Alpena / Arkansas / United States
Osage Baptist Church was organized from a mission of the Alpena Baptist church. Bro. S.D. Hacker, pastor of Alpena Church and Bro. Dennis James, Associational Missionary at the time performed a house to house survey and were convinced a mission at Osage was a necessity. A building was obtained and a mission was started April 26, 1960. Bro. Hacker served as mission pastor as well as pastor at Alpena Church. Bro. Harry McCullough became a Mission Pastor and in 1966 the mission became a church. Thirty-one members from Alpena became charter members: Earl and Ina Mae Disheroon, Mike and Pam Fultz Disheroon, Floyd and Iva Fultz, David and Judy McCullough Fultz, Willa Fay Hawkins Isaacs, Ella Bell Huff, Kenny Huff, Richard and Gertie Glover, Leroy and Bea Hodges, Al Hodges, Wes Hodges, Tommy Williams, Gary Williams, Randy Jones, Harry and Betty McCullough, Brenda McCullough Shell, Connie McCullough Savage, Joe and Ginger Disheroon Reed, Irma Russell, Loraine Young William, Rose and Wyonna Smith. Earl Disheroon and Floyd Fultz were carried over as deacons from the Alpena Church. Carroll Sugg was ordained as deacon in 1967. Average Sunday School attendances was 51 and steadily grew. Vacation Bible Schools have been held every year. Many pastors through the years have began their ministry Osage Baptist Church. Bro. Harry McCullough served as pastor until 1968. Bro. Ray Edwards served as pastor from 1968 to 1969. Bro. Robert Pettigrew served as pastor from 1970 through May 1972. In May, 1972 Bro. Bruce Huffstutter became pastor and served until August, 1974. Bro. Mike Howard, a seminary student served as pastor from 1974 to 1975. Bro. Clifford Bennet, as student of S.W. Baptist College in Bolivar, MO served as pastor from December, 1975 to July 1976. At that time Bro. Mike Widner became pastor and served until 1979. During this time Al and Wes Hodges were licensed to preach. Bro. O.J. Gloor served as pastor from December, 1979 to September, 1980 and later served as interim pastor. Bro. Mitchell Rains was ordained to preach August, 1981 and served as pastor until 1987. Bro. John Burchell served as pastor from July, 1987 to March 1989. Bro. Harvey Maher served as pastor from 1989 to 1990. During 1990 Bro. Wes Hodges served as interim pastor. Bro. Lannie Younger became pastor in July 1991 and continues to serve today. Since he began his pastorate here, there have been 240 baptisms. Presently there are approximately 250 active members. Six more men, Max Blevins, Mike Disheroon, David Fultz, Russell Colbert, Roger Grisham and Brent Fry have been ordained as deacons. A new sanctuary to seat 200 people was built in 1989. A new parsonage was built in 1993. A multi-purpose building for classrooms, fellowship hall, new kitchen, nursery, music room and pastors office was completed in 2003. In 2009 the church sanctuary was enlarged and remodeled to accommodate several more pews, a larger choir, a larger stage area, and more sophisticated stage lighting.
