Refuge celebrates 129 years

Refuge Church in Lake City celebrated its 129th anniversary with a special western themed Homecoming on Sunday, Sept. 30, with over 275 in attendance.

The special day began with music by guest musicians The Good Time Country Classic Gospel Band followed by worship and a message by new pastor Steve Hinkle challenging everyone to honor their past as well as embrace their future together.

Pastor Steve and his family have been at Refuge for two and a half months. They arrived just in time to share in the special occasion.

Refuge Church celebrated 129 years with special music, food, fellowship, and the Word.Photos provided)

The morning service was followed by an old-fashioned potluck lunch, live entertainment, games, and horseback rides provided by the Higher Trails Cowboy Church from Paragould. The day concluded with a 5:30 p.m. service and unveiling of a new church logo and a new clarified vision and mission statement.

Refuge Church’s new logo incorporates the historic church bell as a reminder to the congregation to treasure their past while they embrace the future together and, like the bell, seek to “resonate” the love of Christ to those around them in Lake City and surrounding communities.

When introducing the new logo, Pastor Steve reminded the congregation the new vision was “not a reinvention, but rather a rediscovering” of what has always made Refuge Church a special place.

Refuge Church minister Steve Hinkle

“The right signature is the one that comes naturally,” he shared. “Home should be a safe place where you can be yourself, make mistakes, experience unconditional love, and so much more. Refuge Church is a place where anyone can and should feel safe - at home.

“We live in a day and age where many people (young and old) are wanting to relearn how to connect and re-engage with others and their spirituality. Church should be a safe place for human interaction and a place of hope. That’s why our new mission statement states that at Refuge ‘we are family learning to live and love like Jesus, resonating a little heaven on earth, creating welcoming communities where all feel safe – at home.’”

Refuge Church started in 1889 in a community known at that time as Possum Trot. The church was organized in September of 1890 at the Oak Grove Church by W.C. York.

The first building was destroyed by fire on Dec. 20, 1920. The congregation met at Bowman School, along with two ohter churches, the Church of Christ and the Missionary Baptist Church. Even without a building, Refuge held many revivals in a brush arbor at the church's current location.

A wood framed church building was erected in October of 1935. It was decided to build a new 30'x60' block building in 1965.

After many renovations and additions, the church building was destroyed by a tornado on April 3, 1984.

The current church building was completed and the first service was held Sept. 9, 1984.

For more information about Refuge Church, log on to the webpage: refugechurchlc.com.

The church is located at 5002 Highway 18, Lake City.