Matching grant helps Mount Sequoyah

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. - The United Methodist Foundation of Arkansas recently awarded a $300,000 matching grant to Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center in Fayetteville. The grant will support repairs, maintenance and upgrade of current facilities, processes and programs.

"The supporters of Mount Sequoyah will raise $300,000 to be matched one-to-one with our grant," said Jim Argue, Jr., UMFA President. "We are excited to be a part of this revitalization of an essential United Methodist resource."

Mount Sequoyah is a nonprofit spiritual reserve owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church that accommodates both secular and faith-based individuals and organizations. Its purpose is to serve as a spiritual environment to support and enable the Church's mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

"Mount Sequoyah has been a pivotal part of the Church's history, but over the past 30 years the facilities have been underutilized and fallen victim to economic pressures that left it in a state of disrepair," said Abby Foster, CEO of Mount Sequoyah. "With the help of the UMFA grant, Mount Sequoyah can become the nucleus of lay and clergy meeting, training, networking and conference events across the jurisdiction and the larger United Methodist Church, as well as to the secular community."

The lodging facilities will be remodeled and amenities updated, including infrastructure, electrical and HVAC repairs and replacement. The grant also will be used to acquire technologies that improve guest experiences and create operational efficiencies.

Recreational areas, roadways, parking and irrigation will also be enhanced to position Mount Sequoyah for environmental sustainability. Mount Sequoyah will implement new programs that target all ages and increase utilization of Mount Sequoyah by the community and the Church.

Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded by the United Methodist Church in 1922 and is located in the Ozarks, sitting just above the city of Fayetteville, Arkansas. The campus boasts 32 acres of historic buildings, lodges, cottages, landscaped grounds, walking paths, trails, recreational facilities, pool, pavilions, gazebos, wide open spaces, indoor and outdoor chapels, auditorium, meeting spaces, a lighted labyrinth and hiking trails. Guests travel to Mount Sequoyah for family reunions, gatherings, overnight stays, getaways, conferences, training, networking, collaborating and game day weekends. Mount Sequoyah continues to be a leading and active partner for laity and clergy throughout the South Central Jurisdiction and joins the United Methodist Church mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our world.