written by Rev. Bill Sardin, First UMC Morrilton
This year’s Community Thanksgiving Worship Service, held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Morrilton, brought together congregations from across Conway County for an evening of shared gratitude and worship. Churches representing several Christian traditions filled the sanctuary—Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, and Catholic—each offering their voices, prayers, and presence. For many who attended, the service was more than a cherished annual tradition; it was a glimpse of what Christian unity can look like when we come together in humility and hope.
Before the service began, as we clergy were putting on our robes and preparing for worship, a conversation unfolded. We shared with one another the many ministries happening in our individual churches—food pantries, community meals, youth programs, prison ministries, foster-care support, outreach to the unhoused, and countless acts of compassion that often go unseen. As we listened, it became clear just how much good is already being done in our county—and how much more we could accomplish by working together.
During this conversation, Rev. Greg Raglon of Greater Union Hill Baptist Church remarked that we should begin coordinating our efforts so our ministries could complement each other rather than operate in isolation. I agreed wholeheartedly and suggested that we should revive something that once served this community well: the Conway County Ministerial Alliance.
A decade ago, the Alliance was a vibrant partnership among local pastors. Unfortunately, it dissolved when First Presbyterian Church called a woman to serve as their pastor—an issue that caused division at the time. Today, thankfully, this group of pastors is far more inclusive, collaborative, and eager to honor the diverse leadership God places among us. The change in spirit was unmistakable that night.
The sense of unity moved quickly from conversation to action. Immediately following the Community Thanksgiving Worship Service—while the laity enjoyed fellowship and refreshments—the clergy gathered briefly and set a date for our first meeting. On Tuesday, January 13, in the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church of Morrilton, the Conway County Ministerial Alliance will officially reconvene.
There was a genuine excitement in the room—not just about meeting together, but about what this renewed partnership can mean for Conway County. When churches stand side by side, sharing their gifts instead of competing for influence, the Kingdom of God becomes visible in powerful ways. This revived Alliance holds the promise of deeper relationships among pastors, better coordination of ministries, and a unified Christian witness rooted in compassion, justice, and love.
A new season of hopefulness has begun. God is doing something fresh among the churches of Conway County, and together, we look forward to all the ways this partnership will bless our neighbors and strengthen our community.