Snap Challenge
As part of our March Brick & Mortar theme of Food, Cooking and Dining, we want to give you a SNAP Challenge! Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency. In Arkansas, the average daily benefit for recipients is $3.60/person.
As we reflect on the relationship between our faith and food during the month of March, we are challenging the congregation to live off of the same daily average of $3.60/person for the week of March 16-20. Many of our low income neighbors and neighbors experiencing homelessness do it every day. Can you?
Don’t have time to participate in the SNAP Challenge that week? You can “opt out” by sending one weeks grocery bill to the church to be added to our Lenten Faith Promise program helping hunger relief in Arkansas and beyond.
For an additional challenge, or general information, below is a link with Federal guidelines for healthy eating based on calories and a balanced diet, if you’d like to buy food utilizing this information. Taking part in the challenge? Let us know how it goes, send Lesley Andrews (landrews@fumclr.org) to let us know about your experience.
Snap Guidelines - Click to download.
David Freeman
Senior Pastor
David was appointed as Senior Pastor of FUMCLR in July of 2015. A native of Little Rock, David graduated from Centenary College of Louisiana in 1996. After spending four years as Director of Ministries to Youth and Families at FUMCLR, he began his seminary education. He graduated from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in 2003 and served as the Executive Pastor at FUMC in Springdale Arkansas for 12 years. David is married to Katie Woodruff Freeman and they have two daughters, Emily and Hannah. David enjoys running and reading.
Email Call Ext #204
Brittany Richardson Watson
Pastor to Kids and Families
Brittany Richardson Watson
Pastor to Kids and Families
Brittany was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas and while she was born into the Episcopal church, her family began to attend the United Methodist Church while she was in elementary school. She considers herself an (almost) life-long United Methodist and felt a deep call into ministry since her high school years. She had many opportunities to explore this call including college internships at First United Methodist Church in Little Rock and seminary years serving with Franksville United Methodist Church in Franksville, Wisconsin. She has been serving in The United Methodist Church for over ten years and each congregation has given her a fuller vision of what it means to be part of this incredible connection that is God’s church. After being ordained as an elder in full connection in the United Methodist Church in 2011, Brittany served at First United Methodist Church in El Dorado, Highland Valley United Methodist Church in Little Rock and Sylvan Hills United Methodist Church in Sherwood. She was appointed to First United Methodist Church in Little Rock as Pastor of Neighboring in June of 2018. She lives in Little Rock with her husband Clark and their three sons Joseph, Leo and George. In addition to spending time with family, a few of her passions include reading, tennis and traveling.
Haley Jones Wells
Pastor of Community Engagement
Haley Jones Wells
Pastor of Community Engagement
Haley joined the staff as Pastor of Community Engagement in September 2017. She is a native of Mississippi and a member of the Mississippi Annual Conference. After graduating from seminary at Boston University School of Theology in 2015, she spent two years on the Reconciliation Ministry Team at Coventry Cathedral in Coventry, England. Haley has a passion for reconciliation and helping faithful people be “repairers of the breach” to live into God’s call for shalom. She is responsible for inspiring and energizing First Church to engage in transformative service across Little Rock and think critically about issues of justice. Haley works closely with the SERVE and SPEAK committees at First Church that work on missions and public advocacy, leads small groups and book groups on social justice themes, and coordinates the daily community assistance program.
Lesley Andrews
Director of Communications
Lesley Andrews
Director of Communications
Lesley Andrews joined the First Church Staff as Communications Director in August 2010. Lesley is the managing editor of the church’s newsletter, In The First Place, and is responsible for church publications, advertising, and maintaining the church’s website. Lesley graduated from the University of Arkansas with a B.A. in Journalism with a special emphasis in Advertising and Public Relations. Lesley and her husband, Justin Andrews (also a U of A graduate), live in Maumelle with their three boys Cody, Beau, and Tag.
Shannon Webb
Associate Director of Music and Worship Arts
Shannon Webb
Associate Director of Music and Worship Arts
Shannon brings a wealth of both performance and church music experience to this role. She has degrees from Oklahoma City University and Colorado State University in vocal performance and has had an impressive career on the stage notably starting as Ruther Bader Ginsburg in the opera Scalia/Ginsburg. However, Shannon also has years of church music experience as a section leader and music intern for choirs in Oklahoma, Colorado, and Arkansas.
James Stanley
Director of Music and Worship Arts
James Stanley
Director of Music and Worship Arts
James joined the staff as Associate Director of Music and Worship Arts in August of 2016. He serves as organist and administrator of the First Arts program. He holds a bachelors and a masters degree from the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia in organ performance and organ pedagogy. James has held positions in Georgia and Indiana as organist, choir director, praise team leader, and choral section leader in Presbyterian and United Methodist congregations. His wife, Christen, is a teacher.
Jerry Carpenter
Director of Buildings, Grounds and Security
Jerry Carpenter
Director of Buildings, Grounds and Security
Jerry Carpenter joined the First Church staff in April 2007 as the church’s Maintenance Superintendent. Jerry has 18 years of experience as a Building Maintenance Supervisor for a non-profit, religious organization in Michigan. Jerry has three sons, Randel, Jordan and Shane.
Sonja Taylor-Larkowski
Director of Finance and Administation
Sonja Taylor-Larkowski
Director of Finance and Administation
Sonja graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in Accounting and Finance. She has been working in Finance, Administration and Human Resources for 29 years. She also has certifications in Human Resources and Life and Health Insurance. She has been married Jerry Larkowski for 4 years and together they have 5 sons, Austin, Mason, Colin, Clayton, and Trevor.
Lanie Konecny
Office Manager
Lanie Konecny
Office Manager
Lanie has served as Office Manager since February 2022. She and her husband, David Konecny, have been members of our congregation since 2012. Prior to being the Office Manager, she taught Business Education for 15 years at the middle and high school levels. Lanie was raised in Camden, AR. She is the fifth generation of her family to be an active member of the United Methodist Church. Lanie graduated from the College of Business at Louisiana Tech University in 2002 with a degree in Computer Information Systems. After college and before going into teaching, she served as the part-time Youth Director for Fairview United Methodist Church in Camden. While serving as Directory, Lanie discovered her desire to become a teacher and have a full-time role engaging with preteen and teenage youths. That career path served her well until her ultimate goal, being a mother, became a reality. Lanie married David in 2010, and, through their desire to be parents and struggling for years with infertility, they became an open foster and adoptive home for the state of Arkansas. Lanie and David have had the honor and privilege to adopt, raise, and share life with their three boys, Carter James, John David, and George Thomas Konecny. Carter attends Baker Elementary, and John David and George attend the Child Development Center. The Konecnys enjoy sharing life together and spending as much time as they can on the water in the warm summer months. You’ll find them under a blanket, on the couch, having a family movie night when it’s cold outside. Lanie feels it is an absolute privilege to be able to serve her church family as part of the office staff. She looks forward to interacting with you in person, by phone, or by email and assisting you with anything you may need in the front office.