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!
Russellville Area Churches Hold Public Act of Prayer in Response to George Floyd Killing
Photo by Jade ChisumThe May 25, 2020 killing of George Perry Floyd at the hands of former Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin set-off nationwide protests in all 50 states and around the world that have lasted for weeks. In Arkansas, the protests have...
What Does It Mean?
A Reflection on the Killing of George Floyd, Racism, and God's Call for Justice
Acts 1:6-8; 2:1-13 In this text, Luke continues his theological conversation about what Jesus did and taught. Luke brings us into the midst of that apostolic band of believers gathered in Jerusalem. They were there for two reasons. First, Jesus told them to wait...
The Second Corinthians Imperative
I have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions the past several months. A broken heart. Anger. Holy outrage. Gratitude. Despair. And more often than I ever would have expected, hope. I suspect you, too, have had many different feelings as you have grieved people who...
Intergenerational Worship Online
Keeping a mix of generations active in your worship
Intergenerational worship is important to in-person worship, and I would say even more important as we venture into online worship. You may be asking yourself, “What is intergenerational worship?” Sarah Flannery writes in her new book “Children and Family Ministry...
Fox & Foal Draw on Methodist Roots for Folk-Inspired Worship
Brook Hobbs and Dave Williams are ready to share their songs with the world
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a struggle for everyone. The entire world, every industry, has been touched by this highly contagious, unseen enemy. It’s not just pastors and churches that have struggled to find ways to connect to their once bustling and vibrant...
Q&A w/ Kayla Hardage
Executive Director of Camp Tanako
Kayla Hardage is the new Executive Director at Camp Tanako in Hot Springs. Hardage, who grew up in White Hall now lives and works at Camp Tanako full-time. In the last 10 years, she has worked for the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. She took some...
New Stories to Tell
It’s been a crazy...seven? Eight weeks? I’ve been doing the same thing for so long that, honestly, at this point time only exists in theory to me. COVID-19 has completely transformed the way Americans, and the world, go about our daily lives. But especially Americans....
Doing Children’s Ministry Differently
Vacation Bible School and Summer Activities
Like all ministry in the days of COVID-19, we have to do things differently when ministering to children. Vacation Bible School will look very different than the traditional “hands-on” approach in years past. Vacation Bible School is a spiritual milestone for kids...
What’s Next?
What's next? That’s a question I’ve asked myself throughout my life, especially when I have reached major milestones. And like me, it’s probably a question you probably are asking right now as you think about what’s next for your church as it prepares to safely reopen...
Hendrix College Junior Competes on ‘Jeopardy!’
A Q&A with Joe Coker
In early April, one of Arkansas’ own got the opportunity to compete on the popular TV trivia show “Jeopardy!” Joe Coker, a junior studying physics at Hendrix College in Conway and son of the Rev. Keith Coker, made it to the 2020 Jeopardy! College Championship,...