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First Christian Church in Mount Ayr.
By Mike Avitt
I was asked about the history of Breakfast with the Master, held at the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr.
Breakfast with the Master is a Lenten Service held in the morning during the week preceding Easter and focuses on the betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. This event is sponsored by the Ringgold County Ministerial Association.
There was an annual event that acted as a forerunner to Breakfast with the Master and it was called Lenten Breakfast or Lenten Service. It took place at Mount Ayr’s Shamrock Cafe and was held on Wednesday mornings for six weeks prior to Easter which covered the forty days Lent is observed.
Rev. Lynn Potter, of the Mount Ayr United Methodist Church, conducted the service and study using a book entitled, “Rejoice in your Savior.” Even though a Methodist minister led the service, the announcement for this event appeared in the March 8, 1979, Mount Ayr Record-News Church Directory under First Christian Church and not under United Methodist Church. Hmmm. In 1980, a newspaper articles states the Lenten Breakfast is open to all faiths and is sponsored by the Ringgold County Ministerial Association.
In 1980, the First Christian Church was damaged by fire beyond repair. The present-day building was erected in 1981-82 and dedication services were held March 21, 1982. I found no advertisement nor announcement for the Lenten Breakfast in 1982, but I found an account of the event, after the fact, on page fourteen of the Record-News.
The breakfasts were held March 28 to April 2, 1982 and were called “devotional meetings.” On Monday Reverend Phil Kinton and his crew fed 22 patrons. Word got out and by Friday the number was up to thirty-two.
Participating in the 1982 Lenten Breakfast were: Clarejean Haury, United Presbyterian; Elder Alan Smith, Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints; Father Alfonso Erestain, Catholic Community; Rev. Doris Kinton, Christian Church; and Chester and Jean Smith representing the United Methodist Church. The newspaper says this event was under the direction of the R. C. Ministerial Association. What I noticed about this list was multiple lay people involved.
In 1983, the term Breakfast with the Master was first used and breakfast started at 6:30 a.m. This was the year that set the format for years to come. The event ran six days with Rev. Ed Kail of the United Methodist Church officiating the Monday service. Paul Carter of the First Baptist Church spoke on Tuesday. He was followed by Rev. Arlyn Lundstrom of the Pleasant Hill Assembly of God Church which was a rural church in south-central Ringgold County. On Thursday it was Pastor Tom Albrecht of the Lutheran Church. Elder Alan Smith, R. L. D. S., took Friday. Father Alfonso Erestain and Brother Emanuel Toch took charge on Saturday for the Catholic Community. Both came to Ringgold County in December 1981 from Manilla, Phillipines. The Catholics would hold down Saturday mornings for years to come.
The March 31, 1983 Record-News says attendance averaged more than thirty. I was there Monday April 14, 2025 and we had ninety-one. The event is also aired via the Internet and I don’t know how many people view that way. A free will offering is taken to help the Ministerial Association with their services.
I have heard from many sources there were Lenten Breakfasts held in the Black Angus Room of Shamrock Cafe, but I didn’t find any documentation. Some day I will.
I encourage all to attend the church of your choice and celebrate the gift of Eternal Salvation offered to us by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
