General Board of Global Ministries Awards Arkansas Churches Emergency Feeding Grants
As Arkansans are still reeling from the effects of the longest federal shutdown in American history, the General Board of Global Ministries has awarded grants to some ARUMC feeding ministries to provide support during this time, when keeping food on the table is becoming increasingly difficult. Rev. Paul Marshall, who is the pastor of Hays […]
First UMC Texarkana Revives Rotating Art Wall With Powerful Gary Bachers Exhibition
written by Rev. Jaimie Alexander In 2019, First United Methodist Church in Texarkana, AR developed an Art Wall to display artwork and paintings from around the church campus. The pandemic disrupted the rotation of the display of art from various artists in the congregation and community. In 2025, the rotating art wall at First UMC Texarkana was reintroduced […]
Sewing Hope: Conway United Women in Faith Craft Tote Bags for Life-Changing Guatemala Stove Mission
written by Colleen Holt and Debbie Bartrow The United Women in Faith, Nell Dyer Circle, at Conway First United Methodist Church recently provided an opportunity for people to be a part of the church’s upcoming Guatemala Stove Builders Mission team, even if they will be unable to travel to Guatemala in January to help build […]
Laity in Leadership: Mary Lewis Dassinger, Nine Years of Service to the ARUMC
*Writer’s note: On December 31, 2025, Mary Lewis Dassinger will be leaving her position as Outreach Specialist on staff of the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Please reach out to her at mdassinger@arumc.org to send her your well wishes on her new journey ahead. And you may send cards to Mary Lewis Dassinger […]
A Christmas List of Books by Arkansas United Methodist Pastors
During the last year(s), several of our ARUMC clergy have written devotions, papers, studies, and stories in book form, each a blessing in its own way. We want to celebrate our clergy who have shared pieces of their spiritual life with us and encourage you to consider adding these books to your Christmas list for […]
Leading from the Pocket: Learning to Create a Culture of Renewal
by Rev. Lyn Poplin We are deeply grateful to the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas (MFA) for making it possible for five Arkansas United Methodist pastors to participate in Creating a Culture of Renewal® (CCR). Through this generous grant, these pastors have the opportunity to engage in a three-year journey designed to transform congregations from the […]
A New Season of Partnership Among Conway County Churches
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. […]
Bay UMC Young Adult Sunday
Compiled by Amy Ezell and Rev. Pamela Lamb Two years ago, a simple idea turned into a movement. By asking her older adult members of Bay UMC to share the names of their current unchurched family members and friends, Pastor Pamela Lamb wrote letters of invitation to young adults (20–40ish) to attend church for just […]
Breaking records at this year’s Ingathering
On Saturday, November 15, United Methodists all over Arkansas gathered in Conway for the annual Ingathering event. Churches dropped off 195 completed buckets, and volunteers helped pack more! “We had only four kits on the empty shelves when we started the month of November,” said Shelley Lee, ARUMC co-coordinator for Volunteers in Mission and Disaster […]
One Church, Two Campuses: Resurrection Hope in Fort Smith
written by James Sawyer, Pinnacle View UMC communications director When the members of Fort Smith First United Methodist Church (FSFUMC) and Faith United Methodist Church began talking earlier this year, they weren’t just planning an administrative merger. They were listening for the Spirit’s whisper of resurrection. Today, that whisper has become a song of new […]