There was a lot to celebrate at our 2022 Bishops’ Club Luncheon! The theme of spring, planting seeds, and new life was palpable during our May 13 gathering at Highland Valley United Methodist Church in Little Rock. A record attendance crowd heard from featured speaker Ellis Arnold, President of Hendrix College; had the opportunity to visit with several grant recipients; and were introduced to over a dozen of our Seminary Scholarship recipients.
Rev. Wayne Clark and the Chair of the Board of Directors, Ginny Kurrus, offered remarks celebrating all of the ministries that Bishops’ Club members make possible as 100% of their gift is directed to our grant ministry. Rev. Clark also noted that the Foundation’s assets have increased, new accounts have flourished, and the number of new churches opening accounts is rising.
In his speech, Arnold spoke about the value of investing in our Methodist institutions. He shared his personal experience in the United Methodist Church as a youth, young adult, parent, and college president. Representatives from Arkansas Imagination Library, the Dr. Jocelyn Elders School of Allied and Public Health at Philander Smith College, Highland Valley UMC Infant Care Ministry, Kairos Prison Ministry, and Micah Fellows Program set up tables to share about their ministry and work and visited with Bishops’ Club members on the impact of the grants they received in 2021.