“I thank my God every time I remember you,

constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.”

 Philippians 1:3–6 (NRSV)

One Year of Grace and Growth - As October turned to November, I realized that I have now served as your Interim Executive Presbyter for one full year. It’s hard to believe how quickly the months passed, and how full they have been. From the Delta to the Ozarks, and from our largest congregations to our smallest gatherings, this first year has been a season of learning, discovery, and deep gratitude.

Over the past twelve months, I’ve had the joy of visiting churches across the Presbytery, worshiping, breaking bread, and hearing stories of faith and perseverance. Continue...

Changes are coming to the Special Offerings program in 2026. The Pentecost Offering will no longer be received after December 31, 2025. The four church wide offerings annually will be reduced to three special offerings. The presbytery office needs to have all of the Pentecost offerings by December 31 to process accordingly.

The Peace & Global Witness Offering will also no longer be received after December 31, 2025. A new offering is taking its place called the World Communion Offering. Likewise, the presbytery office needs to have all of the Peace & Global Witness offerings by December 31 to process accordingly.

If you have any questions, contact Kim Palmer at kim@presbyark.org or questions about the program, contact the Special Offerings Office via their email at special.offerings@pcusa.org.

"Truly I tell you, whatever you did

for one of the least of these brothers and

sisters of mine, you did for me."

Mt 25:40

Providence Park is an inspiring new planned community in central Arkansas that will provide permanent housing, support, and dignity for our chronically homeless neighbors. Modeled after the proven Community First! Village in Austin, Providence Park will develop 50 acres in Pulaski County into four neighborhoods of 100 homes each, a place where residents can truly thrive with wrap-around services and compassionate community.

Through the generosity of the Gary Gault Trust, administered by our Mission of the Church Committee, our Presbytery has already made a transformational impact. A $50,000 gift will build the Gault House, and an additional $25,000 has been committed toward building a Presby House. At our most recent Presbytery meeting, the MOC challenged our congregations to join in raising another $25,000 to fully fund the Presby House. The committee has since pledged an additional $10,000, bringing us to $85,000 of our $100,000 goal!

Churches, we are only $15,000 away. Let’s finish strong together. Imagine the witness it will be to have both a Gault House and a Presby House standing as signs of Christ’s love and our shared commitment to our most vulnerable neighbors.

We can do this, and we can do it together. For more information, or to invite a speaker for your congregation, contact David Gill at dgill@ferncliff.org.

The 2026 Honduras Mission Trip of the Presbytery of Arkansas will take place March 21-28 during the springbreak week. Join the Zoom information meeting on October 19, 2025 at 5:00 to learn more and get your questions answered!

Contact Leigh Woodruff at leighwoodruff83@gmail.com to get the link to join the meeting.

APCE 2026 Annual Event - Registration is now open for APCE's Annual conference! This year's event, entitled Bridging the Gap: Love God, Love Self, Love Neighbors, will take place in Fred Roger's neighborhood, Pittsburgh, PA, on January 21-24, 2026. It will feature a number of well known names, such as Rev. Theresa Cho (conference preacher), Rev. MaryAnn McKibben Dana, and more.

Click here to learn more and register before November 15 to pay the early bird registration price!

Luminosity Conference, March 9-11 in Orlando. The Presbyterian Foundation’s first-ever Church Leadership Conference is a transformative gathering designed to inspire and equip pastors and church leaders to meet the challenges of today’s world. Centered on innovation, inspiration, and illumination, the conference offers participants the opportunity to explore fresh perspectives, rekindle passion for ministry, and discover new strategies for purposeful leadership. Through dynamic sessions, compelling speakers, and meaningful connections, the Presbyterian Foundation seeks to spark growth and lasting impact that will extend well beyond the event itself.

When Did I See You Hungry? After making calls to our congregations, we noticed that the hunger crisis is reaching epidemic proportions and many of our congregations are taking new and innovative steps in reaching out to their neighbors.

To aid in the work you are doing, the Presbytery’s Disaster Preparedness & Response Subcommittee is requesting churches submit this simple two-part request form for grant funding to address hunger issues in your community.

On the form, request an amount not to exceed $1,000. Suggestions to briefly describe how you will use these funds to help those with food insecurity might be:

• Food pantry at church
• Food Bank
• Hot meals in collaboration with another church
• Food box outside church
• School backpack program or pantry
• Support for furloughed Federal employees
• Gift cards for those requesting assistance

We anticipate awards being made within the next two weeks. Blessings to you for the work that you are doing in your congregations and your communities.

Wynne Presbyterian Church Celebrates 140 Years of Ministry. On Sunday, October 19, Wynne Presbyterian Church joyfully marked its 140th anniversary with a special worship service. Interim Executive Presbyter Rev. Jim Poinsett joined the congregation in celebrating this remarkable milestone and giving thanks for generations of faithful witness in the heart of Cross County. The day was filled with gratitude, stories, and song—a reminder that God continues to do a new thing through the enduring ministries of our congregations. Congratulations to Wynne Presbyterian Church on 130 years of proclaiming the Gospel and embodying Christ’s love!

Photo: (L to R) Elder Beth Bradshaw, Interim Executive Presbyter Rev. Jim Poinsett and Commissioned Ruling Elder Janet Benson at Wynne Presbyterian Church’s 140th anniversary celebration on November 3.

Welcome, Libby Janes – Director, Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery. The Presbytery of Arkansas is delighted to welcome Libby Janes as the new Director, Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery. Libby brings a rich blend of pastoral sensitivity and professional expertise to this role. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she has served in hospital, counseling, and community settings, walking alongside individuals and families in times of challenge and resilience.

Libby earned her Master of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and her Master of Social Work from Texas Tech University. She is certified call-ready for ordination as a Minister of Word and Sacrament and currently serves on the PC(USA) Task Force to Explore the Theology and Practice of Ordination.

We are grateful to welcome Libby into this vital partnership and look forward to the gifts she will bring in helping our presbytery and congregations prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters with compassion, coordination, and faith.

Photo: Interim Executive Presbyter Rev. Jim Poinsett with Libby Janes, newly appointed Director, Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery, at the Synod of the Sun Assembly in El Paso, Texas.

Exciting News from the Executive Presbyter Nominating Committee! The Executive Presbyter Nominating Committee has been busy over the past several months, including two in-person retreats filled with prayer, discernment, and lively conversation about the future of the Presbytery of Arkansas.

Now, an exciting milestone has been reached: the two new leadership positions—Executive Presbyter and Director of Operations and Congregational Vitality—are officially posted on the PC(USA)’s Church Leadership Connection (CLC), the denomination’s job matching service. Applications are open, and the Ministry Discernment Profiles (MDPs) can be found here:

·       Executive Presbyter

·       Director of Operations and Congregational Vitality

This is an important step forward for the Presbytery, and there is great anticipation for the leaders God will bring into these roles. Please help spread the word by sharing these opportunities with friends, colleagues, and networks who may be called to join in this next chapter of ministry in Arkansas!

First Presbyterian in Jonesboro is looking for a full-time pastor. Do you know of anyone who might be interested in a strong church with a mission of diversity without division in service to a university community of 80,000 that is a regional medical and industrial center with strong schools and recreation? Do you know of a pastor who might be enriched with a church that houses an exemplary preschool and whose worship is transformed by an exceptional choir & music program? And which offers a starting salary of $75,000?

Please spread the word of this church in meetings & regions wherever you connect!

Presbyterian Kirk in the Pines, located in the gated community of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, seeks a full-time solo pastor to serve a vibrant congregation of 170 members. Caring, nurturing, and welcoming, the Kirk is characterized by joyful worship, Christ-centered community outreach, loving fellowship, growthful educational opportunities of varying kinds, and an acclaimed music program.  

They seek a dynamic, outreach-oriented leader with strong pastoral skills. A commitment to engaging other faith leaders in the broader community is desired, as we believe there is ample opportunity to light the way for others in the Village.

For additional information about the church, click here, or contact Randy Toney, PNC Chair at 225-573-6493.

First, Batesville has about 200 hymnals that they are no longer using and would love to find a new home for them.

If you are interested, contact their church administrator, Mollie Grace at firstpresbatesville@gmail.com or at (870) 793-3272

ShareChurch Conferences: Looking Ahead to 2026

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection offers all kinds of wonderful continuing educational opportunities each year. You will want to mark your calendars for the following 2026 events:

• April 20-22, 2026 | IN-PERSON ONLY

LeadHER: Empowering Female Clergy – Back by popular demand! Honest conversations, deep community, and practical leadership development for women in ministry.

• July 30, 2026 | ONLINE

Evangelism Training – Authentic strategies for reaching your community in meaningful ways.

• September 30 – October 2, 2026 | IN-PERSON & ONLINE

Leadership Institute 2026 – Three days of learning, inspiration, and connection with church leaders from across the country.