Blake Schrepfer
Blake Schrepfer is a member of First United Methodist Church in Searcy, where he currently serves as music
leader and youth/children’s volunteer. Before graduating in 2011 from Arkansas State University, he served
through the ASU Wesley Foundation and at First UMC of Paragould as youth director. After graduating
with an M.Div. from Asbury Seminary in 2016, Blake was appointed to the First UMCs of Calico Rock and Searcy
until transitioning back to youth ministry in 2019. No matter his official role, his passion has always been
sacred music and student involvement in the local church and community.
2022 was an uncertain year for many United Methodist congregations, and following the former Searcy First
UMC’s decision to disaffiliate, Blake served an integral role in shepherding the dispersed United Methodists
from both churches in Searcy. For the last year he has led the work of the vision team in creating a
renewed mission for the new First UMC. Above all else, the painful process bolstered his conviction for the
involvement of youth in the life of the local church.
Blake now works full time as the community liaison for ARcare in central Arkansas, specializing in developing
community partnerships to bring holistic primary and mental healthcare to all, particularly students,
at-risk populations, and people in crisis. However, he continues to create opportunities for First UMC
students to ask the hard questions, serve their community, develop leadership skills, and experience the
connectionalism of our denomination.
Blake, his wife, Lauren, and three girls, Emelia, Susanna, and Olivia, live in a quiet Searcy neighborhood
and spend their free time bird and squirrel watching, eating ice cream, cheering on the Searcy Lions, and
watching the Atlanta Braves before bedtime.
About the Steel-Hendrix Awards
In 1984, Hendrix College inaugurated the annual Steel-Hendrix Award Lectureship to celebrate 100 years of
its official relationship with the United Methodist Church. The award was named in honor of Marshall T.
Steel, a prominent minister and former president of the College.
Registration:
Tickets cost: $25 per person.
To purchase with a credit card (fees apply), click
here
To pay by check, please email
mulhearn@hendrix.edu.
Checks can be mailed to:
Hendrix College
Attn: Chaplain's office
1600 Washington Ave.
Conway, AR 72032