Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Bostian Recognized For Community Service
PRAIRIE GROVE — Keith Bostian, worship minister with Prairie Grove Christian Church, volunteers in the community in a number of ways, from coaching cross country for the high school to building houses locally and in disaster areas to playing guitar for the nursing home once a month.
Prairie Grove City Council honored him for serving the community during last week’s June 18 meeting.
Bostian received the 2018 Buddy Lyle Citizenship Award, given annually to recognize someone who has volunteered time and service to make the city a better place.
“He is a good fit for what we want that award to stand for,” said Mayor Sonny Hudson, who led a committee to select this year’s recipient. “He represents the Buddy Lyle Citizenship Award very well.”
The Council created the award in memory of Buddy Lyle, who passed away in June 2014. Lyle was active in the community as a member of the City Council and Prairie Grove Chamber of Commerce. He delivered Meals on Wheels and was active in his church, First Presbyterian Church.
Pat Lyle, who served on the selection committee, said she was not aware of the many ways Bostian volunteers in the community until the committee started finding out more information about him.
“Gosh, he never stops,” she said. “He’s everywhere. He’s just
the most caring person I’ve ever known.”
Hudson presented Bostian with a plaque that pointed to Bostian’s willingness to give selflessly to numerous civic endeavors in Prairie Grove and his tireless manner in helping many people of the community.
Bostian serves as a role model for future volunteers in the city, the plaque states.
The presentation included a list of Bostian’s volunteer activities:
Vice chairman, Board of Directors for LIFE Ministries.
Volunteer assistant coach, cross country for Prairie Grove High.
In charge of the sound equipment for Clothesline Fair square dancing.
Announcer for high school football games.
Organizes the Great Serve for his church, Prairie Grove Christian Church.
Volunteers at the high school and gives guitar lessons to ALE students.
Has organized and built more than 40 houses locally and in disaster areas with the church.
Instrumental in organizing and coordinating Speedy Skunk Run for Meals on Wheels.
Plays guitar at Prairie Grove Health and Rehab Center on a monthly basis.
Hudson and Pat Lyle both said Bostian helps in other ways that are behind the scenes.
The award was a total surprise to Bostian. Hudson asked him to attend the Council meeting to talk about mowing some areas for the city.
“It’s a real honor for me,” Bostian said. “I remember Buddy and I remember what a great citizen he was. It’s very humbling.”
Bostian moved to Prairie Grove 15 years ago to serve at Prairie Grove Christian Church. Previously, he worked at a Christian camp and was a part-time music minister in Conway.
Volunteering in the community is important, Bostian said.
“From the church standpoint, it helps to legitimize the church to the community.”
Being out in the community allows people who do not attend church to see tangible results, Bostian said, adding, “Hopefully, it makes them curious about the church and what it’s all about.”
Prairie Grove is a great place to live, with people caring for other people, Bostian said. As the community grows, he sees this caring attitude also growing.
“People like the idea of helping other people.”
Bostian said one reason the church started its ministry called The Great Serve was to create opportunities for people to help others. The Great Serve is a one-day event where church members go out into the community and volunteer on a number of projects. The ministry grew out of the ice storm many years ago when men of the church went out in the community and cut limbs with their chainsaws.
“We created the Great Serve because we don’t have an ice storm every year,” Bostian said.
Other recipients of the Buddy Lyle Citizenship Award have been Jim and Sharon Glover (2017), Randall Rieff (2016) and Pat Lyle, Lesa Lyle Bement and Gina Lyle-Bailey (2015).