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Friday, January 16, 2015

The Duggars and Cross Church

When First Baptist Church of Springdale was founded in 1870, the 13 original members could not have imagined the impact their church would have on tens of thousands of people, including Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 19 children.

In 1979, First Baptist Church of Springdale--which included Shiloh Christian School, founded in 1976--moved from downtown Springdale to a site on Johnson Road.

Jim Bob Duggar was a member of the first graduating class of Shiloh Christan School. For his first official date with his future wife, Jim Bob took Michelle Ruark to the Shiloh junior-senior banquet.

After the banquet, the two sat in the Ruarks' living room and talked for hours. As Jim Bob left, Michelle stood in the doorway of her family's home and prayed: "Lord, if this isn’t the one you have for me, I can’t imagine anyone better."

In 1984, Jim Bob and Michelle were married at First Baptist Church of Springdale on Johnson Road.

Fast-forward 23 years. Jim Bob and Michelle had 16 children and were expecting their 17th. Before moving into their current, 7,000 square-foot home, the Duggars had lived for more than ten years in a house on Johnson Road that had three bedrooms and two bathrooms. When they moved out, their Johnson Road house was demolished for the expansion of First Baptist Church of Springdale.

In 2009, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar renewed their vows at First Baptist Church of Springdale.

On June 21st, 2014, the Duggars were back at First Baptist,
renamed Cross Church in 2010, for another wedding. As Jim Bob walked 23-year-old Jill down the aisle to her new life, he had to have been thinking about the impact the church and its congregation has had on his family over the years.

With five campuses and a weekly attendance of around 9,000, Cross Church, associated with the Southern Baptist Convention, is now the largest church in Arkansas.

Photos courtesy duggarfamily.com, TLC/David Welker

31 comments:

  1. WOW thanks for sharing ;-)

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  2. wow
    Josiah will get married there
    in 2027
    i perdict
    in october of that
    yr
    on 29
    that yr

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  3. Very neat story. Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Does the Duggars attend regularly services at Cross Church or just on special life events?

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    Replies
    1. They mainly just go there for special events. They go to a different church regularly. Theirs is a lot smaller and it's kinda like a home church. I am friends with them, and have several other friends at their church. It's such a blessing to get to visit their church every few weeks and have such sweet fellowship!

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    2. If you know Jim Bob personally, I need to contact him somehow. I spoke to someone recently and he said Jim Bib referred him to a good reversal doctor in Arkansas. I am trying trying to get the doctor's name. I forgot it and am regretting not writing it down. Thank you if you can help.

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  5. That's great :) Must have brought back a lot of memories walking down that isle again with his daughter.

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  6. Just wondering was it 1870 or 1970 church was founded

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  7. They had a valentines banquet for widows that Grandma Duggar attended after her husband passed.

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    Replies
    1. Loved the episode that showed how loving Cross Church was to widows. Hope she gets to go this year. Would like more details on what all the church does to honor widows on valentine's day. Valentine's day is typically one of the most painful days for a widow right along with the day of her husbands passing, his birthday, their anniversary and holidays. They feel forgotten, alone and sad on those days so thank you , Cross Church for remembering widows.

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  8. Where was jessa married?

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  9. One of the nicest stories have read

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  10. 13 years of marriage with 16 kids and expecting another? Whew..I am in my 30's and have been married 15 years with one. I cannot imagine that many! Kudos to the Duggars.

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    Replies
    1. 23 years marriage with 16 kids.

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  11. Why is Jessa's wedding picture not used. I am not trying to start anything but I think this could cause some hurt feelings soon. She would be polite and say "No" but I think maybe try and include her too. I know Jill was the first daughter married and pregnant but Jessa's wedding was special too.

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    Replies
    1. But the post is about First Baptist church and Jill was married there but Jessa was not that's why she wasn't included

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  12. WOW
    the next married
    duggars in order
    will
    be jana
    then joseph
    then john
    then jeddiah
    then jeremy
    josiah
    Justin
    Jordyn
    that the future weddings
    in plains for those yrs
    not married to me though


    2015-2028
    in plains

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    Replies
    1. I think you mean Jeremiah, not jeremy

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    2. I think the Duggars wait for God's promoting regarding marriage. Jana is contentedly sing. Fans should be like her parents and respect her single status rather than claim she is the next one to be married.

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  13. Then back in November 2014 for jessa's wedding too.

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  14. @Anonymous

    Hi Anonymous 7,

    The church was founded in 1870.

    Blessings,
    Lily and Ellie

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  15. @Isle G

    Hi Isle G,

    Jessa was married at First Baptist Church of Bentonville. :)

    ~Lily and Ellie

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  16. @Anonymous

    Hi Anonymous 12,

    Jessa was married at First Baptist Church of Bentonville. We didn't include her wedding picture because this post is about Cross Church. :)

    ~Lily and Ellie

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  17. Dear Lily and Ellie: Although I appreciate your efforts on this web page, don't know if you are paid or volunteer your services to this family, you don't respond to that question, I must share that this page is becoming redundant and boring as you ladies are not posting different points of view. The more time goes by, the more and more repetitive compliments are posted here. This is not a Duggar worship site, it is a commentary site, is it not? Please post more diverse comments which bring a wider perspective of how this family is being perceived.. They are NOT volunteering their time, services and beliefs as a ministry but are paid employee entertainers at TLC and any other publication who pays them for their pictures and interviews. Having said that, they, then open themselves up for all opinions and commentary. Please reflect that truth here. I have offered many opinions and questions that should be brought to light that never see that light here on this website. Thank you for reading this one; as I look forward to seeing it posted here.

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    Replies
    1. It's a fan page. It is no different than any other fan page, with encouraging things being posted. I have varied interests. This is the only page that seems to attract people who are not fans.

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  18. From 1984 to 1997 is 13 years and they did not have 16 children but 9 children. This should probably be 23 years later.

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  19. Have the girls ever worn those bridesmaids dresses on other occasions than this second marriage?

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  20. do the Duggars regularly attend Cross Church or do they attend another church usually? thanks so much!

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  21. Church buildings are a symbol of art and perfect architecture. To do it in the best way, borrowing money from the reliable lending company is necessary. Cause in this modern situation, bearing the construction expenses is not possible for oneself. So church financing is become popular.

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  22. Sorry if there are duplicate posts, this isn't making it easy to sign in to any of my accounts on the phone.

    Nice article. I was thinking it was Jessa who was married there as well, but makes sense that it was Jill. I've been to the
    Pinnacle Hills campus before. Ronnie Floyd has spoken at my church before. Small world

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  23. Can you tell us which Duggar family members currently attend Cross church? I think maybe Jessa & Ben and Jill & Derick

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Thanks for leaving your comments! We answer as many of your questions as we can, but due to the number of comments we receive daily, we are unable to answer every one. Our aim is to post all points of view, but we do not post anything that is profane, insulting, derogatory, or in poor taste.