staff

Dr. William O. (Bud) Reeves (a.k.a. “Brother Bud”) was born in Camden, Arkansas. He grew up in Camden and Sheridan, Arkansas, graduating from Sheridan High School in 1975. He earned his B. A. degree from Hendrix College with honors in 1979, a Master of Divinity degree summa cum laude from the Divinity School of Duke University in Durham, N. C., in 1983, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Perkins School of Theology in Dallas in 2008.

Dr. Reeves entered the United Methodist ministry in 1980 and was ordained elder in 1985. He has pastored churches in Oppelo, Houston, Watson, Montrose, Lake Village, and Bryant, Arkansas. Since June of 2006 he has been the senior minister of First United Methodist Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Dr. Reeves writes a monthly column, The Shepherd’s Staff, in the Arkansas United Methodist newspaper. His articles and sermons have appeared in The Interpreter magazine, Rev. magazine, on the United Methodist News Service website, and on Len Sweet’s Preaching Plus website. In 2002, at the Little Rock Annual Conference, he was awarded the Harry Denman Award for Evangelism by the United Methodist Foundation for Evangelism. He currently serves on the boards of directors of Connected in Christ and Hendrix College.

Dr. Reeves has been married since 1980 to the former Karen Watson from Mt. Holly, Arkansas, and they have two sons, Jeremy (and his wife Leslie) and John.

Rev. Jim Benfer was born in Pasadena, Texas, and was raised and graduated nearby from Deer Park High School in 1975. He earned an A.A. from San Jacinto Junior College in 1977, and his B.A. from Texas A & M University in 1979. He first career was in catfish farming and genetic development research in the Mississippi Delta.

Rev. Benfer entered into full-time ministry in 1998, returning to Texas to serve a two-point charge in Deport/Cunningham, Texas while he went to seminary. He earned his Master of Divinity degree in 2001 from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

In 2001, he associated with the Little Rock Conference of the United Methodist Church and was appointed as Associate Pastor of First United Methodist Church, Hot Springs. He was ordained an elder in 2004 and remains appointed to this growing church. In 2006 his working title became Executive Pastor.

Rev. Benfer is married to the former Cynthia Conley from Morrilton, Arkansas, and they have four children, Josh, Sara, Kate, and Hugh. jbenfer@fumchs.com

Rev. Teresa Holt is an ordained deacon and has been with FUMC Hot Springs since fall 2006. She obtained her masters degree from Garrett-Evangelical Seminary in Chicago. She has had extensive experience in the area of church renewal and refocusing, and has served two different conferences as a church consultant. Teresa’s personal mission is to assist others in discerning their call and mission and become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Her husband, Steve is an airline pilot and they have two children, Aaron and Nicole. disciple@fumchs.com

Lisa Timbs Humphreys is currently the Business Administrator for FUMC Hot Springs. A native of Hot Springs, she graduated from Henderson State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Lisa and her husband, Bret, have two children, Hailey and Lane. lhumphreys@fumchs.com

Donna Mory is currently the an administrative assistant at FUMC. She is a native of Hot Springs and has been married to her husband, John, for 15 years. She and John have one son Matthew and two Westies, Chippy and Marcy.

Michelle Wilkins accepted the position of Administrative Secretary in September of 2006. After spending 15 years in the retail industry as an Advertising Manager and Regional Sales Manager, she decided to change directions in her life to devote more time to her children, family and the Lord! Michelle married her husband Brad, in 2003. They have three sons, Ryan and Tanner (twins), and Brennan. fumchs@fumchs.com

Tom McCarver started his 17th year of service with FUMC Hot Springs in March of 2007. He was promoted to his current position as Director of Program & Facilities in the spring of 1997. His duties include the administration and implementation of the church calendar as well as supervising the custodial staff and the physical care and maintenance of the church facilities.

Tom was born in Little Rock, AR but spent his formative years in the Malvern area and graduated from Magnet Cove High School in 1972. He holds degrees in aviation maintenance form Southern Arkansas University Tech and drafting and computer aided design from Southern Technical College. Tom spent a tour in the U.S. Air Force as a crash/fire/rescueman in Montana and managed a small non-hub regional airport in Wyoming. tmccarver@fumchs.com

Kalani Sarver was born in Hot Springs in 1972. She attended Lake Hamilton School until relocating to the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois in 1984. Kalani graduated with a BS in Elementary Education from Illinois State University. She taught Kindergarten for four years before returning to Hot Springs in 2000. She taught preschool here at the CDC for two years before taking the position as Director in 2002.

Kalani has one son, Braden, who is six years old and has been a part of the CDC since he was an infant and still attends the after school and Summer programs. cdc@fumchs.com

Dr. Ron Hall is senior music minister at FUMC of Hot Springs. His duties include overseeing the entire music ministry of the church, directing the adult Chancel Choir, Jubilation! and Celebration! Handbell choirs, developing youth music ministries, and providing worship leadership in both the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday services.

Before coming to Hot Springs, Dr. Ron Hall was serving as Director of Music Ministries for First United Methodist Church of Fort Payne, Alabama and was part of the adjunct music faculty at Northeast Alabama Community College in Rainsville, Alabama.. Prior to these places of service, he was Director of Choral Activities at Southern Arkansas University and Minister of Music at First United Methodist Church of Magnolia, Arkansas for two years and spent the previous five years as choral director at Benton High School.

Dr. Hall earned a Bachelor of Music in Education degree from Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in piano and choral directing. He earned his Master of Music in church music ministry and Doctor of Musical Arts in musicology degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, Texas.

Dr. Ron and his wife Shelly have four children and six grandchildren. rhall@fumchs.com

Mike Lovelady is serving as Music Minister at First United Methodist Church in Hot Springs.

Mike is a native of Hot Springs and a 1984 graduate of Hot Springs High School. He attended college at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville with his emphasis being in Journalism. Mike spent three years as a professional drummer/ keyboard player and songwriter in Nashville, TN, playing both studio and live road work. There he began to develop a deeper love and passion for Worship Leading.

Mike has served as a Worship Leader/ Music Minister in Arkansas for over 11 years. He has served at St. James UMC, Cornerstone UMC and Henderson UMC in Little Rock as well as Oakley Chapel UMC in Rogers. Recently Mike was the co-pastor and worship leader at The River, A Fellowship Bible Church Community in Conway.

He is married to Kelley (Maddox) Lovelady who teaches Music Education in the Malvern Public School system. They have 3 children, Brandon , Kristen and Lauren. mlovelady@fumchs.com

Bill Skaggs is now the full time youth minister at FUMC. billskaggsminister@gmail.com

Rachel Hogue, Director of Children’s Ministries, received her B.S.E. in elementary education from Arkansas Tech University, although she spent most of her college years as a Bulldog at Mississippi State. Rachel began serving as the Director of Children’s Ministries in August of 2006. She is married to Blake Hogue, and they have 3 sons, Sam, Jake Henry & Gabriel. cminister@fumchs.com

Sarah Orr is the Communications Director at FUMC Hot Springs. She has been at FUMC since 2005. Sarah earned her B.A. degree in Communications from Ouachita Baptist University. She earned her M.S. degree in Sports Administration (Parks & Recreation) from Henderson State University.

Sarah’s husband, Bruce, is the Principal at Lakeside High School and they have two little girls, Carly & Riley. communication@fumchs.com

Candy Poirier is Outreach Ministries and Hospitality and has been on staff for 4 years. She is married to Greg and has 2 children, Hillary at UA and Greg Jr. at Kenasaw State in Georgia. In the past she has coordinated the Singles Ministry, Senior Saints and Adult Ministries. Still overseeing the Senior Saints, she works with Mission Ministries, Hospitality (Greeters, Curbside Angels, Welcome Center), and new member assimilation. cpoirier@fumchs.com