Pisgah Baptist is the oldest church in the Southwest Arkansas Baptist Association, which has 40 churches and four missions. The Rev. Leland Blaylock will speak at the worship service. Denny Wright of the Arkansas Baptist Convention will present a plaque to the church. Dinner will follow the morning service, and an afternoon service will start around 1:30 p.m. The afternoon service will include singing and film presentations of the church's history. A plaque will be presented in honor of James Mills, a longtime worker in the church who served as chairman of the deacons. The church started 150 years ago when a small group met in a one-room church with tall ceilings and big posts in the center of the room. A wood heater warmed the people, and simple coal-oil lamps gave them light. The floor was made from unfinished wood that buckled in places because of a roof leak, so the people sat on hard benches. At first, services were held only twice a month. Then the * Rev. McCalman began holding services every Sunday, even though he was only paid for two services a month. Active families in the church included the * Teers, * Griffins, * McDonalds, * Prestons, * Cokers, * Rushings, * Woodses, * Millses and * Littletons. Members made many improvements in their church. In 1956, the auditorium was remodeled, the ceilings were lowered, the posts removed, and new hardwood floors were laid. Members also added restrooms and a front porch. The church history records that when the church first got electricity, "it seemed like it suddenly lighted up the whole community." New benches were bought in 1950, and a new well dug in 1958. In 1960, the church bought a building and added it on for Sunday school rooms. By 1962, members were able to put away their fans because the church installed window air conditioners. The same year, Bert Mills donated an organ. In 1967, a fellowship hall was added to the Sunday school building. The church bought a piano in 1971, and built a baptistery in 1973. Many other additions and improvements were made, and in 1983, the church built a parsonage without going into debt. In 1993, the church raised more than $43,000 and built a new auditorium and Sunday school space. Members donated pews in honor of family members, and area businesses helped provide chandeliers. The Texas Nailbenders Association donated many hours of work on the new building, and members also worked many hours. The project was completed without having to borrow money. In 2000, members started building a multipurpose building that will be used as a fellowship hall, gym and community activity center. Church members donated the money for the structure. The church history says: "Pisgah is more than a building. If only we knew the number of people who gave their lives to the Lord under these roofs. "How many kids were kept from going astray because of the teachings they received here? How many couples have started their marriage or dedicated their babies or said goodbye to loved ones in front of this altar ... Many adults around the community can recall growing up in the church that we honor today."