First UMC of DeRidder Wins Ministry Grant

Each year at Annual Conference, the Foundation hosts a prize drawing at its exhibit booth as a way to connect with clergy and church leaders and share resources for ministry. One of those prizes is a $500 Ministry Grant—separate from the Foundation’s regular grants program, which awarded more than $279,000 to ministries last year.

The 2025 ministry grant winner was Rev. Laraine Waughtal of First United Methodist Church in DeRidder.

After prayerful consideration about how to best use the grant, Rev. Waughtal found the perfect opportunity. “We spent time praying over how to use this grant because we wanted to follow where God was leading and make the greatest impact possible,” she said.

The funds will help support Dash and Bash, a community event set for June 27 at West Park in DeRidder.

Designed as a fun, family-centered morning, the event will feature a one-mile walk/run, bounce houses, games, health checks and more. It will also serve as a fundraiser for the church’s preschool program, which serves more than 90 children each week and is in need of replacing toys and equipment.

But the impact doesn’t stop there.

Using the Foundation grant—and adding additional church funds—First UMC will provide approximately 75 hurricane preparedness kits to families at the event. Each kit will include emergency supplies such as flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, blankets and more.

What began as a simple prize drawing has become an opportunity to strengthen families, support children and equip a community for the challenges of hurricane season—a wonderful example of ministry in action.

At this year’s Annual Conference, held June 9-12, 2026, in Baton Rouge, Brenda McClain of Mallalieu United Methodist Church in St. Martinville, La., won the $500 ministry grant door prize! We can’t wait to see what kind of impact she and her church will make on their community!