About Us

Staff

Senior Pastor Bill Leslie

Associate Pastor Angie Gage

Minister to Youth Billy Fly

Minister of Music Danny Davis

Music Director Brian Pearson

Director of Media/Communications/Children's Music Karole Risker

Intern Minister Blake Schrepfer

Organist Bernard Raley

Church Administrator Denise Chipman

Custodiam Iona Stone

Directions

First United Methodist Church is located on the corners of 4th and Main Streets near downtown Paragould.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

What We Believe

The United Methodist Church is an 11-million-strong global church that opens hearts, opens doors and opens minds through active engagement with our world.

John Wesley and the early Methodists placed primary emphasis on Christian living, on putting faith and love into action. This emphasis on what Wesley referred to as "practical divinity" has continued to be a hallmark of United Methodism today.

www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.1707359/

Worship and Broadcast Schedule

Traditional Services
Sundays 8:00, and 11:00 a.m.
Traditional services take place in the sanctuary. The 11:00 service is lead by our Chancel choir and incorporates acolytes, our children who perform ceremonial duties, including lighting the candles and bringing in the Bible.

Contemporary Worship
Sundays 9:00 a.m.
The contemporary service takes place in the Fellowship Hall. This service has an upbeat feel with a praise band and casual dress. So come as you are!

Wednesdays
6:00 p.m.
FUMC offers a variety of studies for adults and music programs for children in the 1st through 6th grades.

Television
Services are broadcast on channel 6 and will feature the previous weeks' service.
The traditional service is broadcast on Sundays 9:00 a.m. The contemporary service is broadcast at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday and Mondays at 5:00 p.m.

FAQ

For more specific details about Methodism, including baptism, giving, missions and the Christian year, go to these links:

Beliefs, Salvation, Social Issues and Interreligious Issues http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.4742621/k.1E45/Beliefs_and_Social_Issues_Beliefs.htm

Sacraments and Faithful Living: Baptism (including Infant baptism), Communion, and Confirmation http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.4718951/k.BA8D/Sacraments_Baptism.htm

Leadership: Clergy, Laity, and Committees http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.4742711/k.9B7E/Leadership_Clergy.htm

Giving and Service/Missions http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.4742701/k.66C2/Giving__Service_Giving.htm

People, Places, and Things http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.4742729/k.2FD7/People_Places_and_Things_People.htm

Worship, The Christian Year, and Weddings http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.4742751/k.4612/Worship__Christian_Year_Worship.htm

History

Methodism came to Paragould in the form of organized worship in February 1883. Rev. F.E. Taylor, pastor of the Greensboro Circuit, Jonesboro District, preached in an unfinished store building on the south side of West Main Street. This was the first organized church in Paragould.

First Methodist Church was formed with thirteen members in the summer of 1883. On August 18, 1883, the church was given some property on the southeast corner of Second and Emerson. That summer and fall and frame building was erected. This was the first church building in Paragould.

A new building began in 1894 on the northeast corner of Third and Emerson.

Construction at the present site began in 1924. The first service as held on Sunday, November 21, 1926. That same week the North Akransas Conference held its session in our building. The cornerstone was finally placed in April 1931.

Men's Bible Class in 1923