Save Those Dates

Here are the dates and locations for our major events, please mark your calendar so you can attend.

Refuge – November 5-7, 2010 – Camp Ozark (Mt. Ida)

Veritas – February 25-27, 2011 – Hot Springs Convention Center

Choir Tour – June 27-July 3, 2011- AR churches

Jr. High Assembly – July 20-23, 2011 – University of the Ozarks, Clarksville

Sr. High Assembly – July 23-26, 2011 – University of the Ozarks, Clarksville

Methodist Family Health Big Dam Bridge Walk and Youth Service Fund Wild River Country Lock-in – August 5, 2011 (Tentative)

Youth 2011

Youth 2011 is the national youth gathering for the United Methodist Church. It is an event that only happens every four years and is the largest single gathering of UMC youth in existence. This four day conference will bring together top United Methodist leaders as well as the best ecumenical speakers, bands and talent with thousands of youth from all around the nation for what is sure to be a life-changing event that consists of:

* Passionate Worship Experiences
* Concerts
* Bible Study
* Small Groups
* Breakout Workshops and Trainings
* Interactive Exhibits
* Onsite Mission Opportunities
* Late-night Fun and Games and more!

Our denomination has a diverse membership that holds varying worldviews. Youth 2011 will be focused on what unites our denomination: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The goal of the Youth event is to accomplish this while reflecting the depth and breadth of United Methodist Christians. The Design Team, speakers, and breakout leaders are all committed to this goal.

For the first time, we are holding the event twice on opposite sides of the country to better serve our denomination. We don’t want anyone to miss out on the “More Than” experience. Youth 2011 will be held at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN July 13-17, 2011 and the Sacramento Convention Center in Sacramento, CA July 27-31.

YOUTH 2011 website

Wild River Country Lock In

Friday Night, August 6, 2010
HOURS 8:30p.m-1:30a.m. Saturday Morning
$20.00 (Tax included) per person (a portion of the admission charge goes to YSF).BONUS: $1 for each paid admission over 500 will go to YSF from Wild River Country.
Purchase your tickets at the park when you arrive.Check, cash or credit card accepted.
No season passes or courtesy passes can be used for lock-in which is a private event.

◆ All chaperones admitted free. One Chaperone is required for every 12 youth in group.
◆ Tickets for group must be purchased by chaperone. Please have group wait in parking lotuntil tickets are distributed. No ticket will be sold to a youth without a chaperone present.
◆ Park gate will be locked. No youth will be allowed to leave without an adult chaperone.
◆ Food and beverages may not be brought inside the park.
◆ Food service facilities open all night.
◆ Cut-offs and suits with metal rivets or buckles may not be worn.
◆ Management and safety personnel on duty all night. Each attraction is supervised by attentive, highly trained lifeguards.Medical personnel are on duty at all times in our fully equipped First Aid Station.
◆ Life jackets are provided free of charge to non-swimmers and weak swimmers.

Senior High Assembly

“The Simple Life”
Based on the Three General Rules of John Wesley:
1. Do Good.
2. Do No Harm.
3. Stay in Love with God.

Cost: $155July 14-17 at Hendrix CollegeRegister online at www.arumc.org/register

Guest Speaker – Omar Al-Rikabi

Rev. Omar Al-Rikabi is the Campus Minister and Executive Director of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Arkansas. Omar is a Texas native, born to a Methodist mother from the U.S. and a Muslim father from Iraq. A life-long Methodist, he was baptized and grew up in First United Methodist Church of Carrollton, Texas. Omar graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in history from Texas A&M University, and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary.Omar served as Associate Youth Pastor at his home church in Carrollton from 2002 to 2004. While a student at Asbury, he spent three years interning for the Dean of the Chapel, which included the Chapel Worship Design Team helping create three weekly worship services. After graduation in August of 2007, Omar joined the UofA Wesley staff.Omar’s wife of five years is Jennifer Horowitz, who earned her master’s degree in counseling from Asbury Seminary. They have one daughter named Sadie, and another child on the way in late October. Omar is also a writer and a storyteller, and you can read more from him at www.firstbornstories.com.

Worship Leader-Kyle Cantrell
Kyle grew up in Ada, Oklahoma in a very strong Christian home.  With such a deep background in ministry, it is easy to see how God uses Kyle in such great ways.  His experiences in Campus Ministry, 8 years of Youth Ministry, and fulltime Worship Leading in churches, camps, and revivals have given Kyle an opportunity to see God move in many different ways.

His freshman year of college Kyle joined a music ministry leading worship in churches across the state of Oklahoma.  It was through that ministry he received His call into fulltime ministry.

“We were playing at a revival in the panhandle of Oklahoma when God really got my attention.  I can’t tell you what the preacher said, I just remember knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was calling me to serve Him fulltime.  I didn’t know if He wanted me to be a Pastor, Youth Pastor, or Worship Leader.  I just knew He wanted me!  My passion was playing music for Him and leading people into His presence, but I wanted to go wherever He led.”

Over the next few years, God began to reveal His will for Kyle’s life.  Kyle went on staff at the Campus Ministry and began leading worship, teaching Bible Studies, and planning ministry events.  Kyle was also involved in a Christian band that played his own music.  From there Kyle got the opportunity to start a modern worship services for a church in Ada, and to go on staff as Youth Pastor.