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Thursday, September 1, 2016
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (Aug. 26, 2016) – The United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas recently announced a total of $5,015 in grants to support the 2016 Youth Ministry Cohort and the Equip youth ministry training event Sept. 10.
“Providing accessible, affordable one-day training for youth ministry workers and making it possible for five churches to take a deep dive into a six-month youth ministry training cohort both fall in line with our United Methodist Foundation grants goals of...
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at Thursday, September 1, 2016
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Anthony A. “Tony” Hilliard, President Elect of the Arkansas Bar Association and former Chancellor of the Arkansas Conference, believes the UMFA-sponsored annual gathering of United Methodist lawyers helps Arkansas lawyers, local churches and the Conference.
“It’s free CLE to help Methodist lawyers give free legal advice to their churches and the only continuing education I know of that serves Communion,” Tony said. “I find it interesting how many attorneys...
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at Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Monday, August 8, 2016
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (August 8, 2016) – The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation recently named 40 Arkansas students as recipients of the Dollars for Scholars scholarship. For each recipient, the students’ local churches give $1,000, and the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation matches that contribution. Then the United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas gives $1,000, and the student’s selected college contributes $1,000 for a significant $4,000 award.
“We...
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at Monday, August 8, 2016
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (July 20, 2016) – The United Methodist Foundation recently awarded a $15,000 grant to Methodist Family Health (MFH) to help fund the Rev. Robert Regnier Memorial Camp hosted every year by MFH at Camp Tanako in Hot Springs.
“This is an opportunity for our kids to experience fun camp activities like their peers. Time spent in an outdoor ministry setting like Camp Tanako provides unique experiences that are valuable for the youth in our care,” said...
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at Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (June 29, 2016) – The United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas recently awarded two grants administered by the Arkansas Conference Center for Vitality that will send local church congregations and clergy to the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection (COR). One will enable Arkansas United Methodists to attend COR’s Leadership Institute, and the other will send youth and college students to COR’s Young Preachers Festival.
For the fourth year, UMFA...
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at Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Eight new members recently were elected to the UMFA Board of
Directors, including Rev. Bruce Bennett of Texarkana; Debra H. Fiser, M.D., of
Little Rock; Pam Harris of North Little Rock; Rev. Phil Hathcock of Maumelle;
Rev. Lynn Kilbourne of Conway; Rev. Jim Polk of Arkadelphia; Steve Shults of
Little Rock; and Dewitt Smith of Bella Vista.
“We are excited to welcome these incoming board members,”
said Jim Argue, Jr., UMFA President and CEO. “Our organization is dedicated to
creating...
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at Wednesday, May 11, 2016
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (April 18, 2016) – Rev. Mackey
Yokem, Executive Director of the Office of Mission and Ministry for the
Arkansas Conference, will retire this summer and join the staff of the United
Methodist Foundation of Arkansas as Grants Administrator July 1. Last year the
Foundation awarded more than $1 million in discretionary grants to enhance
ministries in the Conference.
“We are pleased to have someone with Mackey’s
dedication and knowledge join our staff to assist the Grants...
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LITTLE ROCK, ARK.
(March 23, 2016) – The United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas recently made an $8,000 grant to Mission u for first-time
attendee scholarships. Mission u is an
annual UMW-sponsored opportunity to study current issues impacting society with
particular attention to the responsibilities of women in fulfilling the mission
work of the church.
We are appreciative of the grant from the Foundation,” said
Mission u Dean Rosemary Kirby of First UMC, Sardis. “We hope to...
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LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (March 4, 2016) – Clergywomen
of the Arkansas United Methodist Conference will attend the UM Clergywomen
Global Gathering in Houston in August thanks to a $15,000 grant from the United
Methodist Foundation of Arkansas.
“Attending the global gathering is a once-in-lifetime
opportunity to fellowship with our sisters in ministry around the world, learn
from each other about making disciples of Jesus Christ in mission fields both
close and far away, and support each other in...
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LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (January 25, 2016) –The
United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas recently awarded a $9,000 grant to send
a group of clergy to the Academy of Faith and Money and a $15,000 grant to send
worship teams to the FUSION Conference as a part of the UMFA Grants Committee’s
commitment to building leadership.
"The UMFA continues to be committed to developing
faithful and fruitful clergy leaders for the Arkansas Conference by supporting
life-long learning for pastors in local...
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LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (Jan 11, 2016) – Camp Tanako in Hot
Springs has received a $20,000 grant from The United Methodist Foundation of
Arkansas to install a high ropes challenge course. The grant will purchase
ropes, harnesses, helmets, other hardware, and Association for Challenge Course
Technology facilitator training.
The Camp Tanako high ropes course will include a climbing
tower with a rappelling wall, four individual challenge elements, a team
challenge element, and a zip line. It...
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LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (December 30, 2015) – Hendrix
College in Conway will receive a $150,000 grant over the next three years from
The United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas as a part of a capital campaign to
build the new Mary Ann and David Dawkins Welcome Center on its campus. This
commitment enables the Foundation to name the center’s Conference Room in
memory of Richard and Gertrude Butler.
“To successfully recruit the best and brightest students and
provide ample space for all guests to...
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Please CLICK HERE to see the December 2015 Legacies newsletter.
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LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (July 27, 2015) – The late Helen Bernice Burns,
a long-time member of Asbury UMC in Little Rock, established a fund at the
United Methodist Foundation through her estate plan to continue to support her
local church and Arkansas Conference ministries beyond her lifetime.
Through the Helen Bernice Burns Memorial Endowment Fund,
Asbury UMC and the UMFA will receive annual income from the investment of $560,000
in perpetuity. Half will go to Asbury to support local...
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LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (June 10, 2014) – Clergy and lay
people from six congregations recently attended the Large Church Initiative Conference
at Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church in Atlanta. Representatives from First
UMC in Conway, First UMC in Russellville, Central UMC in Fayetteville, Trinity
UMC in Little Rock, First UMC in Springdale and First UMC in Jonesboro participated.
Rev. Roy Smith, Senior Pastor at First UMC in
Russellville, said his biggest takeaways from the meeting were...
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LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (May 19, 2015) – A $50,000 grant from The
United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas is being used to help Camp Aldersgate
set up a fund to maintain its soon-to-be-built Activity Center where campers
can play indoors during rainy or hot weather and enjoy both arts and
recreation.
“We are grateful to The Foundation for its continued support
of Camp,” said CEO Sarah Wacaster. “The latest $50,000 grant is a part of a
fund that will support programming for a new Activity...
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The United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas was trustee for
Lucile Barnett’s Revocable Trust and Charitable Remainder Unitrust until her
death in 2010. Upon her death, the Rollin and Lucile Barnett Memorial Endowment
Fund was created with approximately $650,000. Her
estate plan left instructions that the original gift was to never be spent, it
was to be invested wisely, and the annual income was to be distributed each
year according to her instructions.
The annual income from the...
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Nancy
and Craig Wood are leaders at First United Methodist Church in Little Rock.
They are pleased to know the United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas manages
their local church’s endowment funds.
“Dick
Butler Sr. was a member of our church. He was a big advocate and supporter of
the Foundation,” said Craig. “We know and trust Jim Argue and his staff for
their expertise and their commitment. Also, working with the Foundation takes
some politics out of the fund management decision when...
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The
late Winfred Polk of Corning believed in the United Methodist Foundation in its
infancy. He made significant gifts of resources, time and talent with a
steadfast commitment to a Foundation that could eventually support United
Methodist ministries throughout the state.
Mr.
Polk was a Chevrolet dealer and long-time leader in the Corning United Methodist
Church. He had a great interest in Methodist history and traveled to England to
visit key places in the history of the Church for...
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“Vernon
and I decided to put our money to good use through the Foundation,” said the
late Eva Lee Paysinger. “It’s our way of saying thanks to a church that has
done so much for us.”
The late Rev. Vernon Paysinger and his wife dedicated their
lives to Christian ministry long ago, and it was only natural for them to leave
their estate to the United Methodist Foundation. After her death, the $750,000
Vernon and Eva Lee Paysinger Endowment was established to make grants to causes
that...
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Bill and Karon Mann joined the Bishops’ Club because they believe UMFA
is a resource for the entire Arkansas Conference. Bishops’ Club members
make the Foundation’s ministry possible.
Because of their generosity and foresight, the Church is strengthened
and more is done in the name of Jesus Christ.
"In
addition to helping the Conference as a whole, the Foundation makes a big
difference for local churches," said Bill. "Congregations all over
the state who participate in...
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Wednesday, August 26, 2015
John
and Becki Lusk love their church – First United Methodist Church of El
Dorado. He was a hands-on Board of
Trustees Chairman and has participated in mission trips to the Mississippi
coast and Haiti. Becki has made three
mission trips to Mexico, is a leader in UMW and helped with interior design for
the refurbished Fellowship Hall.
John,
a stockbroker for 31 years, decided after retirement to create a $1 million
endowment to support his local church.
The couple...
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Posted by
Katie Holley
at
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Rev. Tony and Barbara Hill want to make the transfer of their estate to their four children and five grandchildren as easy as possible during what they know will be a difficult time in the future. “I’ve seen lots of families torn apart because there was no will, and we’ve seen for ourselves the difference it makes,” said Tony, senior pastor at DeWitt First United Methodist Church.
“My mother did it the right way. She had a will, a living will and plans for...
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When you look up the
meaning of philanthropist-“a person
who seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation
of money to good causes”, it describes Dick and Gertie Butler of Little Rock.
Dick
Butler spent many years helping the fledgling United Methodist Foundation of
Arkansas become the strong ministry partner it is today. Dick and Gertie Butler
are an appropriate beginning for the story of the UMFA. One of the original
incorporators in 1963, he had a...
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“I’m
a long-term planner. The future of our children is to get United Methodist
trained pastors into our churches to teach and preach the Wesleyan culture,”
said Dewitt Smith of Bella Vista. “I define that culture as taking it to the
streets and living your faith.”
Dewitt
Smith, III, has a long family history of service to Methodism. His direct ancestor on his paternal
grandfather’s side opened his home at Isle of Wight, Virginia, to Francis
Asbury for a meeting with American...
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The congregation of Wesley United Methodist Church in Conway
is family to retired engineer Kenneth Brumley.
He moved from Richmond, Indiana, after his wife passed away to be near
one of his daughters and her family. A
lifelong Methodist, he considers the church to be the focus of his life.
“My faith directed me toward this church family,” he said.
“When you go to church regularly and make it a part of your life, your personal
faith is easier to nurse. The idea is to go...
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LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (May 15, 2015) – The
United Methodist Higher Education Foundation recently named 41 Arkansas
students as recipients of the Dollars for Scholars scholarship awards. For each
recipient, the students’ local churches give $1,000, and the United Methodist
Higher Education Foundation matches that contribution. Then the United
Methodist Foundation of Arkansas gives $1,000, and the student’s selected
college contributes $1,000 for a significant $4,000 award.
“More Arkansas...
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LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (June 12, 2015) – Rev. J. Wayne Clark of
Conway, Daryl Coker of Little Rock, The Honorable Beth Deere of Little Rock,
Rev. Dr. John Robbins of Fayetteville and Bill Wisener of Monticello recently
were elected to the board of directors for The United Methodist Foundation of
Arkansas. The Foundation builds endowments to enhance United Methodist
ministries in the Arkansas Conference and manages endowment funds for local
churches and United Methodist institutions.
“We...
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LITTLE ROCK, ARK. (May 26, 2015) – A $40,000 grant from The
United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas will fund the purchase of a vehicle to
begin a mobile food pantry ministry serving students at ASU Beebe, ASU Marked
Tree, and ASU Newport, along with supplementing a backpack food program for elementary
and middle school students in Harrisburg.
“We believe this innovative ministry will make a huge
difference for students at two-year colleges in east Arkansas and could be a
pilot for...
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