Easter Sunday in the Bend in 1951

              A photo of the fledgling Baptist Mission congregation in the Bend came to my mind this week. In 1951, Easter was celebrated on March 25. The unoccupied house on the Lora Betts place (now owned by the descendants of Eloise Mitchell and Marilyn Mills) served as an early meeting location.

Children identified: Margaret Ann Forbes, Melody Evatt, Gilbert Wayne Morris, Vickie and Marian Rice, Linda Forbes, Jimmy
 Evatt, Jerry Evatt, Ronnie Rice, Ann Evatt. Young Adults identified: Lola and Melva Lynn,Dean Rice, Alphonso Littlestar.
  Adults: Calvin and Gladys Smith, Ruby and Elmer Rice, Merlene and Junior Morris, Geraldine and Harold Forbes, Garland Evatt,
Edmund Gates. (My mother snapped the photo.) Brother George Washington Megee is wearing a suit, tie, and a hat. (Nothing was
written on the back of this photo, but Grandma wrote on the front,Baptist mission at the Betts' place, 1951.

            Brother George Megee, a schoolteacher living in Little Chief north of Fairfax, pastored the small congregation. His wife, Grayce, and his children proved to be an asset to the little mission. Grayce, a hard worker and provider for her family’s table, could be found canning in half-gallon jars in the summer. Mother remembered Grayce specifically canning corn in those large glass jars.

            An interesting fact from the photo revealed the oldest person in the photo had just turned 60. That was my grandfather, Calvin Callcayah Smith. (Grandpa was younger than I am!) Brother Megee, the bivocational pastor age 44, was a career teacher. Over half in the photograph that Easter morning was under 18 years old.

            Pastors, pastors' wives, teaching and medical missionaries, Bible teachers, and many faithful servants of the Lord have sprung from the families of this group of believers united in their desire to serve the Lord. At least a dozen descendants from this “house” church, still live in the Bend today. All of them remain active in their church congregations. Mother is the only one in the photograph who continues to reside in the Bend.   

            Is there a difference in the observance of the resurrection of Christ in the 21st century, 71 years after the inaugural Easter service for the little mission? How should we respond to C.S. Lewis’s phrase  - “death working backwards” - a phrase Lewis used to describe the Resurrection of Jesus? When we embrace the truth of it, we repent and receive Jesus as the only source of redemption and salvation. Then we respond to the command of the angel to the women, “(as you) Go… tell…that He is risen from the dead.” Yes, this is the way Resurrection people truly celebrate not just on Easter Sunday but every day of the year. Not just in the Nifty Fifties but for us today.

Vickie and Marian Rice in their Easter finery.
 Looking at this photo, reminded me of the
 last time, I saw Marian. She and Dawn, her sister, 
were at the 60th wedding anniversary reception
 for my parents. Marian looked at Dad and said
with pride, "I was Ed's first pianist!" She was
quite young, but a gifted keyboardist. She and
Dad led worship for the Big Bend Baptist Church.
So often Mother will say, with fond memories,
 "They were such sweet little girls!"

 Mother snapped this photo of Gilbert Wayne Morris.
Junior, Merlene, and Gilbert Wayne were their closest
neighbors at that time. Mother dearly loved Gilbert
Wayne.