Johnson Baptist Church Article

Walk to the fartherest corner of the church, and there in the room designated as the church nursery are examples of how the folks who attend the church enjoy helping that church: the baby bed was brought by the pastor, the Rev. O.C. Long, and Mrs. Long. The youth bed and the indispensible rocker were given by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Rothrock. The blankets, sheets and even the toys were donated by others. When the nursery was completed, the church had found it necessary to purchase only one article in the room -- a matress for one of the beds.

The nursery was well-placed -- far enough from the auditorium that the crying of the babies would not disturb a service, but just outside the door of the church kitchen, where working mothers could keep a close eye on their infants when helping serve a church dinner. In the kitchen are more examples of how everyone has been interested in aiding the young church in its struggle for survival and growth. The gas range was brought by Mr. and Mrs. Claude Williams, and part of the ample supply of dishes were donated by others.

Beyond the kitchen is the dining room, which doubles as a classroom. The piano there was given by Mrs. Beulah Cardwell. Upstairs leading from the main auditorium are two identical classrooms. One belongs to the Young Married Couples class taught by Frank Matthews. The curtains at the windows in this room were bought and made by a member of the class, Mrs. Bob Curtis, and the large picture of the Lord's Supper was presented by two other members, Mr. and Mrs. James Little. Even the lectern was given by class members, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Crum who had hired it built for the room.

The lectern in the other classroom, used by the Young People's Class, was also a gift, having been built by Claude Williams, husband of the class teacher. Mrs. Williams and a class member, Miss Wilma Long, had made the curtains for that room. The inlaid linoleum on the floors of both the rooms was purchased by the church, but the labor of laying it was furnished by members, under the supervision of one member, Herbert Graue, who works for a floor company.

Mr. Graue supervised the work done by the group of members who covered the wainscotting in the main auditorium and along the stairway to the basement.

His brother Ward Graue built the secretary's desk and the felt-lined collection plates used by the church. Another member, Bill Crum, built the communion table.

Couple Presents Piano
The piano used in the auditorium was presented by a Conway couple, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Crafton. Mrs. Crafton was a former resident of Johnson. Even the light fixtures were offered to the church by a Springdale resident, A.P. Wilson, whose regular attendance at another church ahs made it impossible for him to have an opportunity to be in the Johnson church.

Wherever one looks, there are more signs of how much the members and those interested in the church have enjoyed adding their gift of labor and some article to the church. The tank for the baptistry, itself, was built by the labor of a member skilled in that type of work, Upton Simpson, with others helping him in the work. He purchased the necessary materials for the tank, and when the church secretary handed him a check to reimburse the costs, he tore up the check.

Still others saw a need in the church, and hastened to see that the church possessed the drapes needed at the baptistry and around the chancel rail. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Wardlaw were responsible for this.

The bell that stands in the basement awaiting the day when it will hang in the steeple was the love gift, indirectly, of a member who is retired railroad engineer, George Lenke. He wrote to the Santa Fe Railroad Company, asking that he be allowed to have the old bell from the locomotive that he drove so long, explaining that his church needed a bell. The railway company saw to it that the solid-brass bell was burnished until it shone before they shipped it to the church. The church treasury has just enough money now to purchase the materials needed to build the steeple for the bell, and with the labor of members onated, the steeple will be started soon now.

The things mentioned highlight the many acts of love shown toward the church, but they do not cover the field entirely. Some of the work contributed does not meet the eye of all:The electrical wiring was done by members under the expert supervision of other members, Bob Curtis and Frank Johnson. The plumbing was installed by some of the members with Dwain Gann acting as supervisor. Even the painter who was not even a member there not only reduced his labor charge, but donated most of the paint he used as well.

There were those who added their efforts in other ways, such as cementing and sanding down the nail heads in the sheet rock walls of the classrooms three times before they achieved the perfections desired.