park is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization with the purpose of helping the park. The History Hayride is a fundraiser by the Friends in cooperation with park staff. More information about the group and how to join may be found on the website at www.foeesp.com or the Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/friendsofeesp.

If you need help email Fount Bertram, President of Friends of Edgar Evins State Park, at fwbertram@dtccom.net or contact the park office at 1-800-250-8619 or 931-858-2114 for his telephone number.

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