Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association
Encyclopedia
The Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association is a Christian association and denomination in eastern Kentucky. The Association was begun in 1925 by Lela G. McConnell, a deaconness in the Methodist Episcopal Church
. The Association maintains a Wesleyan-Holiness
doctrine with a strong emphasis on sanctification
. The association maintains an elementary school, a high school, a four-year Bible college
, a radio station
, and a farm. J. Eldon Neihof is the current association president. Following Lela G. McConnell's ordination in 1924, she began a vigorous ministry in the mountains of eastern Kentucky.
Although the Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association has 13 member churches, it does not consider itself to be a "denomination
," and many of its member churches list themselves as "non-denominational
."
. In 1957 a big brewery man visited all business places in Jackson. He asked, "Don't you want to vote again on the liquor issue?" All but two of the business men said, "No, our jail is practically empty. Before Local Option, the jail was overflowing most of the time. The brewery man said, "I'll be back later. Can't do anything now."
In May 1951, the judge of a certain county said to Miss McConnell, "The Circuit Court meets twice a year. This is the first time in 132 years that we have not had a murder case on the docket in this county."
One man in Lee County who used to ride horseback through a community to take his "turn of corn" to the mill, told us he often heard cursing, fighting and shooting along the creek. He said, "Now, since you have had two revivals there, all I ever hear is singing, 'Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me' or 'Jesus, Lover of My soul.' If you had done nothing more than change that community, it is worth all your prayers, tears, and labors.
news.
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
. The Association maintains a Wesleyan-Holiness
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
doctrine with a strong emphasis on sanctification
Sanctification
Sanctity is an ancient concept widespread among religions, a property of a thing or person sacred or set apart within the religion, from totem poles through temple vessels to days of the week, to a human believer who achieves this state. Sanctification is the act or process of acquiring sanctity,...
. The association maintains an elementary school, a high school, a four-year Bible college
Kentucky Mountain Bible College
Kentucky Mountain Bible College is a four-year evangelical Christian holiness Bible college in Vancleve, Kentucky. The college is located near the town of Jackson in Breathitt County, and is a ministry of the Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association.Over 70% of KMBC's graduates have entered diverse...
, a radio station
WMTC (AM)
WMTC is a radio station broadcasting a Southern Gospel format. Licensed to Vancleve, Kentucky, United States, the station is currently owned by the Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association and features programming from Salem Communications....
, and a farm. J. Eldon Neihof is the current association president. Following Lela G. McConnell's ordination in 1924, she began a vigorous ministry in the mountains of eastern Kentucky.
Although the Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association has 13 member churches, it does not consider itself to be a "denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
," and many of its member churches list themselves as "non-denominational
Non-denominational Christianity
In Christianity, nondenominational institutions or churches are those not formally aligned with an established denomination, or that remain otherwise officially autonomous. This, however, does not preclude an identifiable standard among such congregations...
."
History
The first organization, the Mount Carmel Church and School, was established by Dr. Lela G. McConnell in 1925. The first groundbreaking was on 10 March, 1925. The Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association was formally incorporated in February 1931, and the Vancleve Bible School, known as the Kentucky Mountain Bible Institute (later Kentucky Mountain Bible College) was opened in October of the same year. A second grade school was opened in Lee City in 1935. A 100-acre farm was purchased for $4500 on July 3, 1942. The radio station was added by a generous gift, and went on the air July 23, 1948.Effect
In 1946, Breathitt County voted to become a dry countyDry county
A dry county is a county in the United States whose government forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Hundreds of dry counties exist across the United States, almost all of them in the South...
. In 1957 a big brewery man visited all business places in Jackson. He asked, "Don't you want to vote again on the liquor issue?" All but two of the business men said, "No, our jail is practically empty. Before Local Option, the jail was overflowing most of the time. The brewery man said, "I'll be back later. Can't do anything now."
In May 1951, the judge of a certain county said to Miss McConnell, "The Circuit Court meets twice a year. This is the first time in 132 years that we have not had a murder case on the docket in this county."
One man in Lee County who used to ride horseback through a community to take his "turn of corn" to the mill, told us he often heard cursing, fighting and shooting along the creek. He said, "Now, since you have had two revivals there, all I ever hear is singing, 'Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me' or 'Jesus, Lover of My soul.' If you had done nothing more than change that community, it is worth all your prayers, tears, and labors.
Schools
- Kentucky Mountain Bible CollegeKentucky Mountain Bible CollegeKentucky Mountain Bible College is a four-year evangelical Christian holiness Bible college in Vancleve, Kentucky. The college is located near the town of Jackson in Breathitt County, and is a ministry of the Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association.Over 70% of KMBC's graduates have entered diverse...
, Vancleve, KY - Mount Carmel High School, Vancleve, KY
Radio stations
The KMHA operates two Moody-affiliate radio stations. They feature both local, Southern Gospel programming and DJs, as well as syndicated shows and SRNSalem Radio Network
Salem Radio Network is a United States-based radio network that specializes in syndicated Christian talk, music, and secular news/talk programming...
news.
- WMTCWMTC (AM)WMTC is a radio station broadcasting a Southern Gospel format. Licensed to Vancleve, Kentucky, United States, the station is currently owned by the Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association and features programming from Salem Communications....
730 AM, Vancleve, KY - WMTC-FM 99.9 FM, Vancleve KY
Churches
- Bear Pen Worship Center, Campton, KY
- Burning Fork Community Church, Salyersville, KY
- Five Mile Community Church, Vancleve, KY
- Index Community Church, West Liberty, KY
- Lakeview Community Church, Salt Lick, KY
- London Community Church, London, KY
- Long Shoal Community Church, Beattyville, KY
- Old Time Religion Chapel, Campton, KY
- Red River Community Church, Hazel Green, KY
- Spencer Fork Community Church, Booneville, KY
- Tallega Community Church, Beattyville, KY
- Wide Creek Community Church, Lee County, KY
- Woodsbend Community Church, West Liberty, KY