All Day Singin’ at Smyrna: July 13

by Joshua Heston & Dale Grubaugh

As many small rural churches in the Ozarks have closed their doors for the last time, the folks at Smyrna chose a different path — to reach out to the community and to continue to minister to the needs of others in this tiny, historic holler not far from the free-flowing waters of the Finley River.

But what direction to take? The existing fellowship hall was located in a basement dug in the 1970s when the church was expanded. Further expansion of the building would further change the over-120 year old structure’s historic lines.

Notions of building an entirely new church building — and demolishing the old one — were dismissed. Smyrna Baptist Church has stood in this holler, in the shadow of the neighboring bluffs and next to an active spring branch, for 106 years. Interestingly enough, the 124-year old structure was built atop a neighboring hill but moved into the holler in 1908.

And so, almost seven years ago, Smyrna Baptist Church began saving money to construct a fellowship building across the road from this tiny, historic church building.

This spring, the finishing touches were put on the new fellowship hall, a modest steel-encased, green-roofed building that will allow the church to reach out to the neighboring communities in many ways. And what better way to celebrate this new step in Smyrna’s 124-years of ministry than with an old-fashioned “All Day Singin’ & Dinner on the Grounds”?

This free event takes place on July 13 (10AM to 5PM) here in Parch Corn Holler. Dinner is at 1PM. The bluegrass gospel music begins at 2PM. Highway 32 from Salem, will be there, along with That Dalton Gang, a group of talented youngsters from Lockwood, and Shirley, Goodness & Mercy, celebrated Ozark artists skilled in folk, Americana, gospel and dulcimer.

A free will offering will be taken up for the bands.