Two Services, One Congregation in West Little Rock
Asbury United Methodist Church has been moving west with the city of Little Rock for more than a century. The congregation gathers at 1700 Napa Valley Drive, just south of Pulaski Academy and across the street from the Terry Library, in a part of town known as West Little Rock. On Sunday mornings, two services draw different crowds into the same community of faith: a traditional 9:00 am Sanctuary Worship with classic hymns and choir, and an 11:00 am LAUNCH Worship with a praise band and modern songs. The whole church comes together between them at 10:00 am for Sunday School, and the building fills again on Wednesday evenings for a program the church calls Refuel.
Senior Pastor Susan Ledbetter, Associate Pastor Kelly Blome, and a team of ministry directors lead a congregation that runs a Christian preschool during the week, hosts the oldest continuously operating Boy Scout troop west of the Mississippi, and serves its neighbors through a food and diaper pantry, mission trips, and prison ministry. The mood is unmistakably West Little Rock, with architecture, parking lots, and the steady arrival of cars on Sunday morning, but the heartbeat of the church is older than its current address.
A Westward March Since 1888
Asbury began in 1888 as a mission of First Methodist Episcopal Church South and Winfield Episcopal Methodist Church South. The new congregation first met in an old store building on Eighth Street, near the heart of what was then a small capital city. By 1906, members could see that Little Rock was expanding westward, and in 1908 Asbury moved into a new sanctuary at Twelfth and Schiller, becoming the first mission to serve what was already being called West Little Rock.
The pattern repeated itself in the late twentieth century. On July 10, 1980, the church voted to relocate once again, and the first Sunday in the new facilities at 1700 Napa Valley Drive was November 21, 1982. Almost immediately, the congregation outgrew the new building and added classrooms and parking. The vision that guided those 1888 pioneers in an old grocery store continues to guide Asbury today: a community of faith reaching out to West Little Rock in ministry and service to God.
Two Services on Sunday Morning
Sanctuary Worship at 9:00 am follows a more formal pattern. The congregation worships through traditional hymns, the historic Creeds, responsive readings, the proclamation of the Word, and the leadership of a traditional choir. LAUNCH Worship at 11:00 am is a more relaxed gathering. A praise and worship band leads contemporary songs, multi-media accompanies the service, and the sermon addresses how Scripture speaks into everyday life. Both services are broadcast on YouTube, and a sermon archive stretches back many months for anyone who wants to catch up.
Greeters stationed at either side of the building on Sunday morning help newcomers find the service they are looking for. Parking is available along the north and west (rear) sides of the building. Anyone who cannot drive is invited to call the church office at 501-225-9231 to request a ride to a worship service. An infant nursery for children from birth through age two is open during both worship services and the Sunday School hour, from 8:30 am to noon in Room 229.
Sunday School for Every Stage of Life
Between the two services, Asbury fills its classrooms at 10:00 am. The Adult Ministry offers a choice of classes designed for different stages and interests:
- Next Phase (ages 30s to 40s, Room 104) studies the Bible and curriculum based on current events, and joins in service projects and social activities.
- Horizons (ages 45 to 65, Room 103) includes couples and singles who lead lively discussions on books of the Bible and current topics.
- Emmanuel (ages 60 and up, Room 101) discusses scripture, hosts occasional video studies, and supports Methodist Family Health, the Asbury food and diaper pantries, Stone Soup, and Canvas Church in downtown Little Rock.
- Mahalo (ages 20 to 65, Room 121) is a newer class built around gratitude, prayer, fellowship, and Biblically-based study guides.
- New Directions (ages 50 to 90s, Room 227) welcomes members who describe themselves as an extended family focused on applying God's Word to daily life.
- The Journey is a relaxed, come-as-you-are class for parents with young children, offering friendly conversation and practical encouragement.
Students in grades 6 through 12 meet for Sunday School at 10:00 am as well, with Bible-based lessons that leave space for questions and discussion. Children's Sunday School classes fill rooms 222 through 226 on the second floor.
Wednesday Nights: Refuel
The midweek rhythm at Asbury is called Refuel, and it is built around the idea that there is always a seat at the table. At noon, Pastor Susan leads a Verse Mapping Class in the library, taking a different verse each week and walking through it word by word with online tools. At 6:00 pm, students in grades 6 through 12 gather for small-group Bible studies and conversations. At 6:30 pm, the Wally Gee men's Bible study opens to men in their late twenties through seventies and walks through books of the Bible (currently the book of Ephesians). At the same hour, the Chancel Choir rehearses in the Choir Room, and a women's group study meets elsewhere in the building.
A Kids Club for children through second grade and a separate gathering for third through fifth grade run alongside. The Refuel schedule changes from season to season.
Children from Cradle through Fifth Grade
Children are welcomed as full participants in the life of Asbury from their earliest Sundays. The infant nursery cares for children from birth through age two during worship services and Sunday School (Sundays 8:30 am to noon, Room 229). Pre-K through fifth grade students attend Sunday School on the second floor in rooms 222 to 226. In third grade, students receive their own Bible and a special year learning how to navigate it, finding books, chapters, verses, and the additional helps in the back. Children also serve as acolytes in worship from third grade up, lighting altar candles and assisting pastors.
Asbury offers children several opportunities to take visible leadership in worship. A children's moment is offered during each service, and on many Sundays children read scripture, lead prayers, and serve as acolytes. JAM Kids (Jesus and Music) rehearses at 10:30 am on Sunday mornings in the chapel, learning Bible songs that will stay with them for a lifetime, and occasionally sharing what they have learned in worship.
Special events fill the children's calendar: Vacation Bible School in the evenings (5:30 to 7:30 pm) for children age 3 through completed fifth grade, Trunk-or-Treat on a Sunday afternoon in October, and the Easter Eggstravaganza the Saturday before Easter. Other annual moments include Third Grade Bible Sunday, Children's Sabbath, Palm Sunday Processional, Scout Sunday, and summer family events.
The church maintains Safe Gatherings certification for all adult staff and volunteers working with youth, children, and vulnerable adults, with defined policies for screening, drop-off and release, and child-to-staff ratios.
Asbury Christian Child Development Center
During the week, the same building hosts the Asbury Christian Child Development Center (ACCDC), a preschool for children from six weeks old through age five. ACCDC is open Monday through Friday, with core hours from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm and an optional full-day program from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. The school year runs from mid-August through May, with an optional summer program in June, July, and early August.
Classrooms include Infant, Transitional and Toddler, Young 2's, Older 2's, Young 3's, Older 3's, and PreK. Two year olds and up attend chapel once a week, and the school adds gardening, art, and music-and-movement classes for early childhood. Curriculum is age-appropriate and weekly includes a Bible story, a theme, a social-emotional focus, and a color, number, letter, and shape. Snacks are sometimes served, and the center asks families to notify staff of any food allergies.
Student Ministry
Asbury's student ministry welcomes young people in grades 6 through 12 for fun, fellowship, and faith formation. In addition to Sunday School at 10:00 am, the youth group gathers Sunday evenings from 4 to 6 pm for food, games, prayer, and fellowship. Wednesday nights from 6 to 7 pm offer small-group Bible studies and conversation, often meeting in the upstairs Warehouse.
Connection beyond the church walls is a major part of the program. Asbury youth are involved at the district and conference level through the Arkansas Conference Council on Youth Ministries, and they participate in annual trips and gatherings such as Refuge (grades 6 to 9), Veritas (grades 6 to 12), Asbury Retreats, Ozark Mission Project (grades 7 to 12), ARUMC Central District Unite events, and collaborative events with other youth groups.
Students serve at Stone Soup, Ozark Mission Project, Hunger Relief Army Meal Packing, the Asbury Food and Diaper Pantry, and Canvas Community Meals. The student ministry is led by Associate Pastor Kelly Blome, with Rev. Michael Robinson serving as assistant youth director.
Young Adults and Other Adults
The Young Adult Ministry is open to anyone out of high school through age 30 looking for meaningful connection and a place to grow in faith. The program is designed for college students, young professionals, and others whose schedules may be unpredictable, with the goal of making anyone who shows up feel at home and part of the community. The group stays connected through Instagram and GroupMe.
Beyond Sunday School, adults gather for Family Life Events throughout the year, a monthly Women's Book Club on the fourth Thursday evening, and various short-term studies offered seasonally. The church is also a hub for adult fellowship in the West Little Rock area, with men and women gathering regularly around shared interests.
Music That Brings Glory to God
Music is woven into the identity of Asbury. Diana Brandon, Director of Music, oversees a long tradition of musical excellence, supported by Caleb Conrad, Celebration Praise and Worship Leader, who leads the LAUNCH band. The music ministry's stated goal is to bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ through songs of worship and to serve as a healing balm to a hurting world.
The Chancel Choir is a non-audition choir that sings from mid-August through the following July at the 9:00 am Sanctuary service, with rehearsals on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the Choir Room. The LAUNCH Praise Team welcomes youth and adults as singers or instrumentalists year-round. Asbury Ringers, the church's handbell choir, plays five octaves of Schulmerich bells, chimes, and plates; the group is open to youth and adults and to those who do not read music. Ensemble Ringers plays four or five times a year and includes youth and young adults. JAM Kids introduces younger children to worship through song during the Sunday School hour.
Scouting at Asbury Since 1923
Asbury United Methodist Church is home to the oldest continuously operating Scout troop west of the Mississippi River. Founded in 1923, Boy Scout Troop 24 has been an integral part of the ministry at Asbury for more than a century. Today the church hosts:
- Cub Scouts for boys in grades 1 through 5, meeting Tuesdays at 7:00 pm.
- Boy Scouts for boys age 11 and up, meeting Tuesdays at 7:00 pm.
- Girl Scout Troop #6349, started in 2014, currently home to Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Scouts, meeting the second Tuesday of the month from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.
Through Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts, young people at Asbury take part in service, outdoor adventure, and character development rooted in faith.
Missions and Outreach
The mission of Asbury is to embody love in action for the community, grounded in John 13:34-35: "Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other." Active ministries include:
- Asbury Food and Diaper Pantry: distribution on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
- Asbury Stitchers: a sewing ministry.
- Canvas Community: a partner ministry in downtown Little Rock.
- Ozark Mission Project and Ozark Mission Project 101: home repair and service trips.
- Prison Ministry.
- Sleep in Heavenly Peace: building beds for children in need.
- Stone Soup @ Quapaw UMC: a community meal.
What Asbury Believes
Asbury's statement of belief begins with affirmations shared by all Christians: God is one and revealed in three persons; salvation comes through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; the Holy Spirit is God's present activity in the world; human beings are made in the image of the Creator; the church is the body of Christ; the Bible is the primary authority for Christian faith and practice; and the kingdom or reign of God is both a present reality and a future hope.
As United Methodist Christians, members at Asbury vow to live out their faith through Prayer, Presence, Gifts, Service, and Witness. The communion table is open to all who wish to partake, and no one has to be a member of the United Methodist Church to receive Holy Communion. Asbury welcomes all persons of every faith, race, and creed to worship, recognizes all previous baptisms, and offers a renewal of baptism for those who wish to remember their initial baptism. The church adheres to the United Methodist Discipline and belongs to the Arkansas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Getting Connected and Giving
Visitors and members stay connected through a Connection Card, weekly bulletins, a sermon archive, a church calendar, and a Realm account. Giving can be done online, by texting AsburyUMC to 73256, or by mailing a check to 1700 Napa Valley Dr., Little Rock, AR 72212. Members can also register a Kroger Plus Card to direct a portion of their purchases to Asbury without losing rewards points. The church office can be reached at 501-225-9231, and the ACCDC office at 501-225-1511.