Mike Millar Spiritual Life Center

Dedication of the Mike Millar Spiritual Life Center is at 10 a.m. Tuesday, February 28, 2023. This new center is part of the state’s only complete continuum of care for Arkansas children and families who are abandoned, abused, neglected and struggling with psychiatric, behavioral, emotional and spiritual issues.

Methodist Family Health Foundation raised $4.2 million to construct the Mike Millar Spiritual Life Center. The center is named in memory of Mike Millar, a lifelong United Methodist from Searcy, Arkansas. He served on both Methodist Family Health’s operations and foundation boards of directors. Millar was a prominent attorney, philanthropist and volunteer who died in 2020.

The chapel of the center is named in memory of Elaine and Bishop Kenneth Hicks, also longtime supporters of Methodist Family Health and the Arkansas children and families we serve.

Construction of this facility began in October 2021 and completed in January 2023. In October 2020, the Mabee Foundation awarded a challenge grant of $950,000 to Methodist Family Health Foundation for the construction of the Mike Millar Spiritual Life Center. This challenge grant stipulated Methodist Family Health Foundation raise the total project cost of $4,256,175 by October 13, 2021. The challenge was met in July 2021, and a total $4,259,671.72 has been raised.

“In addition to the Elaine and Bishop Kenneth Hicks Chapel, this center will include a multipurpose space, a welcome center for the campus, and administrative space for our Methodist Children’s Home administrators,” said Amanda Smith, CFRE, executive director of Methodist Family Health Foundation. “We also will include an outdoor labyrinth, new landscaping, and enhanced parking to complement the center. The facility will also provide space for community partners to meet for neighborhood association meetings and community education.”