Our Church History

---

In the year of 1907 the Lonoke Baptist Church was organized. The church was formed by Bro. Jim Lights, Bro. Joe Bolden, Bro. Hervey, and Bro. Walker. It was located on Booker Street. At that time the church building was a two-room facility. Rev. C. Booker was called to fill the pulpit. The four men who organized the church were selected as deacons. 

The Church remained on Booker Street there until approximately 1913 or 1914. It was relocated to Carol Street at that time. The church and the community had begun to grow by this time, and members wanted the church to be located on a corner. The ladies of the church, working as usual, sold box suppers and helped to raise the money to buy the spot of land on what is currently known as Kline Street where the former Lonoke Baptist Church still stands. At the time of that purchase, the two lots cost $50.00 each. This land was purchased under the pastorate of Rev. Lee James. Before the church was built, during that summer, a great “Brush Harbor” meeting was held on church site. In 1915, Lonoke Baptist Church was built on the desired corner lot. The facility was a little white church with a bell steeple. As time went on, two small rooms were added. One of the rooms was to be used as a Pastor’s Study and the other for the choir. 

Rev. Lee James pastored for a number of years. After he left, the church pulpit was vacant for about 6 or 7 months.

Rev. D. D. Delony, a Baptist Field Missionary, served as pastor until the Rev. Patterson was called. Rev. Patterson pastored about one year. Later Rev. G. W. Perkins was called as pastor. The church built a parsonage on the adjoining lot for Rev. Perkins and his family. During his pastorate, chairs were bought for the choir stand, and Bibles were bought for B. Y. P. U. After Rev. Perkins left the pastorate, Rev. George Williams was called as pastor. Rev. Williams was also the pastor of the Park Avenue Baptist Church of Texarkana, Arkansas. He taught two Sundays per month for each church. Under his pastorate, the Sunday School Choir, the B. Y. P. U. and Usher Board were organized, Bro. John D. Williams served as president. Rev. Williams did not live in the parsonage during his pastorate. At that time, the parsonage was rented.

The next pastor of the Lonoke Baptist Church was Rev. J. A. Johnson of Stamps, Arkansas. During his pastorate, the church enlarged the parsonage so that Rev. Johnson and his family would not have to continue to travel from Stamps to Texarkana when the church or its membership needed his services. During Rev. Johnson’s pastorate, plans were made and funds raised to begin building a new church. He resigned the pulpit before the building was begun.

Next, Rev. Leroy Lindsey was called to accept the position of pastor. He was a young man with good ideas for modernizing the church. He assisted the church in formalizing its Order of Services. A typewriter and mimeograph machine were purchased and programs were printed for each Sunday morning’s service. The church was piped for gas, and heaters were bought. He, too, wanted to see a new church, so the building fund drive continued. He did not live in the parsonage. It was used as a Day Care by Mrs. J. R. Lillie and as a place for church entertainment on Saturday Nights. Rev. Lindsey also left before the new church was built.

Rev. Doyle Stafford was the next pastor. He came with the determination to be the one to build the new Lonoke Baptist Church. All auxiliaries worked hard towards financing this building. Soon there was enough money in the building fund to start the new church. The last Sunday’s service in the little white church, built in 1915, was a memorable one; those who attended shall never forget it. It was a very joyous day for some, and a very sad day for others. Pictures were taken of the pastor and congregation that day. Services were held at the Stevenson Chapel Methodist Church during the new building construction period. The pastor and members worked harder than ever to raise finances and keep their church uplifted spiritually during this time. The day soon came when the members returned to their corner lot to a new brick facility. It was not complete, but the main auditorium could be utilized. Rev. Stafford resigned and in July 1957 the church called Rev. C. K. Yarber, Sr., as pastor.

This was Rev. Yarber’s first pastorate. He was a very young man, to some “only a child”. As the pastor of this church, he has provided excellent leadership. He is a friend to both young and old. He is a leader in the community, and strives to keep the church working peaceably. All auxiliaries are working well. Rev. Yarber planned, organized and implemented so many things it is hard to name them all. New pews, pulpit furniture, a furnished pastor’s study, the installation of central heating and air conditioning, the purchase of an organ and piano, the purchase of 5 lots, the black topping of an area for parking, the purchase of a public address system, the purchase of robes for all choirs are some of the many accomplishments made under Rev. Yarber’s leadership. The Yarber Singers were established, followed by the Grant Singers, which later became the Mass Choir. The Youth Choir, Junior Ushers, Trustee Board and Junior Deacons were organized during his pastorate. It was during this time that the Deaconess was reorganized. The church has grown by leaps and bounds under his pastorate. Rev. Yarber became interested in building a new and larger facility in 1973.

This church was remodeled in 1984, adding a fellowship hall and a Baptistery. The fellowship hall contained partitions that were utilized to divide the area into at least eight separate Sunday school classrooms. In 1985, Lonoke purchased a new 15-passenger van. In 1990, a concrete parking lot was added. In 1996, Lonoke purchased a Baby Grand Piano and a Hammond Organ with Leslie. In 1997, Mrs. Ollie Brewster was named the First Mother of the Church. In 1998, a Male Choir was formed; a second 15-passenger van was purchased, a Puppet Ministry, Drill Team, and a basketball team was also begun. Mrs. Della Mae Hill was named the Mother of the Church in 1999. Lonoke had its first booth at the Four State Fair in 1999, and it was very successful.

On Sunday, December 26, 1999, ground was broken for a new church building location on Lincoln Street. At the request of Mrs. Christine Hill, a public hearing was held to change the names of Northcutt Street, East Short 17th Street and Lincoln Street to Lonoke Avenue. On Monday, September 5, 2000, the Board of Directors of the City of Texarkana, Arkansas approved by a vote of 7-0 to grant this request.

On March 11, 2001, Rev. John Canida preached the last sermon for the last service held at 1500 Kline Street. The benediction, on that day, was held in the New Church building. The first full service was held on Sunday, March 18, 2001, with Rev. C. K. Yarber preaching the first sermon.

Lonoke Baptist Church, 1841 Lonoke Avenue, Dedication Services were held on Sunday, May 6, 2001. People came from far and near to this occasion. Rev. George Smith, President of the Arkansas C. M. B. S. Convention and the St. Paul Baptist Church of Camden, Ark., was the guest speaker. Lonoke now has a sanctuary that can seat approximately 700 members and friends, the pastor's office that will accommodate the pastor and 10 other ministers, a choir loft that will seat 100 members, and the fellowship hall that can seat approximately 460 people. We can seat and serve about 250 people at tables. The church has 9 spacious sound proofed classrooms that will seat about 25 students per room and a conference room available for guest speakers and their friends and family. There is a mother's room, a video and audio room with the latest state of the art technology. There is a computer room, a finance room, a secretary's room, and a library and archive room. There are separate dressing rooms (men/women) for baptizing. 

Dr. C. K. Yarber, Sr., retired from being the full time pastor December 31, 2013, at the age of eighty-five.

In November, 2013, the church selected a pastoral selection committee to select a new pastor. Rev. Arthur D. Hill Sr. who was one of the licensed and/or ordained ministers under the Leadership of Dr. C.K. Yarber is now the new pastor of Lonoke Baptist Church. Rev. Arthur Hill Sr. was selected in August of 2014 and has celebrated his fourth year Anniversary.

Under Rev. Arthur Hill leadership, the church paid off the church mortgage note and celebrated in a burn the note ceremony. The church installed a security/ video monitoring system, integrated video/ sound system to display the church services to church members in sanctuary, foyers, fellowship hall, pastor’s study and finance office.

Licensed and/or ordained ministers under the Leadership of Dr. C. K. Yarber who is now Pastor Emeritus are:

Rev. M.F. Brewster
Rev. A.A. Cox
Rev. Dwight Burks
Rev. John Canida
Rev. David Elijah
Rev. Alvin Gay
Rev. Charles Lewis
Rev. Dale Faulks
Rev. J. C. Collins
Rev. Stephon Potts
Rev. John Strickland
Rev. Anthony Mullens
Rev. Orlando Godfrey
Rev. Malvin Watson
Rev. Arthur Hill
Rev. Clinton T. Brewster

Rev. Andrew Hill
Rev. Corey Cullins
Rev. Reco Boyd 

Rev. Harry Dickens

Missionary Marilyn French

Missionary Shirley Thomas

Rev. Arthur D. Hill Sr. who was one of the licensed and/or ordained ministers under the Leadership of Dr. C.K. Yarber is now the new pastor of Lonoke Baptist Church. Rev. Arthur Hill Sr. was selected in March of 2014 .

Ministers Licensed under Rev. Arthur Hill

John Wimberly Jr.