PHUMC designed a Master Plan for our church campus and began in 2004 to build facilities for Phase One for one reason:  to fulfill our mission of growing in Christ, by God’s grace.  For more than ten years our intention has been to provide opportunities for people to become disciples of Christ and to develop our faith through worship, nurture, fellowship, ministry and mission. God blessed us and the result was a need for additional space to continue our journey of faith.

      The new three-level Disciple Center is an attractive, innovative neo-gothic architectural design that provides twenty-seven new rooms for a variety of ministries adjacent to a two-level parking deck for 206 vehicles, accessible from Woodlawn and Lee streets. New facilities include a children’s playground.  An elevator provides easy access to all levels that are monitored by an electronic surveillance system.  Total square footage built is 64,231.

      Complementing the Story Building, the Nixon Disciple Center provides space for children’s Sunday School, Children’s Learning Center weekday ministries, nursing, infant and crawler rooms, a work room and an indoor playroom.

   The youth area on the second floor includes an expansive assembly area of retro, sub-dividable design with a lounge and café, adjacent to six large class/activity rooms.   

      Scout Ministries, the Food Pantry, and a library/media center are enhanced by new and accessible spaces.  Adults are enjoying two large class/meeting rooms with electronic audio-visual capability.  

      A large multipurpose assembly hall with electronic audio-visual capabilities and an efficiency kitchen on the ground level is home to New Heights worship, fellowship and learning activities, as well as a labyrinth for spiritual meditation.

      A new entry from the courtyard/drive on the ground level provides access to the Argue Christian Life Center, kitchen, existing elevator, main building and church office.   Eventually, a sky bridge will connect the second floor of the existing Norma Story Building to the third floor of the present main building.

       A beautiful Columbarium Garden now provides a resting place and memorial to those who have joined the Church Triumphant.   Click here for details on the columbarium.

      The Disciple Center, parking deck and columbarium comprise the first “green” church structure in Arkansas to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Development (LEED) certification.  This means that certain standards were followed during construction and in selection of building materials to provide care for the environment, for energy and maintenance efficiency, and for health and safety of occupants.  As far as possible, removed or unused materials were recycled rather than merely disposed of or destroyed.  Proudly, this project reflects a theology of stewardship for God’s creation.

       These wonderful new facilities provide a place where those who enter can grow to be disciples of Jesus, to love and serve him in our community and in the world, all to the glory of God.  Thanks be to God!

To see photographs from Phase I construction, click here: JHB Construction Photos