Submitted by Rev. Susan Ledbetter, Chair of Nominations Committee
Last year, the Barnabas Award committee determined that there should be both a clergy and a laity recipient of the Barnabas Award each year. The recognition is given to individuals who “have a heart for pastors.” It is awarded to those who foster callings, offer encouragement, occasional correction/edification, and exemplify grace and loving-kindness. They are persons whose legacy is a stronger and better-equipped clergy AND lay ministry contingent serving our Arkansas churches.
The 2025 Laity Barnabas Award is given, posthumously, to Paula K. Nichols. Paula served on the staff of First United Methodist Church of Benton for well over 35 years. In that time, Paula’s main ministry was as the membership secretary, and she was extraordinarily gifted at welcoming new people to the church, providing care, support, and connection with an incredible spiritual gift of hospitality. One nomination read, “Through her genuine connections with the congregation, she knew their families, their struggles, and what would work and what would not.” But without it being spelled out in her job description, one of Paula’s greatest services to the local church, and by extension, the greater connection of Arkansas UMCs, was to be a minister to ministers.
Every children’s minister, youth minister, music minister, associate pastor, and senior pastor who had the opportunity to serve Benton FUMC while Paula was on staff was indelibly shaped by Paula’s support and encouragement. As pastors and program staff, and young people who grew up at Benton FUMC and went into ministry, all fanned out into other churches and contexts across the Conference, Paula’s modeled gifts of encouragement and non-judgmental support went with them.
Those who nominated Paula elevated a common theme about her grace and style:
Said one, “She demonstrated that a lot of people’s problems could be resolved or lessened with a willingness to listen and a little empathy. They usually left her presence encouraged and in a better state of being.”
Another wrote, “She made ministry more than just service; she taught me that it can be a shared journey of faith and companionship. Her presence was never aggressive; she had a way of offering grace and kindness that brought the most difficult questions to a gentler conclusion.”
“She was the trusted sounding board not only for me but for many clergy members who sought her wisdom and thoughtful perspective.”
Paula was an intensely private person. One would feel compelled to sit on the couch in Paula’s office and unburden themselves of deep fears, conflicts, and issues, and KNOW that she would NEVER say a word to anyone else. But she also very rarely shared about herself or sought attention. A fellow servant at the church stated, “If she knew that she was being considered for this award, she would not feel that she deserves this recognition; however, those who have been touched by her life would disagree with her. She always gave credit and praise first to her Lord, and then to the people around her.”
The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” This could be Paula’s biography.