As Christians, we have to drown out the extra distractions and focus on the commandment in Mark 12, to love our neighbors as ourselves. When we do this, we reflect the love of Jesus that each and every person desperately needs to experience while on earth.

Loving others starts by building deep and meaningful relationships. When we can empathize with others, this is when we can truly love.

When we serve, our hearts are postured outwardly so we can see and meet the needs of those around us. Serving is a selfless act. Serving humbles us. We have the opportunity to meet people in the middle of their heartbreak, joy, sorrow and pain.

Loving your neighbor looks like meeting people where they’re at, sitting with people in their pain, laying your life down for others with no expectation of it being reciprocated.

To encourage means: “to inspire with courage, spirit or hope”. To do this right, a speaker produces powerful words. Words are not powerful merely because they produce an emotional reaction, the power lies within the intention of the speaker’s heart. Why is this crucial to understand?

Imagine making a decision between keeping your baby clean, dry and healthy and putting food on the table. This is what diaper poverty looks like.

As we enter 2023, it is important that we look back on 2022 and reflect on all that has happened. Reflection reminds us that our work is not finished. There are still hungry families, gun violence, kids entering the foster care system and people in need of hope.

When we are chasing the desires God has placed on our heart, this is when we step into His will for our lives. As the year ends, what does this look like for you? What has the Lord placed on your heart?

The holidays bring a time to give more than we have received as Jesus commands his followers to do in Acts 20:35. A giving heart is one that should be cultivated not only during the Christmas season, but all year long. What would it look like if we gave without constraints?

The holiday season is near. With this much anticipated season comes joy, time with loved ones, memories and peace as we are forced to reckon with the miraculous birth of Jesus. For others, though, this time of year comes with heartache, disappointment, grief and sadness.

Every Arkansan wants to equip and encourage others to serve and love their neighbors. The mission field is right where the Lord has you.

We already know that we are or will face hard times in our lives. When we do, we have two different ways to respond: we can face them alone and be tossed around from one storm to another with temporary happiness, or we can consider it pure joy and face trials with God by our side.

God has called us to love people, love your neighbor. It is as simple as that. We need to go back to this simple command. We need to break down barriers we’ve had for so many years to be the change. Centro Cristiano in Little Rock, Arkansas is doing just this.

Purpose is started and driven by relationships. At the end of the day, every believer’s purpose is found in discipleship. It’s all about teaching, learning and doing.

Education is one of the most important careers in society. Without teachers, the next generation would not exist. Coming alongside teachers looks like ensuring they feel loved, seen and important during a time when teaching comes with extra baggage.

Patience comes directly from Jesus and a mindset that we must have compassion and grace, everyday, for others.

The heartbeat of youth ministry is to see kids come to know and love Jesus. In a world where kids encounter death, it is a fight for faith.

With a heart for cooking and kids, Jordan Jones prepares two hot meals a day to ensure hungry kids are fed at the Dream Center.

It all started with a mission trip to Atlanta.

The most vulnerable in Arkansas are overwhelmed and underserved. Meeting their needs starts by building relationships to plant Gospel seeds.

With education and relationships, poverty can end as kids wholeheartedly chase their God-given dreams and pursue a future free from economic bondage.

From her time teaching and writing curriculum for elementary students, Day brings her expertise and knowledge to the Dream Center as she oversees educational enrichment. Day knows the importance of reading proficiently and the role it plays in lifting kids out of poverty.

In early 2020, as the world entered the global pandemic, Center Ridge Missionary Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, saw a population who was left uncared for. In the middle of chaos, Center Ridge saw their neighbors who were in need. Gloved and masked up, the church loaded up their van with resources to help those living in homelesness.

As Christians, National Hispanic Heritage Month means more than just a celebration of a culture. As sons and daughters of Christ, Christians can celebrate the manifold wisdom of God displayed in His eternal plan through the church.

Tray’s blood test revealed he was suffering from malnutrition. Malnutrition is an issue we think children in other countries encounter. However, many children in Arkansas suffer from a lack of nutritious foods as well. We can end malnourishment through feeding programs.

All the things surrounding you that also affect your healthcare are called social determinants of health. This is your economic stability, education, healthcare access, neighborhood that you live in and the social context of your family. When it comes to kids in Arkansas, social determinants of health are huge.

At the heart of foster care is reunifying families. The goal is to see the needs of the community and help families get their kids back. To meet this goal, a strong community of support must be built. For both foster kids and families, support is needed.

The holidays are almost here and this season comes with the opportunity to give back. For the 474,739 people living in poverty in Arkansas, this season also comes with extra burdens.

Finding peace in a world driven by division and anxiety is not easy but we have been given a path to find it through Jesus.

When we choose to have hope, we choose to believe in the good in the midst of negativity. We choose to believe in the strength that only Jesus can bring in the darkest seasons. We also choose to believe that there is newness that the Lord wants to bring into our lives.

Whether you are hosting your family for Christmas or looking for ways to help your kids burn energy, we have you covered with Christmas activities to do with your family.

As Christians, we strive to exemplify and reflect the heart of Christ in all that we do. Because we are followers of Him, this radically changes the way we talk, think and react. In all things, Christ calls us to love others. When we love others, we seek forgiveness and strive for reconciliation.

Imagine celebrating your birthday without a cake. For many kids at the Arkansas Dream Center, this is what their birthdays have looked like- no cake, no party. For families living in poverty, hosting a birthday party and buying a cake is often an extra expense in their budget.

When others come alongside those living in poverty, this is when barriers are lifted. Especially for youth populations, mentorship plays a crucial role in ensuring kids can step into successful lives. Mentorship holds others accountable, builds relationships and encourages others in their walk of life. Mentorship impacts years of generational poverty.

The impact of a mattress goes far beyond a good night's rest, mattresses change lives. In the middle of dark seasons and trials, a mattress brings hope. CityServe Arkansas has seen this impact in the lives of Arkansans across the state.

If transformation is to happen in cities across America, as neighbors we have to become available. Being available means inviting people and creating a time for connection. To create this community in your neighborhood, a great event to host is a block party.

The trip was filled with smiles, memories, new experiences and friendships. Every spring, the Arkansas Dream Center takes kids on a Spring Break trip. This annual trip allows kids who might not ever leave the state experience their world outside of Central Arkansas. The trip is an opportunity the kids don’t want to miss, anticipation and excitement builds around it.

Over the years, the Dream Center has seen just how important it is for teens to have their first job. To create this experience, the Dream Center offered youth an employment opportunity. As youth hires, teens played a vital role throughout summer programming

Disciple-making is a biblical commandment, Spirit-empowered duty of every disciple of Jesus to evangelize to unbelievers, baptize believers, teach them the Word of Christ and train them to obey Christ as members of His church.

The days are getting longer, the school year is ending and the warm Arkansas air has returned. These changes signal the start of summer. With summer comes the best season to enjoy the Natural State. Invite your friends, get your family together and visit these summer activities in Central Arkansas.

Following Jesus is more than just a one-time profession of faith, it is a lifelong pursuit. Following Jesus is giving up all the world has to offer, selfish desires and a life of sin. It is instead saying “yes” to the heart of a loving Father, the king of kings and Lords of Lords, a God who will never leave or forsake His people.

To a bystander, homelessness is tangible. The lack of resources is noticeable. For the 13,907 kids that are homeless in Arkansas, 90% are doubled-up. This means students are living with others rather than in a home with their family. This makes it difficult to identify students in need of extra support so they can be lifted out of their situation.

For Shaneka Carrotheis, mother of two from Little Rock, her day begins like most mom’s. She wakes her kids up and gets them to school. For Carrotheis though, she doesn’t see her kids in the afternoons when they get home. Working evenings, most nights she comes home exhausted and ready for bed. She stresses about feeding her kids and helping them get their homework done. For single mothers, this is their reality.

For Caleb Shreve, CityServe Arkansas has played an important role in reaching sobriety. In 2020, Shreve entered an addiction recovery program. Since then, he has been on the journey of recovery.

Pastor Eduardo Abril from De Queen, Arkansas shepherds a church of 100 people at El Centro Cristiano De Queen. Not only is Abril a full-time pastor, he is also a full-time bank officer. For 20 years, he has been balancing his family, church and career as a banker. His story is similar to the over one-million pastors across the United States. This statistic speaks to the need to support and encourage pastors.

It is easy to get caught up in God’s will for our lives. We are left wondering and waiting. We ask questions about the future and fear God will not provide. In the middle of deciding the best next steps, there are callings each believer has on their lives. While it is easy to get caught up in God’s specific will for your life, believers can rest in the fact that God has already given each of us a calling.

A full-time pastor, a full-time bank officer, Lions Club member, planning commissioner, board member for local development center and most importantly a father, Pastor Eduardo Abril from De Queen, Arkansas truly does it all. He knows firsthand what it takes to balance family and work.

For families across the United States, food insecurity is a crisis. With growing inflation, buying food is more expensive, even with government assistance. This crisis impacts 467,550 people in Arkansas. Of those people, 134,690 are children. When parents have proper access to food, this is when they are able to truly provide for their children.

Psalms 23 is a praise of worship for the mountain top moments and seasons in dark valleys. It is a reminder that God leads, protects and guides His people. His presence brings peace and His plans for His people are good. Every Arkansan staff shared their reflections on these six verses and the promises of God that are in each. Their reflections speak into the character of God and the path He has set out for those who love Him.

Pastors care for the needs of their flock. As shepherds of God’s people, pastors are there to teach, direct, lead and pray for their church. As they pour out themselves for the sake of making Jesus’ name known, they are often left without their cup being filled. CityServe Arkansas sees this need and understands the importance of caring for pastors. With a network of 386 churches across Arkansas, CityServe wants to come alongside and encourage pastors as they selflessly lead their churches.