Dear Central Family:

School is back in session.  Labor Day is nearly here.  Fall sports loom precariously in the balance.  Much about everyday life is still tinged with uncertainty as we await COVID case trends in the weeks ahead.  During this season, we have much to celebrate and a few things to make sure you have on your radar. 

Worship

In-person worship resumed on August 9.  Even though we are still limited to 50 people in attendance in worship services by conference and local guidelines, we are so excited to see people joining us in both classic and contemporary worship each week.  We are reviewing attendance patterns each week and remain hopeful that the Bishop will relax the number of people allowed to attend in-person worship.  If this does not occur, we are looking at the possibility of increasing the number of in-person worship services. 

As a reminder, attendance at our 10:45 worship services on the Dickson Street campus is available by reservation, which opens each week on Thursday for the following Sunday.  The reservation link will be in our weekly newsletter each Thursday.  If you find no space available when you attempt to register, we encourage you to put your name on the wait list.  If you make a reservation and are unable to attend, please cancel it so those on the wait list will have an opportunity to participate. 

Staffing

Over the past month a few staffing changes have occurred that we want to ensure you know.

• Dr. Daniel Rupp has been brought on to our pastoral team and will serve as the College Pastor for the UA Wesley College Ministry.  Daniel served as an intern for Central almost 20 years ago and has broad experience serving in the mission field and in ministry with students. 
• Ashley Lester has been named the Director of Children’s Ministries.  Ashley has been serving on our staff in children’s ministries for the past five years.  She has a genuine passion to impart the Word of God and the love of Jesus Christ into our children.  With able assistance from Mary Bassett and Elizabeth Fink, we believe this team will continue to do amazing things. 
• Hayden Lenderman was engaged as our interim Director of Contemporary Worship in late 2019.  Recently the Staff-Parish Relations Committee decided to remove the “interim” label.  We look forward to many great years ahead with Hayden leading our contemporary worship. 
• Sadeta Holder has been named the Director of Central Children’s Academy, replacing Kimberly Brumley, who served for over eight years, and needed to relocate to assist with some family matters.  Sadeta has previously been a teacher at the Academy and went on to serve as the director at another facility in NWA.  We are very excited to have her back.
• Keri Hays has been selected as the Director of Finance & Human Resources following a vacancy that developed in that position.  Keri brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to the position and we are very confident in her leadership of this vital part of our operation. 

Financial Update

There are no words adequate to express our gratitude to those of you who have continued to give so faithfully and so generously to Central since the pandemic commenced.  The strong giving we have experienced has allowed us to continue all of our ministries and missions at full strength, avoid any staff layoffs maintain all of our financial obligations, and provide full payment to the conference for all of our shared ministries.  We are positioned exceptionally well as move toward the final quarter of 2020. 

We are also pleased to announce that our Finance Committee will be reviewing options for refinancing our long-term debt when they meet in early September.  It is anticipated that we will be able to significantly reduce our interest expense rate and be able to accelerate the reduction of our principal balance. 

Preparation of the 2021 budget is well underway with anticipation of adoption of the budget in early October by our Church Council.  We are seeking to maintain a level budget for 2021.  We will share our Ministry Action Plan for next year with you in the fall. 

Post Office

Many of you will recall that Central purchased the Fayetteville Post Office property in 2014 and inherited a lease arrangement that had been in place for decades.  We were recently notified by the US Postal Service that they plan to exercise an option to purchase the property in July 2021 when the 50-year lease ends.  This was not entirely unexpected.  The proceeds of the fixed price sale of $1.2 million will all be applied toward principal reduction on the church’s long-term debt. 

Celebrations & Reminders

• On August 30, we celebrated the delayed confirmation of 26 young people into the membership of the church following completion of their confirmation class experience in the spring of 2020.   A new confirmation class is registering now to start in September.  More information is available on our website. 
• Adult Ministries has announced several weekly fall classes are available and open for registration.  Most are offered online, but a few will be on-campus.  Classes are offered both during the day and in the evenings.  Checkout the lineup on our website. 
• Central Student Ministries has commenced their fall schedule with Junior High on-campus meetings each Wednesday evening and Senior High on-campus meetings each Sunday evening.  In addition, a one-day fall retreat is scheduled for both junior high and senior high in late September.  Registration is open now on our website. 
• Central Children’s Ministries recently held a Back to School Drive-Thru Blessing on the church campus with dozens of families participating.  On-campus KidsLife meetings will resume each Wednesday evening for third-sixth graders in mid-September.  Sunday morning online classes are also available.  Registration for KidsLife and more information about online classes can be found on our website. 

 

Serving Christ Together,

Dr. Jan Davis

Senior Pastor 

 

Dr. Steve Pulliam

Executive Pastor

 

Brian Swain

Executive Director