The Arkansas United Methodist is the twice-monthly newsletter of the Arkansas Conference that reaches more than 5,000 Arkansas Methodists across our state. Every other week, you’ll receive a newsletter in your inbox packed full of stories from around the Conference, and commentaries from the Bishop, the AUM Editor, clergy, laity and more!
Our goal is to bring hope and inspiration through stories of discipleship. Join us as we share the Good News!
When Life Gives You Lemons
How Two Little Disciples Showed Love in a Big Way
Alyce Read, Ellie Quick, Lawson Quick in front of Lemonade Stand for Drake. More than $1,200 was raised for Drake, who was recently diagnosed with acute leukemia. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! A phrase most of us are familiar with and a motto that has...
Online or In Person, Our Conference Is Connected
Have you ever been to a hybrid Annual Conference, one that takes place both in-person and online? Do you know of any other Annual Conferences that are having hybrid events? Did you even know such a thing was possible? Last week, the Arkansas Annual Conference held its...
The Gift of an Unexpected Pause
There’s “THE QUESTION” that overshadows everything in the Arkansas Conference, “What is the future of the United Methodist Church going to be – and when is it finally going to be decided?” The fact that we cannot answer it – and anyone who tells you otherwise is just wrong – has led to uncertainty, anxiety, frustration, anger and impatience.
Q&A w/ Kelly Murray-Norman
Summer Intern with the Center for Communication
The Center for Communication at the Arkansas Conference is happy to announce our communications intern for summer 2021. Kelly Murray-Norman is currently a student at Hendrix College studying psychology and plans on graduating in 2022. She is from White Hall, Arkansas, and is the daughter of the Rev. Mark Norman and the Rev. Natasha Murray.
Churches Step Up Summer Ministries for Kids
Feeding and Literacy Ministries Take Priority for United Methodist Churches in Arkansas
The Rev. Zach Roberts and a team of volunteers have been partnering with New Mount Olive Baptist Church in Blytheville to make sure kids doing school work at the local library are fed during the weekday. Pictured from left to right are Bill "Big Daddy" Kenner and Beth...
Filling in the Gaps
A Few Simple Ways to Keep Kids Fed and Enriched this Summer
Photo by Olivia Bauso on UnsplashSummer. It always seems full of possibilities, especially for kids. With the school year done, students can spend time growing and learning in new ways, whether that’s in sports or camps, exploring the outdoors, or traveling. However,...
Geyer Springs UMC Honored at 2021 Empty Bowls Event
As the pandemic raged on in 2020, United Methodist Churches across our conference stepped up to fill the gaps in food security that families and individuals were experiencing in Arkansas. Because of Geyer Springs United Methodist Church’s strong commitment to fighting...
They’re Just Words – Or Are They?
It seems that almost every United Methodist meeting I attend these days includes the following words and phrases: liminal, asynchronous, actionable, emotional intelligence, nimble, new normal, transparent, and adaptive. In fact, I even use them myself. And while they can be helpful in describing the world in which the church finds itself, I am increasingly convinced we also need to employ the language of faith. The reason is simple. How we talk about something goes a long way in determining what we actually do about it.
There Is No Planet B
Net-Zero Emissions Is Admirable, but More Can Be Done
In a recent statement, 11 General Agencies of The United Methodist Church pledged to achieve net-zero emissions across ministries, facilities, operations, and investments by the year 2050.
The pledge, “Our Climate Commitment to Net-Zero Emissions,” is signed by General Secretaries for each of the 11 Agencies. Two of the Agencies, The General Commission on Religion & Race and The United Methodist Publishing House, have not yet signed on to the pledge, but a press release stated that other Agencies were actively considering endorsing the statement.
Camp Tanako Is a Blessing to Children’s Ministry
Camp Tanako is a blessing to the Children’s Ministry in Arkansas because they specialize in elementary-age camping ministry most of the summer.