Shannon Tulley: This is Shannon Tulley, I’m interviewing Agnes Chastain we are conducting this interview at Parkview Christian Church. The date is April 27, 2010. This interview is for the Religious Lives of Ozarks Women International Story Telling from the Older to the Younger, conducted through Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. Ok, how long have you been a member of this church?
Agnes Chastain: 47 years.
S: And how did you get involved here?
A: Well, I worked-when I started here, we had searched for a church home. We went back to Carthage for a long time, and I thought, we have to get a church home up here.
S: Uh huh.
A: So, I sang in the choir, and did Sunday school in church until after I got out of-retired, and then I got involved in a calling program that we do on Thursday for our people that are homebound or in hospitals calling on them. And I’m the head of a prayer chain. When there’s a prayer need, they call me and we send it over to people so they can pray for that person.
S:Ok. Have you been involved with other churches or religious organizations?
A: Just, the two other churches. I’ve been with Miller and Carthage.
S: Ok. What is the role of religion in your home when you were-what was the role when you were growing up?
A: What was the role of religion? My mother and father weren’t Christians, but my dad always saw that we went to Sunday school and church. And after he passed away, all mother and us three children were baptized. And so, it’s been great.
S: Ok. And what’s your strongest childhood memory related to God or religion?
A: Well, I remember as growing up we always had vacation bible school. We had Christian Endeavour back then, and-before evening service. And there we’d take trips when we were in Christian Endeavour and go to different towns and all young people attended those, those were good.
S: So, is like Christian Endeavour like youth group, kind of? What we have now?
A: Uh huh.
S: Do you recall any times as a child when things were different for you and your religious role because you were a girl and not a boy?
A: No. I just don’t-no.
S: Ok.
A: It wasn’t. ((chuckle))
S: Do you think you experienced any differences in your religious life because you are a woman?
A: No, I think you can be involved if you’re a woman or a man. We each do our own thing. Everybody’s got their own things that they do. Everybody’s got a talent.
S: Uh Huh.
A: And you need to use that talent.
S: And what challenges or struggles have you faced in your religious life?
A: Well, several. I know some of my not close relatives, but you be-I’ve been made fun of. And that’s okay. Not-with them not being Christians, they didn’t help me. But they didn’t hinder me either, because I knew what I was doing.
S: And what person has the most influence on your religious life?
A: Well, I have several. My mom. A lot of Sunday school teachers, and alot of people in church through the years have taught me a lot, and I’m still learning, you never get to the point where you don’t learn. And I’m so appreciative of everybody that has influenced me in my life.
S: And how is just they teach you…Sorry I can’t read very well. How do you think religious life is different for kids today than it was for you?
A: Much. Much different. We lived in a small town. We didn’t have drug problems. We didn’t have the pressure that the children now have. And we had at that time, everybody sitting around the table and ate all three meals. And we had time to talk. We did everything together as a family. Wherever one was, when dad and mom were both home, and she didn’t work, that was a good time, and a learning time, and I appreciate having that chance to be I mean to talk to me a lot of things I needed to know for later. And families are special. They are.
S: Do you think kids, like, miss out, because of how busy life is?
A: Yes.
S: They miss out on a lot now?
A: See, we didn’t have the activities, in a small town, we did things when we were in school. We did that. But it was just a different life.
S: How would you like this church, Parkview, to remember you?
A: I hope good. I try to be a positive person. That’s half of everybody’s battle. I hope that they will see my love for God and for this body of believers. I’ve been here 47 years.
S: Almost as long as the church has been around.
A: And I’ve seen children, that has been born since I’ve been here that’s so involved with the church today—it’s amazing. And it’s good. And we need to always-to take time to pray for our Christian friends. They need our prayers and they need our encouragement, and we all do.
S: Cool.
A: So it’s-you never get through doing things. It’s just wonderful. I wish that everybody could just be a part of this church. Because you feel the love-if you don’t something’s wrong with you.
S: I agree with you on that one. Well, this was supposed to be half an hour long. It’s been 8 minutes, 10 seconds.
A: ((laughter)) Oh my.
S: I’m not very talkative, so, anything else you want to say?
A: I appreciate all my Sunday school teachers that have taught me, and like I said: you never get too old to-to learn something new. And every time I read my Bible, and I don’t know how many times I’ve read it through, I see something in there every time that I’ve missed, and me and my sister—I’ve got one more sister that’s living-still alive—and we always say somebody’s been messing with my Bible, I don’t remember seeing this in there. And I’ve got a brother-in-law that teaches Sunday school, and I just love him to death and he just knows the Bible and I can go to him and ask him something, and he’ll just tell me. But we’ve got so many nice people. I just wish I wish the best for this church. I hope we’re making a statement here on Cherokee-no it’s-yeah it’s-no it’s Bennett-
S: Uh huh.
A: Here on Bennett and Campbell-I hope we’re making a statement. And our attendance is picking up. It just makes me so glad to see that-young people!
S: Yeah.
A: We need the young people. Beause they’re the future of our church.
S: Ok. I can’t think of any questions. That’s all I-That’s all I’ve got, I think, that I’m supposed to say.
A: I just hope that I’ve done something that has helped or encouraged someone.
S: Well I’m sure you have. It was really nice talking to you-talking about you at lunch and I [inaudible]and had lunch with him and I told him I was interviewing you and he got really excited and said you’re one of his favorite ladies here.
A: Well I like him, too.
S: Yeah, he’s a pretty cool guy.
A: He is. He’s a nice person. And I’ve encouraged him. I said one of these days you’re going to be a minister.
S: And look at him now. ((laugh)) That’s all I have.
A: Ok.
S: You have anything else?
A: I can’t think of anything that I can think of.
S: ((laughter)) ….Well thank you very much.
A: You’re welcome, you’re welcome.
S: Guess this is it.
A: Okay.
S: The end ((chuckle))