Pastor Davis Thompson came to First UMC, North Little Rock in June, 2010. He has served 31 years as an ordained elder in seven Arkansas appointments before coming to North Little Rock from First UMC in Searcy. Pastor Davis has also served 17 years on the Board of Ordained Ministry of the Little Rock, North Arkansas and Arkansas Boards of Ordained Ministry.
A native of Pine Bluff, (Dollarway High School), he received a bachelor of arts from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1976 and a master of divinity degree from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, MO, in 1978.
He enjoys doing yard work, knitting, music and noodling on the computer. He is an avid Razorback fan (to the degree that he cannot stand to see them lose). He was an athlete in high school and bicycles and walks in a vain attempt to get back in shape.
He and his wife Laura, also a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, have three children, all living on their own. Laura and Davis are also proud grandparents of Charlotte (age 3 in May) and Nathaniel (born 12/27/2009).
Most of all, he loves the church. His mission in life is quite simple: to equip the saints for the ministry in Christ Jesus. His baptism informs who he is – claimed by grace to be a child of God and called by God to live into God’s claiming. His passion is to know Christ in all God’s fullness and to lead others into a saving relationship with Jesus.
Rev. Thompson can be contacted at 501-835-2201 or emailpastordavis@nlrfumc.org
Associate Pastor: Rev. James (Will) William Choate
The Reverend Will Choate grew up in Beebe, AR and graduated from Beebe High School in 1999. He went on to earn his bachelor’s in Business Finance from Arkansas State University (2003) and his Master of Divinity from Southern Methodist University (2007). Will is married to Audra Arant-Choate who is a nurse practitioner at UAMS.
Brent came to First United Methodist Church in 1993 after moving from Pine Bluff.He came to Arkansas in 1988 to Jefferson Regional Medical Center to help the hospital start with their Open Heart Surgery Program and provided the training of the Critical Care Nurses to support that program.
Brent grew up in Bagley, Minnesota and graduated from High School there.He completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an area of Vocal and Instrumental Music in 1975.He then completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1985 with an area of emphasis in Emergency and Critical Care.In 1994 he completed a Master in Management from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Brent began the path to ministry approximately 3 years ago under the mentorship of Jim Robnolt and Guy Whitney and completed this past July prior to being appointed as Associate Pastor in September 2011.
He and wife Pam have four children: Brandon of Jacksonville, Claudia, Rosemary of North Little Rock and Elizabeth of Wichita Kansas.Pam and Brent have two grandchildren and another on the way. He and Pam were both nurses at the Veterans Hospital where she is still employed following his retirement this past year.
Brent spent 38 plus years in the military with deployments to Vietnam, for three tours, and more recently to Germany for a 13 month tour.He met Pam in the U.S. Army following assignment to a hospital unit in Arkansas.He retired in 2006.
Following his appointment to First United he is the Pastoral Care minister and makes visits to the hospitals, nursing homes and the shut-ins.He can be contacted at the church at the following number: 835-2201 or cell: 773-6816.
A 1969 graduate of Mt. Saint Marys and began working in the insurance industry. My husband, Richard, and I moved to Stuttgart in 1976 to work for an insurance agency. We have two daughters, Heather and Hollie and one granddaughter, Morgan. In 2000, I accepted a job as the secretary of Grand Avenue United Methodist Church. Following my husband’s retirement in March 2006, we moved to Little Rock to take care of my mother. I enjoy walking, water aerobics and my favorite is spending time with my granddaughter.
Jessie Griffith came to NLR First United Methodist church in the spring of 2007. She has served as a children’s minister for 8 years between the United Methodist Church and the Disciples of Christ Church. Having not been raised in the united Methodist church, Jessie enrolled in eChristianEd at Southern Columbia University for a 3 Year course of study with a specific focus on Methodist theology and Christian education. At Annual Conference 2011 she was awarded the Para-Professional certification in Children’s Ministry granted by The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the Arkansas Board of Ordained Ministry. She currently serves on the Conference Council on Children’s Ministry (C.C.C.M.). This Council uses our connectional ties to act as a resource for information, training and support to all congregations serving children and families in Arkansas.
Born in the mountains of West Virginia and raised in central Arkansas (Sylvan Hills High School class of 1995), Jessie is a proud mother to four children; Zoie, Sadie, Emma and Jonah Griffith. Her calling in life is twofold…being the best mother she can be and reaching out to children in her community. Her passion for helping children develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is exhilarating for the children, their parents and the many volunteers who work towards making Christian education exciting, relevant and memorable for all of God’s children. She believes the children are the church of today, not the church of tomorrow. Each has a vital role in the faith community and the surrounding community for making disciples and for the transformation of the world.
Kurt Kennedy graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana with a Bachelor of Music in Education Degree (vocal major, piano minor). After serving 4 years in the USAF as a Command Post Controller he returned to Louisiana to earn his Master of Music Degree in Vocal Performance/Choral Conducting. While working on his Masters, he was employed as a part-time choir director and full-time Assistant/Accompanist for the Opera Workshop Department at SLU. After college he taught high school music in Baton Rouge, LA, before moving into full-time church music employment. A church musician since Jr. High School, he has served various churches and denominations in Louisiana, Wyoming, Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas and abroad. In 1999, after 12 years as Director of Music and the Arts at Winfield UMC in Little Rock, he became Director of Music Ministries at NLR First UMC.
Kurt has served on the Boards of various professional organization including: Past-President of The Fellowship of United Methodist in Music and Worship Arts; Past-Chair of the AR American Guild of English Handbell Ringers; Past-CHIME Chair for the AGEHR Area VI (AR, LA, MS, TN & AL); Past-Chair for the North AR Worship Committee and was chosen to serve on the National FUMMWA Archives Committee. He currently serves on the ACT Board (Argenta Community Theater), and continues to promote excellence in music throughout this state and others.
He has served as Clinician, Instructor and Worship Leader at the local, state and Area level with the AGEHR andFUMMWA. Other interests (past and present) include musical theatre, light opera and ball room dancing. He was a founding member and President of the Gilbert and Sullivan Repertory Theatre in Baton Rouge, La. and performed as a soloist and chorus member for several community choruses, including the River City Men's Chorus in Little, AR with whom he currently sings.
Kurt and Linda (wife, accompanist, and organist for over 40 years) reside in Maumelle, AR where they reared 2 talented daughters and now have two beautiful (and brilliant!) grandchildren.
In his professional, pre-retirement life, Karl transferred to Arkansas from Connecticut with Remington Arms, as a mechanical/packaging engineer. Although, he looked forward to retirement from his professional career, he just couldn't sit around doing nothing. He accepted the job of Communications Director at FUMC. After several years he assumed his current position. His responsibility covers anything dealing with FUMC facilities. He is a creative person and his hobbies are many. He loves any project involving computer graphics. He also assists the UMW craft group with their projects, fixes those broke things or just makes new if required. He loves to sing and is a member of the church choir, the small men's choir. He is a whistler, you always know he is in the building.
Paul received BS and MS degrees in Pharmacy from the University of Louisiana Monroe. He was employed as a supervisory pharmacist with the Department of Veterans Affairs until his retirement in 1997. Paul took a short course in Church Business and Financial Administration at Emory University in preparation for a second career. He has been active in several capacities at NLR FUMC including having served as Chair of the Stewardship Committee, as Lay Leader and as Lay Member of the North Arkansas Conference. He is a member of the Chancel Choir. Beyond the local church, he has served as Treasurer of the Northside United Methodist Men, as a member of the Nominations Committee for Conway District, as as a member of the North Arkansas Conference Council on Lay Life and Work.
Mr. Lasseigne can be contacted at 501-835-2201 or email pwl@nlrfumc.org.
Youth Coordinator: Todd Lovell
Raised in Perryville, AR where he was involved in various church activities. Attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR where he received a degree in Christian Studies with an emphasis in Christian Theology. Todd has worked in several different youth settings such as conferences, camps, retreat centers, and churches and looks forward to using all of his experiences in offering a unique style and approach to evangelizing the youth of today.
A native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Connie has a B.S. degree in marketing from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She has worked in the banking industry for 21 years, the last 13 years of her career in the student loan business. She has been an active member of First United Methodist Church for over 11 years and been involved in UMW, Children’s Sunday School, helping with Vacation Bible School and youth activities.
She and her husband Ed, a native of North Little Rock have two daughters, Rachel and Sarah and have been married for 17 years. She has been actively involved in school activities with her daughters in the North Little Rock School District and has served in various capacities with the Girl Scout organization. She enjoys traveling and is an avid Razorback fan.
Adult Christian Education Coordinator: Bebe Walton
Bebe currently facilitates Bible studies for adults, coordinates special spiritual growth programs and helps Sunday school classes schedule teachers and select curriculum.
As a member of First United Methodist for 21 years, Bebe has been involved in many facets of the church from Sunday school teacher, Boy Scouting coordinator, Vacation Bible School director, handbell choir member to children’s handchime director. Bebe has an undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University and is currently a candidate for the ministry completing the final process for ordination as a deacon.
Mrs. Walton can be contacted at 501-835-2201 or email imbebe@comcast.net.
Children's Enrichment Center (CEC) Director: Donna Davis
Born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, she received her B. S. in Business Administration/Merchandising from Northern Illinois University. She also met and married her husband Roger there, then moved to North Little Rock where he originates. She has 2 children, Emily and Owen. Donna worked at Dillard's for 20 years, which developed a well rounded business experience. She has also been an active member of our church for over 16 years. Most of her service to the church has been in Children's ministries. She is currently on the Children's Council, Youth Council, UMW and is the Acolyte coordinator. For many years, she was involved in children's Sunday school and headed the crafts area of Vacation Bible School.
She has also been involved in Girl Scouts and services in a variety of ways in her children's schools. Her daughter Emily is in competitive soccer, so there are many weekends spend on the road to soccer tournaments. She is currently studying Isaiah with Bible Study Fellowship. Also, for the past 6 years she has been a group facilitator for Bible Study Fellowship.
Mrs. Davis can be contacted at 501-835-2903 or e-mail: ddavis@nlrfumc.org
