Narrative Summary
Interview with Lovell Mountcastle by Megan Mountcastle
Lovell Mountcastle is a woman who just happens to be my grandmother. She was born
in Oklahoma. She is a born and raised Christian, and has never gone a day in her life without
reading the Bible and talking with God through prayer. She is currently in her 58 th year of both
full-time ministry and marriage.
Growing up, her mother was a big influence in her life, always making sure they went to
church every week and attended most church functions. She graduated from Sulfur High School
in 1952 and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio were she attended Cincinnati Bible College and met the
love of her life, Howard Mountcastle. Together, they moved to Joplin, Missouri and attended
Ozark Bible College which she graduated from in 1956. From there, the two got married and
began their ministry together.
They have a unique kind of ministry. Instead of finding a church to minister to and
staying there until they retire, Howard and Lovell stay at a church until they feel as though they
have done everything for the people there that they can, and then they move on to another
church. Because of this, they have lived in many places across the Midwest: Mountain Home,
Arkansas; Mexico, Missouri; Verona, Missouri; Arlington, Indiana; San Antonio, Texas; and
Sapulpa, Oklahoma; to name a few. Between the years 1984 and 1988, Lovell went to Lyon
College in Batesville, Arkansas where she got her degree in education.
The couple has four kids, three girls and one boy (my father). All of their kids are of the
Christian faith and attend church regularly.
They have many grandkids and a few great-
grandkids. They are both still in the ministry full-time and show no signs of retiring any time
soon. They currently reside in Caruthersville, Missouri where they minister to the First Christian
Church. Howard is the lead minister of the church, and Lovell has no official position, other
Missouri State University
Semester 20##
Religious Lives of Ozarks Women
2
than Sunday school teacher.
However, the two have a partner style ministry and discuss
everything together before deciding on a course of action. It has never bothered Lovell that her
husband has more influence in the church and at home. She feels as though that is the way that
God designed it and she is comfortable with that. The way that she holds on to her faith through
any obstacle or trial is encouraging and inspiring to all people, no matter the religion, and I think
that her story will continue to be a light and an inspiration for years to come.
Missouri State University
Semester 20##
Religious Lives of Ozarks Women