Our Vision
About FUMC
Our Vision: Empower the next era of thriving faith life in downtown Little Rock.
Creating Connection:
Forty percent of adults in America report feeling isolated and lonely regularly. This is a major contributor to depression and anxiety. At the same time, we’re experiencing a reduction of “3rd Places” where people can gather and interact outside of their homes and workplaces. Churches have historically served as primary 3rd places, but waning participation in religious life in America has contributed to the erosion of such places.
While technology has provided other forms of connection and gathering, studies show that social media and gaming create a false sense of connection, where people may interact through relationships that lack depth and authenticity. Artificial Intelligence continues to depersonalize everyday engagement. In addition, political and social movements intentionally dehumanize vulnerable people and disparage empathy and compassion. All these factors contribute to a loneliness epidemic in our society.
Just as the Word became flesh (John 1:14), churches are to make love incarnate and foster life-giving relationships. The next era of thriving faith life in downtown Little Rock must include experiences of community building, create 3rd places, and foster hospitality and belonging for all people. We believe this initiative derives from that calling.
Expanding our Community Engagement:
Jesus teaches that the two greatest commandments are loving God and loving your neighbor (Matthew 22: 37-39). By pairing the two, Jesus teaches that loving God is seen in how we love our neighbors and our devotion to God calls us to acts of compassion and mercy for our neighbors.
Serving our neighborhood of downtown Little Rock has been our commitment for almost 200 years. We have continually assessed the needs of our neighbors and tried to serve those needs however we can. In the last few decades, we have focused on helping our neighbors survive by providing basic necessities like food, temporary shelter, and clothing. More recently, through our Community Café, we’re discovering a need to expand our ministries and empower people for self-sufficiency and mental health.
Therefore, while we will continue to offer our current community engagement ministries and advocacy, we will build an education ministry that provides vocational training and work experience. We will also create a Counseling Center and Clinic to provide mental health support. These new ministries will empower our neighbors to not just survive but to thrive.
New Faith Formation Models for Children and Youth:
Ministry to children and youth has been a central part of faith life at FUMCLR throughout our history. This is seen in everything from our vibrant ministries geared for children and youth, the creation of the Gertrude Remmel Butler Child Development Center, our part in founding Ozark Mission Project, and our partnership with local public schools.
However, the life patterns for children, youth, and families have shifted dramatically in the last decade. In general, participation in religious life has dropped by 12% in the first 25 years of this century. But youth sports have grown into a $40 billion industry in the same period of time. Trends show families are giving much more priority to activities such as sports rather than to participating in church. Church is no longer the social center of families as it was in previous decades.
Additionally, churches located in downtown neighborhoods have experienced a decline in participation as populations have moved into neighborhoods and suburbs further from city cores. These trends in American religious life, the United Methodist Church, downtown churches, and family social life require us to create new ways to connect with children, youth, and families. Simply offering Sunday school, children’s choir, snack suppers and youth activities on Sunday nights will no longer engage with family schedules and needs. Our unique position as a downtown mainline church with a progressive theological bent means we must create a new model unique to our ministry setting that meets the spiritual and social needs of current families.
Center for Sacred Aging:
In 2025 and 2026, an average of approximately 11,400 Americans are turning 65 every day, marking the height of the “Peak 65” surge. In 2026, 10,000 Americans will turn 80 years old every day—the top edge of the Baby Boomers. Statistics show that the number of older adults in America will more than double by 2050, making up 20% of the population. This significant change will impact every person and sector in society.
Aging is a spiritual journey, and the church has a role and responsibility to support people as they reach older adulthood. Aging can create physical, financial, and emotional challenges. A Center for Sacred Aging can make a significant impact in our community by helping seniors and caregivers experience aging as a sacred act where they encounter God’s presence and power and see this season of life as a gift.