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!
Moving From Ministry FOR Our Neighbors to Ministry WITH Our Neighbors
In March, none of us imagined that social distancing, mask-wearing, and living in a new normal would still be happening come September. Or maybe we didn’t want to imagine such a world. As hard as it has been for our worship services, Bible studies, and small groups,...
Q&A With Liza Godwin, Ozark Mission Project
How long have you been involved with the Ozark Mission Project and what roles have you held in the organization? I’ve been involved since 1995 as a camper parent, I then volunteered at the North Little Rock camp for several years by helping to provide a meal during...
Solid Tips for Creating A Healthy Online Presence
A few weeks ago, the Rev. Todd Vick of Lakeside UMC sent me a “tweet” that had recently gotten a lot of engagement. It was shared by a layperson who I do not know and it read: “If you are looking for a church home, along with the usual things to weigh, I would add one...
Cross-Racial, Cross-Cultural Appointments Offer A Chance To Grow In Understanding and Compassion
Clergy Offer Advice for Welcoming Them Into New Appointments
The Rev. Andrea' Cummings wants to be treated just the same as any other pastor moving into a new appointment. The 39-year-old elder is the new associate pastor at First United Methodist Church Bentonville and, along with new senior pastor the Rev. J.J. Whitney, leads...
New Perspectives Can Lead to Changed Hearts
For the past couple of months, I’ve been doing some real soul-searching about what it means to have privilege and how I have failed to examine that privilege in my day-to-day interactions with my neighbors who are people of color. Like many others who identify as...
Nothing Can be Changed Until it is Faced
James Baldwin once wrote: “Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced” These words written many years ago have not lost their relevance or intuitive foresight as we are faced with addressing the issues of systemic racism....
The Year Topsy-Turvy Became Normal
A lot of things have changed in the last five months. Not just a little, but a lot. I don’t think it’s an overreach to say 2020 is the year topsy-turvy became normal! Think of all that has changed the last five months. COVID-19 has dramatically altered our daily...
Let Your Neighbors Know You’re Here by Adding Your Logo to Your Church Vehicle
You may think that church vans are sitting alone in empty church parking lots out in the hot summer sun. Of course, we are not using them to pick up and deliver children, youth, and adults to our buildings or events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so why would they...
Churches Adapt to Changing Environment with Virtual VBS
Here's How Lakewood and First UMC Bentonville Found Success Through an Online Platform
According to the latest information from the CDC, children are less susceptible to infections by the COVID-19 virus. However, that doesn’t mean there is no risk, which is why many United Methodist Churches are opting out of in-person Vacation Bible Schools this year,...
Churches Need to Be There for Kids, and Parents, When School Returns
“What will school look like this year?” This seems to be the question on every parent, teacher, and administrator’s mind. I’d also argue that it needs to be the question on every church’s mind as we enter into the fall. When I learned I’d be working with 200K More...