By David Joslin
The story of Arkansas Free Will Baptists can be understood only in the light of certain historical facts. Sad to say, records are insufficient, and many gaps occur in the historical record.
Arkansas Free Will Baptists are unique in various ways. Almost without exception, each of the older local associations in Arkansas had distinct origins and articles of faith. Early churches in Arkansas were influenced by northern Free Will Baptists (Randall movement), southern Free Will Baptists (Palmer movement), Separate Baptists, General Baptists, and the Baptist Church of Christ.
Earliest Free Will Baptists in Arkansas
The oldest Free Will Baptist association in Arkansas is the Old Mt. Zion Association, founded in northwestern Arkansas around 1840 by people known as Separate Baptists, who were prevelant in this area at the time. The doctrines of the Separate Baptists were identical to those of Free Will Baptists.
The earliest record is the American Baptist Register of 1851, which reported that “an Old Mt. Zion Association was organized in 1840, with eleven Arkansas Churches in it. Two of the churches, Prospect and Brush Creek, were organized in 1840. There were seven pastors in the Association.” The records of the Old Mt. Zion Association, however, tend to support 1842 as the year of organization.
At least two other sections of the state were being evangelized or influenced by Free Will Baptists during the earlier years. The Charleston area in Western Arkansas was settled by Rev. Charles Kellum, a Free Will Baptist minister from Massachusetts. He was the first postmaster and also had a general store. The Charleston Post Office was officially
established on August 10, 1846. No records of Mr. Kellum’s work as a preacher have been discovered. The Arkansas District Association was organized in this general area in 1869.
Early evangelization also took place in the Russellville area. Free Will Baptist preachers arrived in this area as early as the 1840s. In 1850, the first Free Will Baptist church was organized in Pope County. Francis M. Hudson was a deacon in the church. However, the Antioch Association of Free Will Baptists (located in this area) was not organized until 1892, and it is likely that an earlier association existed in the area.
Other District Associations
The Social Band Association in northeastern Arkansas was organized in 1875 as the Social Band Association of General-Free Will Baptists. In 1862, some Free Will Baptists from the Cumberland Association in Tennessee moved to southern Illinois, became acquainted with General Baptists, and organized there the Central Association of General-Free Will Baptists. This organization continued until 1874 and then was dissolved.
Before this organization disbanded, one D. L. Poyner was converted (in 1845) and later ordained to preach. In 1870, he moved to northeastern Arkansas, organized several churches, and in 1875 organized the Social Band Association of General-Free Will Baptists. In 1920, The Social Band dropped “General” and united with the Arkansas State Association of Free Will Baptists.
Associations currently existing in Arkansas and in association with the Arkansas State Association, with the year of their organization, are as follows:
- Old Mt. Zion, 1840
- Arkansas District, 1869
- Social Band, 1875
- Little Missouri River, 1879
- Polk Bayou, 1880
- New Hope, 1880
- Antioch, 1892
- Saline 1897
- Rich Mountain, 1910
- Big Springs, 1907
- Zion Hope No.2, 1914
- Central, 1960
- Unity, 1960
- North Louisiana, 1960
- Harmony, 1963
The Arkansas State Association
The Arkansas State Association was organized in 1898 at Moreland Free Will Baptist Church in Pope County. Rev. Jesse Jeffrey was elected moderator and George W. Burris
clerk; the introductory sermon was preached by J. H. Johnston. Local associations uniting at the initial organization included Antioch, New Hope, Old Mt. Zion, Arkansas District, and Tyronza.
George W. Burris must be credited with the foresight to unite the local associations together in this organization. He corresponded with local associations, gave of his time and energy to encourage, and directed the work during the earlier years.
Mr. Burris attended the organizational session of the Co-operative General Association in 1917 at Pattonsburg, Missouri, but he did not approve of some of the actions that
occurred and discouraged the Arkansas State Association from uniting with the organization.
Later, the Arkansas State Association also moved slowly to join the National Association of Free Will Baptists. A representation was sent to the 1935 organizational session in Nashville, but Arkansas did not petition the National Association for membership until 1946.
Progress in the State Association
During the early years, many Free Will Baptist churches have been scattered across the state of Arkansas. Nearly all were country churches, and many did not even have their own buildings. In 1936, for example, Arkansas Free Will Baptists reported 71 churches (an incomplete report) with 4,014 members, and only 38 church-owned edifices and 53 Sunday schools.
In 1939, reports indicate 109 Sunday schools, but only 46 were using Free Will Baptist literature. Encouragement was given annually that the literature from the Ayden Press in North Carolina be used.
During the 1908-1912 period, Arkansas attempted began an Orphan’s Home. Trustees were elected, money raised, and 40 acres purchased near Branch. Because of misappropriation of funds and misunderstandings, however, the land was claimed by the town of Branch and sold.
State publications include The Free Will Baptist Banner, published in 1906 and edited by Rev. W. C. Austin, originally from Tennessee. In 1916, when the (western) Co-operative General Association was organized, The New Morning Star (published in Texas), The Biblical Beacon (published in Missouri), and The Gospel Pruning Hook (published in Arkansas by Rev. W. C. Austin) consolidated into a single publication.
In 1939, Rev. Nolin Jeffrey began publication of The Free Will Baptist Echo, with W. A. Hearron, L. C. Doyle, and Ralph Staten as directors. In 1942, Rev. Ralph Staten began to publish the Free Will Baptist Landmark, endorsed by the Arkansas State Association as its official paper. In 1948, Rev. Nolin Jeffrey was elected editor and the name was changed to The Arkansas Free Will Baptist. During the mid-1950’s the current Vision became the official state paper. Dale Munkus, Willard Day, Alton E. Loveless, Loyd Thomas, Fred Warner, David Joslin, and Tim Campbell have served as editors.
The moderators of the Arkansas State Association have been, in order of service: Jesse Jeffrey, J. H. Johnston, I. S. C. Satterwhite, J. W. Phelps, I. S. C. Satterwhite, E. N. Sanders, J. R. Hartley, W. C. Austin, J. T. Ross, George Beene, J. M. Patrick, J. S. Lovett, L. C. Doyle, J.D. Doyle, F. M. Hudson, J. D. Doyle, L. C. Doyle, W. F. McGee, W. A. Hearron, Ralph Staten, J. D. Coffman, 0. T. Dixon, Reford Wilson, R. E. Pixley, Reford Wilson, William Mishler, Ben Scott, James Earl Raper, and Ben Scott.
State Promotional Directors have been: Millard Williams, 1955-57; Earl Smith, 1957-59; Willard Day, 1959-63; Loyd Thomas, 1962-67; Fred Warner, 1967-73; David Joslin (1973-2001); and Tim Campbell (2001-2015).
Only two “town” Free Will Baptist churches existed in Arkansas prior to 1940. Today, churches are sprinkled throughout both rural and urban communities. Fifteen local associations currently compose the Arkansas State Association. (Every Free Will Baptist Association in the state is affiliated with the state organization.)
The move from rural to urban began in the early 1940s and initiated remarkable increase in the numbers and size of churches in Arkansas. In 2013, the state associations reported 194 churches with nearly 20,000 members. The State Association maintains Camp Beaverfork near Conway, Arkansas, a state Headquarters Building, and the Christian Supply Store.
About the Writer: David Joslin served as executive director of the Arkansas State Association from 1973-2001. During his 45-year ministry in Arkansas, he pastored six churches and helping establish two others. He authored the book, History of Arkansas Free Will Baptists. Joslin served on the general board of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, 18 years as a member of the executive committee. He served 15 years on the Historical Commission of the National Association of Free Will Baptists, five as chairman. He oversaw publication of The Fifty-year Record, a volume documenting history of the national association and collaborated with a group of writers in 1976 to publish History of Free Will Baptist State Association, from which this article has been adapted.