About Us

Our church was founded in October 1942, by Hugh Reed, a missionary serving with the American Sunday School Union, who desired to begin Sunday schools in various schoolhouses in the 4-State region. He polled people in the local Prairie Flower School, which was located where the Joplin Regional Airport is today. Of the thirty-five there, only four attended any Sunday school. The school board eventually gave permission for a Sunday school to use the building. With only nine people, the Prairie Flower Sunday School was started. In that first year, during the course of special meetings, twenty-five people made professions of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and Prairie Flower Community Church was formed. Eventually, needing more room, the church began meeting across the road in the AHTA building (Anti-Horse Thief Association—now known as the ATA). Dr. Pingree (MD) was called as the first pastor. Within the year, he passed away. He was followed by Pastor Boyd. In November 1949, the AHTA building burned, so the congregation moved back to the Prairie Flower School—William Kelly was the pastor. The next few years saw Pastors Freeman, Hatfield, and Hughes.

During the pastorate of E.L. (“Bro. Mac”) McFarland, the Joplin Airport authority bought the school building. It was decided that PFCC should build her own facility. In December 1953, on donated property, work on a new church building was begun. The building, which held around 50 people, was completed in 1954. Over the years following Bro. Mac were Pastors Singleterry, Portukallian, Zeigler, Piney, and Thomas.

In 1961-1962, during the pastorate of Roy Thomas, the church was formally reorganized as Prairie Flower Bible Church and joined with the Independent Fundamental Churches of America (now known as IFCA International)—a fellowship of doctrinally sound, self-governing churches. In 1966, the church building was remodeled to seat more people and provide more classroom space.

Bob Bell was called to serve as Pastor in the fall of 1977. Expanding ministry outreach, the congregation grew to over 100 under his able, godly leadership. In 1984, a new facility was constructed, and the old building was removed. Construction on a second, larger building was started in 1992, and the Awana Club evangelistic and discipleship ministry to area children was begun.

Pastor Bell passed away suddenly in early 1993. That fall, Dr. Robert Kendall from Springfield was called to serve as temporary interim pastor, until a permanent pastor could be found. Dave Ernst was called to serve as Pastor in June, 1994.

That fall, the Awana Club ministry was expanded to include preschoolers and teens. In late 1997, after thousands of selfless hours of labor put in by the men and women of the church, the “South Building” was completed and dedicated for service to the glory of God in loving memory of Pastor Bell.

Over the past few years, the PFBC family has grown to well over 200, with individuals and families from all around the 4-state region. We have also added a “Center Section” to the facilities to form the main buildings into one, as well as an Activity Center, a Kitchen/Restroom addition to the Activity Center, and finally a drive-under portico onto the North Building to complete the facility complex. Most importantly, we have significantly increased our partnership with stateside and worldwide Missionary endeavors, as well as beginning and expanding our outreach through the internet.

Today, in an age when most “evangelical” churches are actively compromising God’s truth and surrendering to liberal, modernist “seeker-sensitive/purpose-driven/emergent church” philosophies to fill their pews, PFBC remains firmly dedicated to our roots—the authority of the Bible and the loving service of the Savior—as we serve one another and reach out into the surrounding communities and the world with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the clarity of His Word.

**This history summary was compiled from church records and personal accounts of founding and long-time members.