The History of Red Bird Mission

Red Bird Mission was founded in 1921 in the southeastern corner of Kentucky to provide education and Christian evangelism ministries to residents of the area. The Mission was started by the Evangelical Church on a small piece of property, at the confluence of Cow Fork and the Red Bird River.
    The story of Red Bird is one of deep faith in God. Red Bird Mission was born in answer to prayer. It is a story of gracious outpouring of prayer and means by the church. (1)
    As early as 1913 the women of the Evangelical Church became aware of the needs of the people of the Southern Highlands. In 1919 the Illinois Branch Women's Missionary Society was the first of three branches to request that the church begin work here. After much prayer and study the Women's Board established the Faith Fund, named thus as they said, "in the faith that money would flow into it and that God will show us where to invest it." (2)
    Meanwhile, God-fearing people in the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky were praying that someone would "come over and help us."  Miss Zelphia Roberts, a Presbyterian girl from near Hyden, was one of those who prayed. She taught in a little school at Phillip's Fork across the mountain from Beverly. Once a week she walked to Beverly for the mail.  There she saw intelligent boys doing nothing and receiving no training.  She also heard that Uncle Millard and Aunt Myrtle Knuckles, a local couple, were wanting a school for the youth. So, as she crossed the mountain each week she regularly stopped at a certain rock to pray that a Christian school would be built at Red Bird. She said that God had assured her that her prayers offered at this wayside altar would be answered. (3)
   Aunt Carrie Knuckles also prayed that her children would have a chance to attend a school and Sunday School near their home. Years later, when her children did have this opportunity and later grew up into fine, useful citizens, she said, "I cannot express in words my appreciation for this school. Sometimes we can't see our prayers answered for a long time, but we must never give up for God is before us leading us gently over."  (4)
    So it was that God answered these prayers and sent the Evangelical Church into the Cumberland Mountains of Kentucky into the area called Red Bird. The first workers arrived on July 1, 1921. Rev. J. J. DeWall was the first pastor appointed to the Mission and served as superintendent from 1921 until his death in 1928. Under his leadership a pattern was set that continues today. Led by the Holy Spirit, Rev. & Mrs. DeWall demonstrated the purpose of Red Bird - to bring Jesus Christ into every heart and to bring life abundant to all. (5)
    Since its early days Red Bird Mission has worked to meet the health care needs of people in the Red Bird River Valley. Soon after teachers came, nurses and doctors arrived. Red Bird medical work began in 1922  with Miss Lydia Rice, RN as the first medical worker. Dr. Harlan Heim joined the staff in 1926. The first hospital was built at Beverly in 1928 but for many years, calls to mountain homes were made by medical staff on horseback.
    In 1968 the Evangelical United Brethren Churches united with the Methodist Church to become the United Methodist Church. Local churches in the area were reorganized under the name of the Red Bird Missionary Conference. In 1973 the Conference, under Superintendent John Bischoff, became the umbrella organization for the total mission program, including former Methodist work at Henderson Settlement across the mountains at Frakes, KY.
    In 1975 Red Bird Hospital, later to be renamed Red Bird Mountain Medical Center, was incorporated separately and became the third agency of the Red Bird Missionary Conference. The Hospital operated until 1986 when in-patient services were discontinued for economic reasons. In 2000, Red Bird Mountain Medical Center was renamed to Red Bird Clinc, Inc. to more correctly reflect its activities and still operates today as an out-patient ministry.
    In 1981 the school and gymnasium on the Beverly Campus were destroyed by fire. For two years school was held in temporary facilities on the Queendale Campus. The present school building was dedicated in 1983. The School continued to operate as a Settlement school until 1988 when it became a Christian mission school funded by Red Bird Mission and income-based tuition. Red Bird Mission School, grades K-12, is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the United Methodist Church.
    The community outreach ministries have grown to be a significant part of the overall ministries in recent years. The clothing and craft ministries increased in scope after moving into the current facilities on Queendale Center.  The craft program has grown in recent years through in-church craft fairs. The ministries to the elderly and families of our community have flourished in the 1990’s. The DeWall Senior Citizens Center started operations in 1991 and the Red Bird Elderly Housing apartments were opened in 1996.  The Work Camp program has grown to over 2500 participants annually. Our education, health, and community outreach ministries continue to address the needs of the community today.

Endnotes:
(1) Roberta Schaeffer, The Story of Red Bird Mission (1980), 1
(2) Ibid., 3
(3) Ibid., 3
(4) Ibid., 4
(5) Ibid., 4, 5, 10
To purchase The Story of Red Bird Mission by Roberta Schaeffer and other books of interest visit the Red Bird Mission Craft Store.