The brand new pastor at Fort Smith United Methodist Church is a author. The Rev. Blake Bradford has penned 5 books, so he’s used to fastidiously selecting his phrases in sentences. Generally these phrases are arduous to search out and extra wanted earlier than a sermon. He discovered a approach to amend his sermon and share ideas the morning after the capturing of former president Donald Trump. It was Bradford’s second sermon as pastor on the church.
“As a people of faith, we’re horrified and saddened by the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I condemn violence as an affront to the message of love, forgiveness and reconciliation that I hold dear,” Bradford mentioned after assembly church members Sunday proper after the service.
The historic church on Fort Smith’s northside is just a few blocks from downtown. There are members from throughout the River Valley, about 1,200 of them as we speak. Rev. Invoice “Bud” Reeves retired after 9 years on the church, and Bradford took over July 14. Bradford, of Little Rock, is the previous district superintendent for Arkansas Convention of the United Methodist Church’s northwest Arkansas district. He oversaw 120 church buildings, steering tough seas as Methodists broke away from church buildings nationwide. Greater than 1 / 4 of the Arkansas United Methodist church buildings have disaffiliated, leaving 415 United Methodist church buildings statewide.
He mentioned he’s attending to know Fort Smith and the congregation right here and supplied a response to the capturing and the concern it prompted.
“When we gather as United Methodists we are focused on peace. We are focused on reconciliation, and we are focused on healing, and we are not to be distracted by fear,” Bradford mentioned.
Through the prayer time of Sunday’s service and in his sermon, he spoke about political violence.
“It is a challenging season in which we are doing ministry,” Bradford mentioned.
“We at First United Methodist Church will be lifting up our prayers for Trump and his family during this challenging time, along with the families of those who were killed in yesterday’s violence, asking for God’s comfort and peace.”
Related phrases had been echoed from contained in the Fort Smith First Baptist Church just a few blocks away, and in locations of worship the world over.
The Rev. Greg Addison, senior pastor at Fort Smith First Baptist requested the congregation Sunday to hope for peace in our tradition and for peace on the Republican Nationwide Conference that began Tuesday.
“We are going to pray for Milwaukee, so things don’t break out there. We are going to pray for our president who is leading our country. We are going to pray for former president Trump, for his safety and his family and his advisers. We are going to pray for law enforcement, Secret Service, … FBI, state and local. You never know in a moment like this what could break out. We pray for the rhetoric and the discourse in our nation to find a different path than it has been on,” Addison mentioned.
Bradford, 49, is now the youngest lead pastor at Fort Smith United Methodist. Additionally becoming a member of him is affiliate pastor, The Rev. Abbey Maynard who began July 1, as properly.
Maynard is a lifelong United Methodist who graduated from Hendrix School and Candler College of Theology, with expertise in pastoral roles targeted on group ministries. Beforehand, she served as pastor of group ministries at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock, in response to a information launch.
Bradford additionally has been reaching out to an viewers on social media.
“Abby and I are unloading our boxes and getting to know folks here in Fort Smith,” he mentioned in a Fb submit.
Bradford brings practically a decade of expertise as a district superintendent and employees member of the Arkansas Convention of the United Methodist Church, culminating in his position as dean of the Bishop’s Cupboard.
Extra:Arkansas loses 67 extra United Methodist church buildings
Bradford is a seasoned chief with a deep dedication to rising disciples and connecting the church to the group.
Bradford authored and co-authored 5 books on church management and governance, and offered workshops at conferences nationwide, in response to a church information launch.
“First United Methodist Church of Fort Smith has a legacy of outstanding fruitfulness in ministry, and the congregation has been a leader both in the River Valley and in the UMC for decades. As the church faces new opportunities in this next season ahead, I am excited to journey alongside such faithful disciples as we, together, seek to make a God-sized impact in and with the people of the larger Fort Smith community,” Bradford mentioned.
“Well bless their hearts.”
