The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas

06/09/2026

Internationally bestselling author and award-winning teacher and storyteller Matthew Dicks will speak at Hendrix College Monday, October 5, 2026, at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, with no reservation required.

He will also serve as the featured leader of this year’s John and Marjem Gill Preaching Workshop, which begins earlier in the day on October 5 and concludes Tuesday afternoon, October 6. Find details and registration at www.hendrix.edu/gillworkshop.

In addition to his storytelling and writing, Matthew Dicks brings a unique perspective as an award-winning elementary school teacher with 27 years of experience. He helps organizations unlock the transformative potential of storytelling to inspire leadership, foster innovation, and elevate communication.

A 62-time Moth StorySLAM champion and 10-time GrandSLAM champion, Matthew’s storytelling expertise and captivating style have been showcased on NPR’s The Moth Radio Hour and PBS’s Stories from the Stage. As the co-founder of Speak Up and founder and CEO of Storyworthy, he has trained leaders and teams worldwide to transform complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives that drive results.

His visit is co-sponsored by the Compelling Preaching Initiative (CPI), which is funded by a grant from Lilly Endowment and administered by the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas. CPI seeks to build the capacity for bold, innovative preaching within Arkansas United Methodist clergy to transform churches and communities. It is co-sponsored by the Hendrix College Office of Religious Life and its John and Marjem Gill Preaching Workshop, which since 1984 has aimed to strengthen the United Methodist Church by enhancing clergy’s ability to proclaim the gospel in ways that are relevant to the needs of our time, and to enhance dialogue and fellowship among clergy colleagues.

“We are deeply grateful that, over 40 years ago, John and Marjem Gill recognized the life-changing power of the stories we tell, as they so generously took the step of providing for this preaching workshop, reaching thousands of lives through preachers and communities of faith across our region,” said Chaplain of the College the Rev. Ellen Alston. “The Compelling Preaching Initiative’s partnership offers enhanced opportunities for these two days together. We’ll explore the power and craft of story with Matthew Dicks as our uniquely gifted leader, while deepening connections with colleagues in shared leadership and ministry.”

“Matthew Dicks is a phenomenal practitioner of storytelling,” said the Rev. J.J. Whitney, who has served as the Compelling Preaching Initiative project director for MFA since the grant’s inception. “We have used his best practices in our work with clergy in the Compelling Preaching Initiative and felt like his presence would be a great gift to Arkansas clergy at the Gill Preaching Workshop. We are thrilled that he agreed to lead us!”

06/07/2026

ICYMI….

⚠️ Scholarship alert! ⚠️️ First qualification: Arkansas UM churches that have never attended Leadership Institute at Resurrection (a United Methodist congregation in Leawood, Kansas). Learn more at https://methodistfoundationar.org/news-and-events/mfa-to-offer-scholarships-to-leadership-institute-at-resurrection.

06/06/2026

⚠️ Scholarship alert! ⚠️️ First qualification: Arkansas UM churches that have never attended Leadership Institute at Resurrection (a United Methodist congregation in Leawood, Kansas). Learn more at https://methodistfoundationar.org/news-and-events/mfa-to-offer-scholarships-to-leadership-institute-at-resurrection.

06/04/2026

Applications are now open for the fourth and final cohort of the Compelling Preaching Initiative! The two-year, Lilly Endowment-funded experience is open to 12 UMC clergy currently under appointment in the Arkansas Conference. Details at:
https://methodistfoundationar.org/compelling-preaching-initiative

06/03/2026

The Foundation loves seeing the success of this ministry, which was launched with help from our grants program!

Friends, help us celebrate the 1-Year Anniversary of the Lil' Rock 'n Roll Wash Van! Over the past year, we've completed more than 400 loads of laundry, and we could not have touched so many lives without your support, encouragement, and generosity. A special shout-out goes to our incredible Laundry Van volunteers. Without their helping hands and smiling faces, those loads of laundry would be just that—loads of laundry. Instead, they turn each load into an act of kindness & dignity. Thank you for making this ministry possible and for helping us share a little love, one load at a time.

06/02/2026

DID YOU KNOW? The Northwest Arkansas office of the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas marks its 5th anniversary this summer! As we've started looking forward to the celebration, we've taken a look back at what all has changed in those five years -- and it's a lot! Work led by the NW Arkansas office has resulted in:

27 new accounts
6 new churches
$4,727,409 in assets
12 events hosted
52 grants, totaling more than $834,000 invested in church and community
An additional $48,500 to churches with active feeding ministries
$106,250 in sponsorships to benefit local nonprofits
22 new Bishops' Club members (including two Lifetime Members)
...and more!

MFA looks forward to seeing friends of the Foundation August 27 in Bentonville. Cheers to five years!

05/28/2026

On the heels of yesterday’s Seminary Scholarship post, more good academic news – this time from the Northwest District of the Arkansas UMC! The two recipients of this year’s NWD Ethnic Ministries Scholarship are:

- Tillie Garcia of Pea Ridge UMC (pictured here with her pastor, Rev. Jerome Grotts). Tillie will attend Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge beginning this fall.

- Maggie Ramirez of St. Paul UMC Fort Smith. In addition to serving on the Northwest District office staff, Maggie is majoring in Business - Organizational Leadership at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith. She has a projected graduation date of this December.

Congratulations, Tillie and Maggie!

This scholarship fund was established in 1983 and is managed by the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas. If your church or ministry has a similar fund that needs stewarding, feel free to contact us for information.

05/27/2026

Congratulations to this year’s Methodist Foundation for Arkansas Seminary Scholars! These seven scholarship recipients are headed to four United Methodist-affiliated seminaries — Duke, Gammon, Iliff, and Perkins — in the fall semester. The Foundation is grateful to be able to assist them on this journey toward seeking ordination. Learn more about Kelly, Nathan, Christopher, Darnell, Randy, Peaches, and Kay at https://methodistfoundationar.org/news-and-events/seven-selected-as-2026-seminary-scholars-by-the-methodist-foundation-for-arkansas.
Image description: A blue background with white lettering bears the headline, “The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas congratulates the 2026 MFA Seminary Scholars.” Beneath that lettering are labeled photos of Kelly Blome, Nathan Fryar, Christopher E. Jackson, Darnell Rice, Randy A. Seale, Peaches Smith, and Kay Strahan.

05/26/2026

We have four reasons for sharing today's post. The first three are the actual journeys highlighted in the video — trips taken in March and April of this year, sponsored by the Foundation in keeping with the Clergy and Laity Education priority of the MFA Grants Program (and the third one including the Diversity priority, as well). Please watch and enjoy!

The fourth reason: The video was developed for our May 15 Board of Directors meeting by Sadie Ledbetter, who served as the Foundation’s intern this past academic year through a work program for seniors at Bryant High School. Sadie spent her hours at MFA contributing to the Foundation’s mission in all kinds of ways, from addressing envelopes and filling our Little Free Pantry to picking up the basics of video production so the Board of Directors could see and hear for themselves how meaningful this year’s travel opportunities have been for the participants.

Thank you, travelers; thank you, Board members; and thank you, Sadie for your ministry with us! Our prayers go with you as you start your undergraduate education at United Methodist-affiliated Hendrix College this fall.

05/21/2026

LifeQuest of Arkansas provides educational enrichment for senior adults and is supported by many faith communities in central Arkansas, including Methodist congregations. (Its satellite location is even hosted by First United Methodist Church, Conway, Arkansas, and MFA provided a grant to help with its launch!) MFA President & CEO Rev. Wayne Clark was among the guests at yesterday's celebration. How many other United Methodists can you spot in the clergy group photo and among the speakers and guests?