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. Leon Gray
Rev. Gray is new to our church family. Rev. Gray will be the preacher for our 10:45 Contemporary Service. We also welcome Leon's wife, Libby, who is the Administrative Assistant for the Arkansas Conference Ministries Office. Rev. Gray's primary responsibilities will be to develop our Contemporary Worship Service which will begin October 5.
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.
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.
Jessica Griffith is a native to central Arkansas. She was raised in Sherwood and graduated from Sylvan Hills in the top 10% of her class. She has always had a deep interest in influencing the lives of children. She has held varied position in early childhood education. Most recently, she worked with children 6 weeks to 5 years old at Lakewood United Methodist Mothers day out program.
Being brought up in the Disciples of Christ church, Jessie comes to FUMC from First Christian Church in Little Rock. There she was the director of Children and Youth Ministries. While at First Christian, Jessie also sang in the women’s ensemble. Worshiping Christ through music is very fulfilling to her.
Jessie is married to Gabriel Griffith who is a local artist with several public works in Little Rock and North Little Rock. Gabriel is also the Art Director for the ARC of Arkansas (a non-profit organization that supports adults with developmental disabilities). The Griffith’s have 4 young children. Zoie is 10, Sadie is 7, Emma is 5 and Jonah is 2. The girls attend Lakewood Elementary.
Jessie is very excited to use her experience and passion for reaching children here at FUMC. She is experienced in creating a fun and experiential curriculum that helps the teachings of Jesus “stick” with the children. Her goal is to nurture the spiritual growth of children and their families.
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.
Having always been active in professional organizations, he currently serves as President of The Fellowship of United Methodist in Music and Worship Arts, is 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, was chosen to serve on the National FUMMWA Archives Committee and has always worked to promote excellence in music throughout this state and others.
He has acted as Clinician, Instructor and Worship Leader at the local, state and Area level with the AGEHR, enjoys creative writing and has published articles in the Overtones magazine. Other interests (past and present) include repertory theatre, musical theatre and light opera. 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. While living in Mississippi he fulfilled a life-long calling to master the Ballroom Dance. After training, he instructed and competed for an Authur Murray Dance Studio, followed by a private studio.
In addition to his work at the church and with the Fellowship of United Methodist in Music and Worship Arts, he enjoys spending time on the other side of the music stand as a singer with the River City Men's Chorus in Little Rock. Kurt and Linda 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.
