Country Church Thriving

YELLVILLE, ARK. – Contrary to the trend of rural churches shrinking, Yellville, Ark., a town with a population of about 1,200 people, is seeing church attendance increasing! From a congregation of about 15 people on a “busy” Sabbath, the Yellville Seventh-day Adventist Church has now grown to about 50-60 people on any given week.

Not only have new people moved to the area within the last five years, drawing local non-Adventists to visit, worship and study together, but parents are also coming to raise their families. Just this past year, we have welcomed three new births, and all three infants have either been dedicated or will be this year. Elroy Tesch, pastor of Yellville church, has presided over these public affirmations, reminding parents of the biblical precedents of child dedication, their responsibility for their child’s spiritual growth and their commitment and example in leading their children to a personal relationship with Jesus.

On Nov. 11, 2023, Levi and Jonathan Paton were dedicated to God. Present were parents, Joshua and Brittany; grandparents Scott and Linda Learned and Barry and Connie Paton; great-grandparents Leroy and Evelyn Kuhn; and siblings, Seth and Rose.

On May 4, Byron Isaac Saethre was dedicated in the presence of his parents, Mark and Tsai Saethre; paternal grandparents, Tom and Mindy Saethre; maternal grandfather, Jung Bi Hua; and proud big brother, Hiram Saethre.

We are thrilled to welcome these new and precious lives into our church family and look forward to being a part of their journey as they are raised in the admonition and nurture of the Lord. As our small country church grows, the demands also grow! New classrooms are being built, new ministries have emerged and new challenges present themselves. Yet, as a family in Christ, we trust His faithfulness to unite us in His Spirit, walking forward by His grace, as one body until He comes again.

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By Cincy Petersen

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