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FROM THE BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF PRIMITIVE OR OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST MINISTERS BY DAVID MONTGOMERY AND MARK GREEN:
ELDER DON FARRIS
I was born in a sharecropper's farmhouse to W. Henry & Edna M. (Hand) Farris, near Shawnee, OK on July 1,1933. I courted and married the only girl I ever dated, Emma Pinkston, the daughter ofLavell and Carrie Pinkston. We lived 2 miles from each other, went to the same school 12years, and married July 20, 1952. Kevin, Cathy, Linda, Henry, and Michelle, 4 are numberedamong the Primitive Baptists.
I now see evidence that God's appointed time for my regeneration was very early in life. In 1956, a Southern Baptist preacher came by our house selling Bibles and invited us tochurch. I publicly announced that I felt called of God to preach in 1957. I was blessed witha strong desire to know a closer fellowship with God in His word. I very diligently workedat getting folk "born-again,” because I believed what I was taught. I was introduced to aCalvinist form of grace by Eld. Joe Shelnut, a "Sovereign Grace" preacher in Benton, Ark. I soon became an Absoluter, of the Calvinist stripe. I preached 'election' to Sibley Missionary Baptist church in Sibley, La. The local association and later the whole ABA removed the ninth article, on election, from all their articles of faith. Elders Ruben Monk, Marvin Smith, 0Hartsel Cayce, and Charles Sandage were the first PB preachers I met. I moved from La. to Okla, to Mena, Ark. into David and Lois Heath's deer cabin. I preached to little country churches around there forabout 3 years. Many came to accept what I was preaching about grace. The key to my conversion to the Truth was a wonderful, Spirit led, prayer by an old PB who attended our services on their off Sundays. Bro. George Lyles, 92 or 93 years at the time was a member of Harmony PBC in Mena. He and his dear wife Leatha were saints in my esteem. I knew when he prayed that I badly needed what that old man had been given of God. My soul had been searching for rest and found none until I ask for a home in New Prospect PBC. Elder Hartsel Cayce baptized Sister Emma and I and we were added by the Spirit of God to NPPBC at Board Camp, AR. in 1969. Elder Cayce was patient and taught me the true meaning of Romans 1:16. I was a free and exceedingly happy soul. I wanted the world to know about this God who giveth His people Rest. NPPBC ordained me. Elder B. Isaacs was the moderator of the Presbytery.I have been named as pastor of five churches in Arkansas - Harmony in Mena, Fellowship in Waldron, Macedonia in Dalark, and Co-pastor with Elder Virgil Lowrance at Mt. Paron in Fordyce. I was pastor of Andrews PBC in Andrews, TX for over 6 years, moved back to Ark. and was at Little Flock PBC in Little Flock/Rogers, Ark. for over 12 years before resigning and becoming a member at Macedonia PBC at Dalark, AR. where Eld Gary Harvey is nowour pastor.
God has provided our needs spiritually and physically to this day. Andrews and Little Flock churches taking care of our needs, leaving me free to study the word of God and be a pastor to them. Preaching the gospel in the Philippines. I have made many mistakes among the PB, as I live I will make more; but mercy has been extended by God and some men. The loving efforts of Elders, Deacons, and other church members to help me. Tribulations which worketh patience, experience, hope, and hope maketh not ashamed. |
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