In the wake of disaffiliation tensions across the United Methodist Church, Jacksonville First United Methodist Church experienced a season of uncertainty that ultimately gave way to renewed ministry, deeper engagement and expanding outreach.
Rev. Melanie Tubbs said the congregation faced significant challenges as some members chose to leave during the disaffiliation process. The church lost attendance and several major financial contributors, raising concerns about sustainability.
“At one point, we were getting nervous about how things looked,” Rev. Tubbs said.
Yet even as those concerns grew, something unexpected was happening within the congregation.
“While all of that was going on, the ministries of the church were quietly expanding and growing,” she said.
Tubbs and office administrator Heather Sampson said the shift created space for new voices and new leadership. Members who had not previously been active began stepping forward, volunteering and launching new ideas for ministry.
“It’s not always the majority that sets the tone,” Rev. Tubbs said. “It’s like the squeaky wheel – the loudest get the most attention,” Tubbs said.
When that dynamic changed, others found the confidence to serve.
The church’s food ministry is one of the clearest examples of that growth. What began as a small effort has expanded significantly. In 2025 alone, the congregation distributed more than 9,000 pounds of food through its pantry. Mission 5000, the church’s weekly prepared meal program, has also grown rapidly. Once serving about 100 meals per week, it now provides between 280 and 300 meals weekly, with additional deliveries for those unable to attend in person.
Despite the increase, all these ministries continue to operate primarily through donations.
“The fact that it tripled and our volunteers have been able to meet that need is really fabulous,” Rev. Tubbs said.
The church also partners ecumenically with other congregations, including First Presbyterian in Jacksonville, which supplies fresh produce from its community garden.
Sampson said one of the most impactful ministries is the church’s “community post office,” which provides a mailing address for people experiencing homelessness. Participants receive a labeled envelope and can have mail, medications and important documents sent to the church. Volunteers also safeguard medications, allowing individuals to pick up weekly supplies.
“You can’t get a job, you can’t get anything if you don’t have an address,” Sampson said. “This way, we can help them get access to programs and resources for which they are eligible, and they can get off the street and into a home of their own if they would like.”
The program has helped individuals secure identification, access medical care and even return to stable housing. In one case, a man who had been living on the street was able to find employment and no longer needed assistance.
Another growing ministry is the church’s involvement with CarePortal, a network that connects churches with needs identified by the Arkansas Department of Human Services. Through this program, Jacksonville First UMC has provided beds, appliances and other essentials to families at risk of having children removed from their family homes.
“It doesn’t take much sometimes to keep a family together,” Sampson said.
Congregants regularly donate items and volunteer to deliver and set them up, often going beyond what is requested by providing bedding and household supplies.
Additional ministries include utility assistance, a diaper and baby supply room and meal kits assembled from low-cost ingredients with recipes from content creator Dollar Tree Dinners. Many of these efforts are supported by members on fixed incomes who contribute in simple but meaningful ways.
“They can take a bag and fill it with a few items and bring it back,” Tubbs said.
The church averages about 70 in-person worshippers each week, yet its reach extends far beyond Sunday attendance.
“There are some very dedicated volunteers who keep it all going,” Sampson said.
Both leaders said the experience has reshaped the congregation’s identity, focusing it more deeply on mission and service.
“You don’t have to have a plan. Just plant the seed,” Tubbs said.
Sampson echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that opportunities to serve exist in every community.
“If you have a heart for service, there are ways to volunteer,” she said.
What began as a difficult season has become a time of growth as Jacksonville First UMC continues to follow Christ by meeting tangible needs and building relationships in its community.