In small-town Missouri, a collision of cultures

[coalition_unwilling]

8. I actually grew up in the area and, from what I remember, the Mega Churches were

not that big a presence (unless one counts Oral Roberts in Tulsa as a 'mega-church'). What I remember were the huge number of small, unaffiliated charismatic and evangelical churches that littered the landscape. Southern Baptist was the largest denomnation in my town (Lamar) but the snake handlers and tongue-speakers were not far behind.

Lutherans and Episcopalians had a nominal presence there, but Jews and Catholics? Forget about it.

A very backward place. The ministers were among the best educated (and that ain't saying much), altho I had a few good high school teachers.

I haven't been back in well over 20 years. Last time I was there, a WalMart on the outskirts of town had devastated the local economy of small shopkeepers. Bunch of empty storefronts on the town square.