Friends of Korea Day Planned
There will be a Celebration of Arkansas Korean Day with Friends of Korea on Saturday, August 13, 2022, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at MacArthur Park in Little Rock. This special event will include a ceremony in honor of Arkansas Korean Day, followed by opportunities to experience Korean culture through food, music, dance, fashion, […]
Let’s Talk About ARORA’s Registration Kiosks!
We’re entering the dog days of summer! The stifling heat, humidity, and long days are enough to demand most of us stay indoors or find some breezy shade. Luckily, our ARORA registration kiosks are all located on the INSIDE of buildings across Arkansas, keeping you cool while you register to save lives. Chances are, there’s […]
Obituary – Jeffrey Blassingame
Jeffery Lynn Blassingame was born on July 10, 1952, in Washington D.C to Ida Frances Toms and Mack Blassingame. Jeff had an illustrious career in the United States Army, where he earned the rank of Master Sargent, before retiring after 22 years of dedicated service. Jeff settled in Fort Smith Arkansas, after retiring from the […]
Obituary – Rev. Dr. Kurt Boggan
Fellow United Methodists remember the Rev. Dr. William Kurt Boggan as a gifted church leader who was committed to serving God and God’s people. Even in retirement, he continued in pastoral work with some of the most vulnerable communities in Arkansas. Boggan, who went by Kurt, passed away from COVID-19 on July 20, 2022 in […]
Obituary – Gwendolyn “Gwen” Efird
Gwendolyn “Gwen” Jane Lapham Efird left her earthly life to return to her creator on June 24, 2022 following a courageous struggle with Dementia. She was born on December 13, 1933 in Eastport, New York to Harold Church Lapham and Estelle Andrews Lapham. She grew up in Islip with her siblings Evelyn, Bob and Harold. […]
Boy Scouts of America Affiliation updates
July 13, 2022 BSA Newsletter Article For churches currently chartering a BSA unit or considering doing so in the future, the new Affiliation Agreement and Facilities Use Agreement are finally here. These agreements, along with a helpful flowchart to guide your decision-making process, can be found at Scouting · United Methodist Men. For all churches […]
Church and Society Announces 2022 Grant Funding Cycle
Grants support local UMC churches, annual conferences, caucuses and community partners to further ministries of justice and peace
The timeframe to submit grant applications to The General Board of Church and Society is August 1, 2022 to September 16, 2022 via our new online application system opening on our website (Grants page) August 1, 2022. Funding is provided through three grant programs Ethnic Local Church Grants focus on the self-identified needs of ethnic […]
Project Transformation
contributed by Rev. Sam Meadows, Executive Director, Project Transformation Arkansas A few weeks ago, someone asked me how the first summer of Project Transformation Arkansas was going and I replied, “It’s a mess, but it’s a beautiful mess.” If you’ve ever tried to start something that you weren’t quite sure what to expect, you’ll know this […]
Obituary – Mary Alice “Cookie” Ferguson
Mary Alice “Cookie” Ferguson, 85, of Pearcy, joined the Church Triumphant on July 10, 2022. She was born September 6, 1936 in Deere, AR to John and Marvell McElhaney. Cookie was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, William (Sonny) Cooke, of Mountain Home. At Little Rock in 1956, Cookie met the love […]
‘Ainise ‘Isama’u once doubted her church’s women’s organization. Now she is its national president.
From United Women in Faith's July/August issue of "response" by Paul Jeffrey
When ‘Ainise ‘Isama’u was first invited to a meeting of United Methodist Women, she just said no. “Brenda Tuita invited me to an event they were having, and I said, ‘That’s cool, but no thanks,’” said ‘Isama’u. “She kept inviting me anyway. I told her, ‘Nah. They are too b-o-r-i-n-g.’ She said, ‘Just try it, […]