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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. She comes home just in time to see her oldest child, but her youngest is already fast asleep. For single mothers, this is their reality.

For moms across the state, working to make ends meet comes with extra stressors. There are bills to be paid, groceries to buy, gas to pay for and kids to parent all by themselves. Along with the day-to-day stressors, there are also looming financial challenges of the future. Moms are thinking about buying their kids first car and sending their kid to college. Single moms need support.

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.

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.

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.

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

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. 

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. 

From serving vulnerable populations, Every Arkansan knows that generational poverty at its core is the lack of relationships. 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.

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.

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.