Clerk of Session Training with Stated Clerk Blake Brinegar - Several clerks have indicated some interest in clerk training. If you are a clerk and are interested in some training, please let me know. Once I gauge the interest, we can determine if the training will be on Zoom or in person. Ideally, there will be both. If there is enough interest in an area of the presbytery, I would like to do in-person training, so recruit in your area of the presbytery. If you are interested in clerk training, please let me know at revbrinegar@gmail.com.  

Board of Pension Changes - The Board of Pensions has released information regarding the new 2025 Benefits Plan. If you would like to review this information, click here.

Church Marketing Workshop: Persuasive Promotion - Most church event announcements have a big problem. They are great about informing, but typically don’t persuade people to come. Specifically, the average announcement fails to include why someone should attend. As a result, these announcements are only effective with people who are already committed. This is a sliver of your audience. Other people need convincing. 

Three easy ways you can make your announcements more compelling are: Read more...

Mission Possible - Calling all Junior High/Middle School youth! The Presbytery is excited to offer a weekend of mission and service in Mena and Hot Springs April 19-21. Our ministry partners in Mena are organizing various mission projects throughout the day and our ministry partners in Hot Springs will host the group. We will be serving our neighbors, exploring Hot Springs, playing games, and of course, hanging out with other folks from around the Presbytery. Financial assistance for youth is available, so do not let cost be a barrier! Click here and register by April 8th. 

Questions? Contact Sarah: arpres.ateam@gmail.com

Visioning Summit, April 15 at Ferncliff - If you are on the Strategic Leadership committee or other Presbytery committee, it is time to make your reservation to attend the Visioning Summit! We will also have room to accommodate a limited number of extra people not currently serving on committees that are interested in participating. 

The Summit will be held at Ferncliff on April 15 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the PAC Building (the old dining hall across from Brown Lodge and Conference Room). Lunch will be provided. For those traveling from a long distance, there are a limited number of rooms available at Ferncliff. Click here to register for the event. If you have questions about the event, please contact General Presbyter Stewart Smith at 501-663-2424.  

Click here to read the Ministry Architect's report.

Clergy and Lay Preacher Cohorts - Austin Theological Seminary is offering both a Clergy and a Lay-Preacher Cohort. This will be a wonderful opportunity for small church pastors and CREs. Deadlines have been extended by two more weeks for the Clergy Cohort and one more month for the Lay Preacher Cohort. Click here for more information.

The Second Annual Elders’ Retreat will take place June 7-9 at the University of the Ozarks. The retreat is open to ruling elders from all congregations in the Presbytery of Arkansas, but will have an emphasis on rural and small membership congregations. Ruling Elders will learn how to craft and deliver a sermon, and officiate at the communion table. They will also have a broad conversation about the work and best practices of rural and small membership churches. All expenses for the retreat will be covered by the Thriving in Rural Ministry program at the U of O. Those interested can contact Phil Blackburn at pblackburn@ozarks.edu, or click here to register.

Join The Presbytery at the Ball Games! Join Presbytery staff members at baseball games in both Springdale and North Little Rock.

On Friday night, May 31, we will be at Dickey-Stephens Ballpark for a ballpark dinner and to watch the Travelers take on Amarillo. Fireworks will follow the game. $15 per person. Click here to register.

On Wednesday night, June 5, we will be at Arvest Ballpark rooting for the Naturals as they play Wichita and you will have the opportunity to join a NWA Presbytery choir in singing the National Anthem. $9 per person. Click here to register.

Should there be a workshop? A number of congregations in our Presbytery are already sharing spaces with other worshipping communities and charitable organizations. In conversations with some of these churches, it seems that every church is different and needs to work through the process in their own way. But, what if you could listen, ask questions, and learn from some of these churches as they came together to talk about what they are doing and how they got there?

Click here to answer a few questions to help us decide if we should plan a workshop on this topic.

Honduras Mission Trip 2024 - During spring break 2024, 14 people from the Presbytery of Arkansas celebrated a 10 year partnership with the Presbytery in Honduras.

Click here to watch the 5 minute video recap of their trip.