The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas

10/09/2026

The most recent Arkansas/Louisiana/Mississippi Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation was held in September at the Wesley Center in Woodworth, Louisiana. The Academy is a disciplined Christian community emphasizing holistic spirituality – nurturing body, mind, and spirit—intended for both clergy and laypersons who hunger for rich spiritual experiences. Each retreat follows the rhythm of study, prayer, rest, and community. Participants learn new ways to deepen their relationship with God and to live as faithful witnesses of God’s love in the world.

The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas provided a grant toward the Arkansas participants’ registration fees. MFA grant funds also enabled the Academy to host Mary Earle and Jerry Webber as the leaders for the week. Arkansas United Methodists who attended are (front row, from left): Paul Weeks, Joanna Davis, Maurica Dooley, Roy Smith, Patti Butler, Justin Ledbetter; (second row) Sandy Smith, Davis Thompson, Cornelia DeLee, Jerry Webber, Bud Reeves, Dede Roberts; (back row) Jason Saugey.

To learn more about the Academy, contact Rev. Roy Smith at 501-350-0330 or [email protected].

10/09/2026

Happy DAF Day to you! 🎉 Founded to highlight the power of Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs), DAF Day happens at a time of year when folks might begin thinking of year-end tax benefits. MFA can help you manage your charitable giving through a DAF.

The basics: You may contribute to a DAF as often as you like, receiving an immediate tax deduction for each gift. Then, you choose where and when to have grants from your DAF disbursed.

For DAFs set up through MFA, at least 51% must go to Methodist-related charities in the United States. Up to 49% of the annual earnings can go to any qualified 501(c)(3) organization in the U.S. The minimum required to open a DAF is $2,500.

Ready to establish a DAF? Contact Rev. Lynn Kilbourne or Amy McGovern and they’ll make it happen! [email protected] or [email protected]

10/08/2026

Would you like to turn a dollar into three dollars? ✨ Here's an opportunity to do just that!

Twenty years ago, the Arkansas Annual Conference partnered with Bishop Pierre Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo in the North Katanga Conference in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to build water wells for communities there. In 2026, at the invitation of Bishop Mande Muyombo, we are rekindling that partnership because 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀—𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁.

Between now and year-end, the Arkansas Annual Conference will raise money to provide solar-powered wells in North Katanga. 𝗘𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲-𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲, with a United Methodist church, a school, and a health clinic built around it. Clean water for drinking and handwashing protects families from cholera and other waterborne diseases, as well as Ebola.

𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟬% 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵: 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭!

A well costs about $10,000.
The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas has offered a dollar-for-dollar match for all gifts received by 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭, up to $25,000.
The General Board of Global Ministries of the UMC has pledged a similar match of up to $25,000.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 $𝟮𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 $𝟳𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 to provide clean water in the DRC.

There is no limit on what we send. Every gift before and after the match goes to North Katanga, and every $10,000 means another village has clean water.

Churches may send contributions marked "North Katanga Water Wells" to:

Melissa Sanders, Financial Controller
Arkansas Conference of the UMC
PO Box 3611
Little Rock, AR 72203

Individuals may give through their local church and mark the gift “North Katanga Water Wells,” mail it to the Conference Office at the address above, or give online at https://arumc.org/our-ministries/global-ministries/north-katanga-water-wells.

Questions? Contact Rev. Dr. Hammett Evans, Chair, Arkansas Conference Board of Global Ministries: [email protected], or Rev. Roy Smith: [email protected].

10/06/2026

MFA staffers enjoyed a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at yesterday’s Holy Mexican Lunch! The event was held by the Asociación de Mujeres de Arkansas (Association of Women of Arkansas), led by Rev. Lupita Chavarria. Bishop Laura Merrill spoke at the luncheon, and Mexican Ambassador Mr. Carolos Ignacio Giralt Cabrales delivered the keynote address. Attendees enjoyed a presentation of “Perlas de México” 💃🏾 from the Mexican Folkloric Dance Ballet; dancers are pictured here alongside Cathy Hall, Rev. Lynn Kilbourne, Rev. Mackey Yokem, and Rev. Chavarria.

10/05/2026

Last call for the Capital Campaign Workshop for Clergy with Rev. Dr. Clif Christopher!

Tuesday, October 13, 2026 | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | MFA Little Rock Office

- No cost to participants

- Covers guiding principles for successful capital campaigns

- Provides practical, hands-on advice specifically for pastors

- Includes lunch and an informal Q&A with Dr. Christopher

- Receive a copy of Dr. Christopher’s book, Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate

- Appointed clergy qualify for additional coaching with Dr. Christopher, covered by the Foundation

Register before 4 p.m. Tuesday, October 6: www.methodistfoundationar.org/news-events/events/capital-campaign-workshop

10/02/2026

What a crowd of inspired Arkansas United Methodists!

This morning these wonderful folks, plus a few more who had to miss the photo, will finish their time at Leadership Institute 2026. Offered by ShareChurch at Resurrection, a United Methodist Church in Leawood, Kansas (and the largest UMC in the denomination), Leadership Institute is one of the premier educational and inspirational events for United Methodist leaders.

The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas offered scholarships for approximately half the disciples in this photo – people who had never attended LI, or whose churches had never sent a group before. The remaining folks are among the hundreds who return year after year to keep learning and finding ideas for ministry that will work in their own local contexts.

Please pray for their safe travels back home today. We’re excited about what they will bring back for their churches and surrounding communities!

10/01/2026

Time for some numbers! 🧮🔎
Third quarter 2026: 21 grants totaling $403,227 💫
Year-to-date granted funds: $728,741 🎉

Link in comments!

09/30/2026

The Foundation is grateful to have the opportunity to sponsor this long-running annual fundraiser. Camp Aldersgate makes the most of every dollar raised, and you can see the results in campers’ lives.

🐟 A big thank you to the The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas!

Fish Fry Committee Chair Brant Foster recently had the opportunity to personally thank the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas for supporting Camp Aldersgate as a Catfish Sponsor of our 43rd Annual Fish Fry!

We’re incredibly grateful for their support and for the many organizations that help make this annual tradition possible. Their partnership helps Camp Aldersgate continue creating life-changing experiences for individuals with special needs. 💙

Thank you, Methodist Foundation for Arkansas, for being part of Fish Fry 2026! 🎣

09/30/2026

Please join us the afternoon of November 12 to honor Mackey and his decade of service through the Foundation!

RSVP to Cathy at [email protected] by November 4.

09/25/2026

Just 5 more days to register for the Gill Preaching Workshop at Hendrix College! Hear from Matthew Dicks, an award-winning storyteller and author, about the power of story and discover new ways to strengthen your own storytelling.

The annual John and Marjem Gill Preaching Workshop brings clergy together to explore relevant, innovative approaches to preaching. Matthew’s visit is co-sponsored by the Compelling Preaching Initiative, which is funded by Lilly Endowment and administered by the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas and the Hendrix College Office of Religious Life.

Learn more about the Gill Preaching Workshop and register at hendrix.edu/gillworkshop.