Rev. Joshua Bland

Director of Missions & Outreach/Minister of Discipleship

Josh says he loves "being able to equip and work with our brothers and sisters to share the hope of the Gospel in our community."

Before coming to First Church, Josh had the privilege of serving for over a decade in various pastoral positions and in Christian education. He was an associate pastor at multiple churches through the years, one of which was a mission church plant where he served as a member of the founding pastoral team. Josh remembers, "As both a pastor and a teacher, I got to be deeply involved in spiritual formation for those in my charge and was able to help them be the church on mission in their own local context." He responded to God's call to ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church and was commissioned as a deacon by the Arkansas Annual Conference in 2023. He entered into the novitiate of the Order of Saint Luke in early 2024.

Josh and his wife, Rachel, welcomed their son, James, early in 2020. They are thankful to call NWA home and to be growing together with this community.

In his spare time, Josh likes spending time with family and friends, reading, golfing, and playing video games.