Arkansas United Methodist
The Arkansas United Methodist is the monthly publication of the Arkansas Conference, designed to bring the good news of the faith and witness of United Methodists across our state.
It’s Still About Your Church
I am ready to admit something I’ve been in denial about for a long time. Even though I’ve invested a great deal of blood, sweat and tears trying, I simply cannot fix what’s broken in the United Methodist Church. I can’t fix the polarization that now imprisons us. I...
FUMC Springdale Renovates 80-Year-Old Chapel for Modern Use
The Chancel Choir led by the Rev. Danny Reding, Associate Pastor for Worship Ministries, performed for the Chapel dedication.. || Photo by Lori KrieThe trio of windows in the balcony of the chapel are original to the building. They were created by Jacoby Art Glass in...
New Executive Director for Hot Springs Nonprofit is Servant-Minded
Kim Carter is the new executive director of Cooperative Christian Ministries and Clinic in Hot Springs. She replaces Lynn Blankenship, who retired to move back to Oklahoma City to be closer to family. CCMC is a nonprofit organization that focuses on poverty reduction...
Methodist Thrift Shop Raises More Than $1 Million in 10 Years
For more than 70 years, the Clinton United Methodist Church’s Thrift Shop has been serving the mountain community of Clinton, Arkansas with low-cost goods and generous grants that are given back to their neighbors in need. The thrift shop, which was started and is...
Seniors Day Out Gets Older Citizens Up and About
The older we get, the more we convert back to our younger selves. At least, that’s the thought behind the Seniors Day Out program at Trinity United Methodist Church in Little Rock. “It is the little things that make them happy,” said volunteer Jenny Sweatland. “They...
Family, Faith and Fresh Baked Bread
South Main's Community Bakery is an important cornerstone of a revitalized neighborhood
In 2018, things were going pretty well for John and Juli Brandenberger. Both of them had comfy, good-paying jobs, -- John at Dillard’s Corporate Office and Juli a CPA with her own accounting firm -- stable day-to-day work schedules, and plenty of reasons to continue...
Saline County Cares Hosts Resource Fair at Benton First UMC
On Nov. 12, Benton First UMC, in partnership with Saline County Cares, hosted a Community Resource Fair at the church. The fair featured more than 25 vendors, including nonprofits, businesses and government agencies. The goal of the fair is to provide resources for...
Order to the Disorder
Hope. Peace. Joy. Love. After some significant debate, that is what we settled on, this group of pastors who was trying to remember the order of the words associated with each of the weeks of Advent. Just for good measure, I checked the source of all knowledge these...
Advent Is Where We Live
We live in a world of uncertainty. We never know what the next day—or even the next hour—will bring. Not a week goes by that I don’t have to deal with someone whose world, in a moment, has radically and forever changed. A healthy, strong retiree suffers a debilitating...
Free Breakfast, Every Saturday
Batesville UMC Has Been Cooking Up Hot Meals for Their Community Every Weekend for 7 Years
Every Saturday morning, Batesville United Methodist Church hosts a free breakfast for the community. They make enough eggs, bacon, sausage, gravy and the like to serve 80 people. “And we serve all the meals on glass plates and glass coffee cups,” said organizer Mike...