Long celebrating 25th year with Church Alive

The Church Alive is celebrating Pastor Randy Long's 25th anniversary with the church.

Long moved from St. Louis to Conway in 1984 to become the pastor, which was then Harlan Park Assembly of God on Dave Ward Drive. In 1999, the church moved to its location on Highway 65.

Long said the church had 50 or 60 members in 1984.

"There are over 500 now, and about 1,000 people call that their church home," Long said. "It's come a long way for us."

He said he was 23 years old when he became pastor. Before that he had been an associate pastor in St. Louis for three years.

"This is my first church to be a senior pastor. They took a big chance," Long said. "Conway has been good to us. We have had three children born here, two that graduated high school here. Our son (Ryan) graduated from UCA. Our youngest one is in sixth grade."

Long and his wife, Patty, have three children, Ryan, 24, Vanessa, 22, and Michael, 12.

He added, "I had no idea we would come to Arkansas. When the call came for us to interview the moment we drove into the city, we knew we were coming here."

He concluded, "It feels like to me that I've only been here a few months. I can't believe where the 25 years have gone. The opportunity and the mission, the vision is greater than ever before. I still feel fresh. I feel like I have more than ever to do. This week I traveled out of state. I always look forward to coming to Conway."

On Sunday, the church will recognize Long's accomplishments in the morning service, and a lunch in his honor will follow the service.