POSTPONED: The Lights of Arkansas: “Living As if the Gospel is True” with Rev. Mike Mather & De’Amon Harges
All, thank you for your interest in participating in the Lights of Arkansas on September 20. We have decided to postpone the September 20th training in Conway. We are restructuring how we can share the knowledge and experience of Rev. Mike Mather and De’Amon Harges with you and your fellow United Methodists throughout the connection. The costs for our facilitators’ being in Arkansas is an investment of time and resources that we would like to maximize. This decision was made with the input of the Executive Committee, including Bishop Merrill, recognizing the success of hosting regional meetings with the OMQ trainings. We will be restructuring Lights of Arkansas for regional opportunities in 2026, as noted below. If you paid at registration, you will be refunded the registration fee.
Don’t be disheartened, we do have a plan! Look for specific dates for these training opportunities for asking One More Question to build meaningful relationships and partnerships through outreach.
Neighboring Jump Start Zoom: Sundays, November 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2:00-3:30. Free but registration required. Discover in this 4-week Zoom cohort experience an introduction to the theology behind “neighboring” and ways to connect with neighbors around you as you grow your neighboring team. You will take a small step in connecting with a neighbor each week and then share stories to celebrate as you learn and grow. Rev. Sarah Ellzey, a trained facilitator for The Good Neighbor Experiment and a pastor at Paragould UMC, will be your host! Register here.
Lights of Arkansas Regional Trainings to be scheduled in 2026:
Lights of Arkansas: Dates to be determined. Look for podcast-style Zooms with Harges and Mather throughout the year, and 4 regional trainings to be scheduled in the fall of 2026. You are welcome at any of the trainings if the closest to you does not work with your calendar. We will not offer the in-depth cohort experience previously advertised, instead offering the 4 regional trainings.
One More Question Regional Trainings with New Tools to be scheduled for Spring 2026:
The AR trained facilitators for the Good Neighbor Experiment will be scheduling 4 regional trainings around the state. We plan to offer a different agenda, one that appeals to new folks as well as those already trained in the introductory neighboring tools and the ReCycle, which is a community discernment process. We want to welcome all who are new to neighboring and those who want to continue on with this journey of neighboring.
Feel free to email or call with any questions you may have.
Peace to you,
Mary Lewis
Thank you to The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas for the support to make these training opportunities happen.