LITTLE ROCK — First United Methodist Church is unveiling major changes in Russellville with the consecration of its new sanctuary and additions to its ministerial staff as Senior Pastor Tom Frase and Youth Minister Rufus Elam enter the fold.
More than 100 years old, First Church, as its members call it, opened new doors to the community on Easter. Frase took charge in June and Elam greeted the youth in September.
Pastor Tom, as he prefers to be called, has experienced a unique journey in arriving at the 1,785-member church. His first calling out of college was into the business world. After obtaining a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, he focused on marketing, advertising and public relations for nearly 20 years. Theexperience gleaned from those ventures affected his philosophy toward the life of the church. He said, "In business, you always have to have a marketing plan, and so churches should be moving forward because nothing ever happens by accident."
Frase embarks, then, on a plight of purposeful programming to shepherd his new flock. "There are different types of Christians," he said, "and we have to take people wherever they are in their walks of faith and minister to them." Frase is has a keen concept of what his role is in the church and quotes scriptures to elaborate: "To prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12-13).
Having received the call to ministry later in life, Frase and his wife, Patty, embarked on their journey after much prayer and reflection. Their ministry has moved them from their central Arkansas home to Stamps, Fayetteville and Bella Vista. They have a daughter, Allison, 21, who is a senior at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
The latest change at the Russellville church has been the welcoming of a new youth minister. Rufus Elam; his wife, Lori; and their children Andrew, 11; Alex, 9; Abram, 7; and Anderson, 5, relocated from First UMC in Duncan, Okla., where he was director of youth ministries.
Elam holds a bachelor's degree in church music from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and a master's in youth ministry from Indiana Wesleyan University. Elam has served in youth ministry for 11 years.
The youth at First Church are in for some exciting changes if Elam's past is any clue to the program's future. Elam was responsible in Duncan for a program called Jesus University, which served as an alternative to traditional Sunday school participation and was modeled after a university format. Youth received picture IDs and opportunities to beef up their transcripts with service, education and ministry.
As Elam describes the program, it is hard for him not to smile at the chance for kids to learn the lingo of college life. Transcripts were created by the youths' participation at church where credits were awarded for class attendance, mission trips,attending church camp and performing community service. Every Jesus University student was allowed to raise $100 per semester. These funds were deposited in interest-bearing accounts that were matched by members of the church and community upon graduation. In turn, each student received this transcript in the form of a check to be used at any college or university.
First UMC has legacy of service in the community. The Manna House at the other end of the parking lot has served the hungry in the River Valley since September 2000. More than 10,000 residents have used this ministry. Hearts -n- Hammers is a ministry that provides wheelchair ramps for those who cannot afford them. Vacation Bible school and TLC -The Little Church - are services ministering to children. TGIF is a ministry open to all local sixthand seventh-graders and offers a safe hangout at the RussellvilleBoys' and Girls' Club.
The small-town church also has a big presence far away from home. The church supports orphans in Guatemala, sending 24 short-term missionaries this winter to build, teach and serve as part of The Shadow of His Wings Ministry. The United Methodist Women support local mission projects and encourage all members to assemble emergency relief kits to be used in humanitarian efforts wherever disasters occur.
First UMC has the distinction of partnering with the D.D. Etchinson Memorial UMC in Tahlequah, Okla., which consists of mostly Cherokee Indians. First Church has donated church vans and youth Bibles to the congregation.
Prayer comes in many forms at First Church. The Prayer Shawl Ministry offers knitted and crocheted shawls, blessed by the members, to comfort souls in the community. Prayer groups meet at different times during the week in homes and in the Prayer Room at the church. The first Wednesday of each month is reserved for a prayer breakfast at 7 a.m. Every Sunday a prayer service is held at 6 p.m., and every year the church offers a prayer conference to encourage prayer and emphasize its importance in the welfare of the community. A prayer list is maintained at the church office and on the church Web site, www.fumcrsvl.org. First UMC also has a virtual prayer room that can be accessed from the Web site anywhere in the world.
River Valley Ozark, Pages 137 on 10/07/2007