Lone Camp Church History

The early history of the Lone Camp Church of Christ began about 1890 when James Harvey Bates settled on Ward Mountain and gave an acre of land for the use of a school and church. Joined by other pioneer Christians, a congregation of the Church of Christ was established. It was known as the Oak Grove Church of Christ. Brother Bates served as song leader and took much of the responsibility of management. Brother Sam Lasater read scripture and commented on it when a preacher was not available.

There was no division into classes. The males sat on the left side of the speaker and the females on the right. The men leading in prayer would always kneel as the examples given in the New Testament. Other dedicated families were the Loves, Pruitts, Foremans, Lasaters, Joneses, Bates, Bandys and Marsdens. All families met each Lord’s Day for worship and communion. The ladies prepared the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine used in communion. Baptisms were in Palo Pinto Creek.

Preaching was probably irregular, but a summer “protracted meeting” was a yearly event, under a brush arbor, with homemade seats and lanterns for lights. These revivals always lasted for at least two weeks. They were usually after the crops were laid by and before cotton-picking time. The evangelists who held these meeting were strong Gospel preachers. Some were “circuit riders” going through the country on horseback, holding revivals and winning souls to Christ. Brother Sheridan was a strong Gospel preacher and was largely responsible for the growth of the Oak Grove Church of Christ.

In about 1895, Brother Frank Bandy, a Gospel preacher, moved into the community and provided once-a-month preaching for many years. Sometime around 1915, the Oak Grove and Elm Grove schools consolidated. The new school building was at Ward Mountain. The building for church services was shared with the Methodists, with the Church of Christ having services at 3 p.m. each Sunday. The summer revivals were still being held under a brush arbor on the school ground – Uncle Eck and Aunt Mollie Lasater bringing all who lived too far to walk in their wagon to the meetings.

Farming began to decline and so did the rural population. Again, the schools consolidated – Ward Mountain, New Hope and Lone Camp came together in 1927. The new school building was put at Long Camp, this being the next meeting place for the Church of Christ. A community tabernacle was built for the summer revivals. The congregation grew so that in 1948 the Lone Camp Church of Christ building was built.

In 1970 a vestibule was added along with new plumbing and air conditioning. The parking space was also covered with gravel. Most of this work was done by members of the church. Services were held on Sunday mornings and evenings. Gone are the days of brush arbor revivals, palm leaf ferns, and when it was not nice to even mention ladies had legs; however, the same spirit of love, fellowship, and worship remains today as it did when the church was established.  “The early history of the Lone Camp Church of Christ was furnished by Mrs. Nell Beaty and Olive (Jones) Gardner, who spent the early years of their lives there.”

- By Minnie Lee (Slimp) Jones

IN LOVING MEMORY

Jerry Thomas, 1944 - 2017

Jerry Thomas and his wife Sharon joined the Lone Camp Church family in 1997. Jerry and Sharon were married on Aug. 18, 1963, and have three sons. Jerry took the role of preacher and served the congregation for nearly two decades. He was beloved by the members of the church and preached God’s word with sincerity, humility and an open heart.

 Before his time at the church, Jerry worked as a teacher and coach for more than 20 years in the Fort Worth public school system including Rosedale School, Trimble Tech High School and Arlington Heights High School. He continued his career as an administrator at various schools in the Metroplex and was a member of the Texas High School Coaches Association.

 Jerry had a passion for fishing…usually with members of the church. He loved to play golf and watch his sons’ and grandkids’ activities.

 After a long battle with cancer, Jerry went to be with the Lord on May 7, 2017 at the age of 72. He is dearly missed, but his memory, spirit and Christian example live on through all those who knew and love him.

William Stockstill, 1929 - 2017 Eleanor Stockstill, 1932 - 2016

William Terrance Stockstill, or Stocky as he was known to his church family, began attending Lone Camp Church of Christ around 1991 when he and his wife, Eleanor, first moved to the area in order to build a home. Stocky and Eleanor were dedicated members at Lone Camp with Stocky serving as an elder for several years and Eleanor being deeply involved with the congregation and church gatherings.

 Married for 65 years, Stocky and Eleanor loved and cherished their two children, five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Stocky formerly served in the U.S. Navy and was retired from the Union Pacific Railroad. Eleanor loved crocheting and was known for comforting fellow church members with the phrase, “Well…you can either worry about it or pray about it.”

Both of them were true servants to the Lord in everything they did. Eleanor passed on Dec. 26, 2016, and Stocky went to join her in Heaven shortly thereafter on Sept. 25, 2017. We miss seeing their loving smiles every Sunday.