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Narrative Summary

Interview with Lovell Mountcastle by Megan Mountcastle

Lovell Mountcastle is a woman who just happens to be my grandmother. She was born in Oklahoma. She is a born and raised Christian, and has never gone a day in her life without reading the Bible and talking with God through prayer. She is currently in her 58th year of both full-time ministry and marriage.

Growing up, her mother was a big influence in her life, always making sure they went to church every week and attended most church functions. She graduated from Sulfur High School in 1952 and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio were she attended Cincinnati Bible College and met the love of her life, Howard Mountcastle. Together, they moved to Joplin, Missouri and attended Ozark Bible College which she graduated from in 1956. From there, the two got married and began their ministry together.

They have a unique kind of ministry. Instead of finding a church to minister to and staying there until they retire, Howard and Lovell stay at a church until they feel as though they have done everything for the people there that they can, and then they move on to another church. Because of this, they have lived in many places across the Midwest: Mountain Home, Arkansas; Mexico, Missouri; Verona, Missouri; Arlington, Indiana; San Antonio, Texas; and Sapulpa, Oklahoma; to name a few. Between the years 1984 and 1988, Lovell went to Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas where she got her degree in education.

The couple has four kids, three girls and one boy (my father). All of their kids are of the Christian faith and attend church regularly. They have many grandkids and a few great-grandkids. They are both still in the ministry full-time and show no signs of retiring any time soon. They currently reside in Caruthersville, Missouri where they minister to the First Christian Church. Howard is the lead minister of the church, and Lovell has no official position, other than Sunday school teacher. However, the two have a partner style ministry and discuss everything together before deciding on a course of action. It has never bothered Lovell that her husband has more influence in the church and at home. She feels as though that is the way that God designed it and she is comfortable with that. The way that she holds on to her faith through any obstacle or trial is encouraging and inspiring to all people, no matter the religion, and I think that her story will continue to be a light and an inspiration for years to come.

Missouri State University Semester 20## Religious Lives of Ozarks Women