1989-2023
Judson American Baptist Church
Bella Vista, Arkansas AR
Roger Williams founded the first Baptist Church in America in 1638 and 350 years later, 25 charter members founded the first American Baptist Church in northwestern Arkansas. Judson American Baptist Church was formerly chartered in 1989 but was preceded since 1977 by the American Baptist Fellowship comprised mainly of northerners who had retired at Bella Vista but yearned for their ABC heritage.
After meeting in homes for dinner, prayer and fellowship, they formally constituted a church in 1989, bought a Catholic church building the next year and refurbished it two years later. They called Rev. Donald Cowell as their first pastor who led them through their first four years. He was followed by Donald L. Moor, Edward Baxter, Henry Hensley, Sue Metcalf, Mark Kirby and Kem Reeder.
The tradition of a major mission service project was established early involving the congregation in such projects as a battered women’s shelter in Bentonville, Central Seminary, Concordia Care Center, Bacone College, children in McDonald County, MO, Murrow Indian Children’s Home and several other ministries.[1]
Hoping to tie more closely to the local community, the name of the church was changed in 2012 to Forest Hills Church thus identifying with the road in front of the building. This congregation was the sole American Baptist Church in Arkansas. Church member, Rose Christensen suggests the church succeeded because of prayer and planning, committed workers, sense of identity, spirit of cooperation and outreach events.[2] Their website described the congregation thusly under their new name:
Forest Hills Church is a warm and welcoming place where Jesus shines as the light of the world. The nature of God’s word requires diligent study and accurate teaching. We do not add to the Scripture when it is silent, and we shout to the mountaintops when it speaks.[3]
The congregation of Forest Hills Church, formerly Judson American Baptist Church in Bella Vista, Arkansas, made the decision on 2023 June 25 at a congregational meeting to cease to be a worshiping congregation effective July 30 with a final gathering on that day. The vote was unanimous for that decision and interim pastor Tim Schwartz preached a sermon entitled “The Cross Lights the Way” on that final Sunday.
A reformed congregation named Legacy Baptist Church has purchased the building and continues regular worship and ministry in the Judson Baptist location.
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[1] “Highlights of Judson American Baptist Church History,” local summary printed by the church in 1989.
[2] Rose Christensen, “Judson’s Tenth Anniversary Celebration Signals Success,” A Newspaper for American Baptist Planters and Friends, Winter 2000, p. 1.
[3] https://www.foresthillschurch.info/