A small yet growing and dynamic group of believers has entered into an affiliate relationship with the Anglican Mission in The Americas (AMiA), a missionary movement rooted in Rwanda. All Saints Anglican Fellowship in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas is now a Fellowship in the AMiA as they move towards full affiliation as an established congregation.

The foundation of All Saints goes back to the fall of 2003 when the members began to gather and offer regular worship opportunities. On the road to joining the Anglican Mission they had connection with several renewing groups in the Episcopal Church (ECUSA). They eventually discovered that they were called to build a congregation that was fully Anglican, but not related to the ECUSA. All Saints Anglican Fellowship is now a part of the Little Rock Network of congregations in the AMiA, and has been assisted by Network Leader David Young and Bishop TJ Johnston from nearby Little Rock. The ordained pastor who is currently serving the group, the Rev. Jay Holsted, is also from the AMiA’s Little Rock Network.

Established five years ago by the Archbishops of Rwanda and South East Asia, the Anglican Mission in The Americas is as a missionary outreach focused on the 130 million un-churched in the United States. The AMiA now numbers 80 congregations and about a dozen fellowship groups such as All Saints Anglican Fellowship.

Hot Springs Village is a community popular with vacationers and retirees, and the members of All Saints are intentionally focused on growth and outreach, expressing the kind of vitality that is anything but retiring. “All Saints is focused on mission and ministry,” stated Sharan Gunn, part of the group’s vestry, or governing board. “We want to reach out to those who claim Christianity on their resume, but never had time to actually participate in church as well as those who have never claimed Christ as their Savior.”

The members of the new church understand that there are many people who spend their busy lives working and involved in multiple activities, only to retire and discover they have not made a place for important spiritual issues. “These people are hungry to know God,” asserted Sharan Gunn. “We also want to reach out to vacationers, because many of them become homeowners in our community.”

David Young, leader of the AMiA’s Little Rock Network, is encouraged by the group’s commitment and focus. “They are an energetic, mission minded group, grounded in their faith, rooted in the Anglican tradition, but very eager to learn new ways of reaching out to people in their community. They are committed to building something that will bless and encourage others not currently in their fellowship and are not simply focused upon meeting the needs of those currently in the fellowship. They are already active in outreach ministries within their community.”

All Saints Anglican Fellowship worships every Sunday evening at 6pm at 1196 DeSoto Boulevard (Faith Lutheran Church). They are also active with Bible studies and other discipleship and fellowship ministries. “We believe that we have finally found a home in the Anglican Mission where our mission, purpose, values, and goals are compatible,” affirmed the vestry members in a letter to the Anglican Mission. “We are committed to reaching the un-churched who are living in, and moving to, our community in ever increasing numbers.”

For more information contact All Saints Anglican Fellowship at 501-915-8431.

Back To Top

Print this pageSend to a Friend