Our History
“We are not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners.”
Before there was Theressa Hoover United Methodist Church, the building (4000 West 13th Street, Little Rock) housed the Highland United Methodist congregation. During the Central High School Crisis of 1957, the church was a meeting place for the citizens. Highland became a temporary school for white children during the closing of area high schools in 1957-1958.
With the desegregation of Central High, a gradual racial population shift developed. As African-Americans began to move into the Highland community. In the late seventies and early eighties the neighborhood experienced a transition in racial composition.. In 1979, Highland merged with Pride United Methodist Church into what is known today as Highland Valley UMC on Chenal Parkway.
In May of 1980, Bishop Kenneth W. Hicks, assigned William H. Robinson Jr. to this vacant building in the heart of this transitional community. There was no established membership role, no structure in place and no one in place to take care of the needs of this newly appointed pastor and eight children. Rev. Robinson in the mist of the bare building and lack of members began to envision what this new appointment would mean for him and the community he planned to serve.
An active man of mission and visionary within his local community, Robinson in search of a name for the new congregation felt that Theressa Hoover, active in the Women’s Division dedicated to developing church ministries appropriately reflected his mission and purpose for this newly formed congregation. The church was uniquely name after this great woman, still living and working.
Theressa Hoover UMC was chartered Sunday, December 21, 1980. There were 23 persons participating in the chartering services. This church is the first African-American church named in honor of a female who is still living. Ms. Hoover, retired chief executive officer of the General Board of Global Ministries’ Women’s Division in New York was recently inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in October. A Fayetteville native and graduate of Philander Smith College, she is currently residing in here hometown.
The Black Community Developers, Inc. program grew out of the outreach program of Hoover UMC. Members of the church and community persons through thorough research identified community problem areas such as unemployment, depression, illiteracy, homelessness, poverty and despair. Reginald Moore served as the first Community Developer at BCD, Inc.
Responding to the community needs, socially responsible programs were developed by the church and administered through the outreach program, Black Community Developers. Initially we started providing childcare services, affectionately known as “PAW PAW”s Daycare and have expanded to include youth oriented programs. These programs were set up to provide a safe haven for community youth and gang interventions for the Midtown. Other initiatives include a certified substance abuse program, which is the only faith-based program in the state of Arkansas, housing, women’s programs, homeless shelter and a HIV/AIDS ministry.
Rev. Robinson has been a champion of the rights of all persons and was selected in 1996 to carry the U.S. Olympic Torch in Little Rock. Rev. Robinson has received numerous awards for his exemplary work in revitalizing the church and community.
Hoover is committed to be a spiritual home where all people are unconditionally accepted, where needs are met, lives are nurtured and recovery and healing can take place. Hoover serves as a national model for its outreach ministries and community development. “It’s not where you go to church, but it’s where your church goes.”
The worship style of the congregation is one of spiritual anticipation, joyous and vibrant celebration. We anticipate the rain of the Holy Spirit will shower down, to refresh, revive, and restore our souls. Our praise is sparked by the anticipation of what will come. We believe in praising God for what God has done, what God is doing, and what will be. We are traditional because we understand the journey that has brought us to this point. We are progressive because we understand what it will take to reach the next level, the next generation. We believe one style of worship cannot fully function without the other. Our congregation represents a diverse group of people representing various cultures, backgrounds, and socio-economic status.
We have an open door church policy: If the door is open, the policy is to let those who so desire, come on in. We are a grace-initiating congregation. If God has shown us grace, then we have an obligation to extend that grace to others.
Before there was Theressa Hoover United Methodist Church, the building (4000 West 13th Street, Little Rock) housed the Highland United Methodist congregation. During the Central High School Crisis of 1957, the church was a meeting place for the citizens. Highland became a temporary school for white children during the closing of area high schools in 1957-1958.
With the desegregation of Central High, a gradual racial population shift developed. As African-Americans began to move into the Highland community. In the late seventies and early eighties the neighborhood experienced a transition in racial composition.. In 1979, Highland merged with Pride United Methodist Church into what is known today as Highland Valley UMC on Chenal Parkway.
In May of 1980, Bishop Kenneth W. Hicks, assigned William H. Robinson Jr. to this vacant building in the heart of this transitional community. There was no established membership role, no structure in place and no one in place to take care of the needs of this newly appointed pastor and eight children. Rev. Robinson in the mist of the bare building and lack of members began to envision what this new appointment would mean for him and the community he planned to serve.
An active man of mission and visionary within his local community, Robinson in search of a name for the new congregation felt that Theressa Hoover, active in the Women’s Division dedicated to developing church ministries appropriately reflected his mission and purpose for this newly formed congregation. The church was uniquely name after this great woman, still living and working.
Theressa Hoover UMC was chartered Sunday, December 21, 1980. There were 23 persons participating in the chartering services. This church is the first African-American church named in honor of a female who is still living. Ms. Hoover, retired chief executive officer of the General Board of Global Ministries’ Women’s Division in New York was recently inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in October. A Fayetteville native and graduate of Philander Smith College, she is currently residing in here hometown.
The Black Community Developers, Inc. program grew out of the outreach program of Hoover UMC. Members of the church and community persons through thorough research identified community problem areas such as unemployment, depression, illiteracy, homelessness, poverty and despair. Reginald Moore served as the first Community Developer at BCD, Inc.
Responding to the community needs, socially responsible programs were developed by the church and administered through the outreach program, Black Community Developers. Initially we started providing childcare services, affectionately known as “PAW PAW”s Daycare and have expanded to include youth oriented programs. These programs were set up to provide a safe haven for community youth and gang interventions for the Midtown. Other initiatives include a certified substance abuse program, which is the only faith-based program in the state of Arkansas, housing, women’s programs, homeless shelter and a HIV/AIDS ministry.
Rev. Robinson has been a champion of the rights of all persons and was selected in 1996 to carry the U.S. Olympic Torch in Little Rock. Rev. Robinson has received numerous awards for his exemplary work in revitalizing the church and community.
Hoover is committed to be a spiritual home where all people are unconditionally accepted, where needs are met, lives are nurtured and recovery and healing can take place. Hoover serves as a national model for its outreach ministries and community development. “It’s not where you go to church, but it’s where your church goes.”
The worship style of the congregation is one of spiritual anticipation, joyous and vibrant celebration. We anticipate the rain of the Holy Spirit will shower down, to refresh, revive, and restore our souls. Our praise is sparked by the anticipation of what will come. We believe in praising God for what God has done, what God is doing, and what will be. We are traditional because we understand the journey that has brought us to this point. We are progressive because we understand what it will take to reach the next level, the next generation. We believe one style of worship cannot fully function without the other. Our congregation represents a diverse group of people representing various cultures, backgrounds, and socio-economic status.
We have an open door church policy: If the door is open, the policy is to let those who so desire, come on in. We are a grace-initiating congregation. If God has shown us grace, then we have an obligation to extend that grace to others.