OUR HISTORY
The vision for Moreland First Baptist Church was originally conceived during a community revival meeting held in 1925. Although earlier efforts to organize the church were initiated, the church was not officially organized until August 31, 1941, as part of the Arkansas River Valley Baptist Association and the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (Southern Baptist Convention), with seven charter members including her first pastor, Rev. Paul Rea. The church adopted The Church Covenant and The Baptist Faith & Message as her Articles of Faith. On November 11, 1956, a ground-breaking ceremony launched construction of her first worship facility.
OUR COMMUNITY
The small township of Moreland, situated in Pope County, Arkansas, was formerly known as Cross Plains or Isbel Creek. Tradition holds that the name was changed when a stagecoach passenger observing the thriving community declared that they would need “more land.” Much of the land is still open rural acreage that grazes horses & cattle, with scattered farmland. Modern highway systems have incorporated these country hills into a wider area of the Arkansas River Valley, giving the Moreland church a Russellville, Arkansas, address; and expanding our mission & ministry field into a more far-reaching radius.
OUR LEADERSHIP
Pastor Rick Smith:
Rev. Rick Smith began serving the Moreland First Baptist Church as Interim Pastor in November, 2014. In March, 2015, the church extended a call to Bro. Rick to serve as permanent Pastor. He accepted that call on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015. Having grown up in Memphis, Tennessee, Rick was ordained to the Gospel Ministry in the mid 1970s, at Range Hills Baptist Church, the home church where he was saved & baptized at age eight. He received his ministry education at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee; and, Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He has served churches and his denomination in various leadership roles for more than 40 years, including a seven-year tenure as a workplace chaplain with Tyson Foods. He and his wife, Carol, have three children and five grandchildren.
Worship Leader Greg Collins:
Greg Collins, an extended family member of the church’s charter member, Mrs. Jennie Collins, has been serving as the music worship leader since 1978. He is also one of the church’s two ordained deacons.
OUR VISION
A more “traditional” worship and nature would best describe our church. We are a small fellowship with a big heart and desire to reach people, minister in Christ’s name and grow as God entrusts individuals & families to our loving care. We are committed to expanding our reach through the use of technology and communication to share with a wider audience the message of the gospel.
We embrace a view of Scripture that accepts its divine inspiration, confident inerrancy, and sure infallibility as our authority for life and ministry. The proclamation of the Word of God without apology or compromise remains the foremost task of our purpose for evangelism, discipleship, missions and ministry.