The Spirit of J
On any given Sunday morning at First United Methodist Church in Texarkana, Arkansas, the sanctuary fills long before the first note is sung. The light filters softly through the stained glass, the familiar hush settles in, and then the music begins. It is a blend of tradition, soul, and something uniquely their own; music that helps shape the rhythm of worship for this congregation.
For more than two decades, Director of Music Ministries Larry De Dymott has guided this program with excellence, warmth, and a deep belief that every voice matters. Working alongside longtime church member and administrative assistant Penny Arnold, he has helped build a ministry that is both organized and deeply personal; one that embraces the Chancel Choir, children’s choirs, handbells, and a thriving acoustic ensemble.
Nona Culpepper, who has worshiped at First United Methodist for 77 years, captures the richness of the ministry beautifully: “We are fortunate to have an organ that is rated as one of the finest available and an excellent organist, Larry De Dymott. The organ prelude and postlude feel like a recital of fine, worshipful music. The organ, the music, and the beautiful sanctuary set the mind for worship.” Yet the story of music at FUMC extends far beyond the choir loft. It includes the handbell choirs Nona loves, the children’s voices she describes as “just like angels,” and especially Spirit of J, the acoustic ensemble that has become one of the church’s most meaningful ministries.
For Amy Meadows, the roots of Spirit of J reach back to her early years. She joined the FUMC staff in 2005 as the piano accompanist, a role she stepped into comfortably after playing for her childhood congregation since she was ten. Although she loved the piano, she had developed an equal love for singing and playing guitar beginning at seventeen. After two years at FUMC, she began to feel that something was missing and that she wasn’t offering everything she could.
In 2007, she and her husband Mark played “Go Tell It On the Mountain” during worship, using nothing more than two acoustic guitars and their voices. They didn’t even use microphones. The response from the congregation was immediate and supportive. Amy describes the moment as fulfilling and clarifying, the beginning of something that had been absent from her ministry.
Shortly after, she and the youth pastor, who also played guitar, began discussing the idea of a contemporary worship service. Together, they formed a group called Covered in Dust, a name meant to reflect the idea of disciples walking closely with Jesus. The service took place once a month on Sunday evenings in the Cabe Fellowship Hall. It featured musicians including drummer David Vammen, bassist Thomas Parnell, guitarist and youth minister Melissa Donner, a small choir, Amy on keyboard, and Mark on guitar.
Within a year, the ensemble’s music began appearing in the traditional Sunday morning services. As their role in worship grew, the evening service was discontinued, and the group became woven into weekly worship.
In 2009, the congregation lost two beloved church members, Judge Jim Hudson and Jay Gleeson, both deeply involved in the life of the church and the community. Their passing was felt profoundly. David and Thomas, who were very close to the men, suggested renaming the group in their honor while also reflecting the Spirit of Jesus that guided their music. The name Spirit of J felt right and became a source of comfort and healing during a difficult time.
Spirit of J continued to grow both musically and spiritually. In 2018, the mission committee asked the ensemble to hold a concert to raise money for a local ministry. Instead of a concert, they envisioned something much deeper—a Night of Worship built around Scripture, testimony, and a specific theme. Their first event set the precedent for what would become a meaningful tradition. Since then, Nights of Worship have taken place in the sanctuary and at Kress Gap Park, bringing together the congregation and community to support For the Sake of One, Grace House, Haven Home, and the Rider family, whose adopted children needed urgent brain surgery.
Cyndy Williams Rider, who grew up within the music ministry at First United, describes that impact firsthand: “I spent all of my early years at FUMC church, first as a student in the music ministry and later returning as a teacher myself. Because of that, experiencing the Night of Worship was deeply meaningful to me. The Spirit of J’s leadership and the music ministry created a powerful spirit of praise and unity, reminding me of how deeply this church has shaped my life. When two of our children needed major surgeries recently and a third required the same surgery this spring, the church surrounded our family with prayer, generosity, and overwhelming love. It wasn’t just help, it was the church truly being the hands and feet of Christ. I will never forget the way this church family carried us.”
The entire Meadows family naturally became part of The Spirit of J’s story. Mark continues to sing and play alongside Amy, and their three children step in whenever needed—bringing instruments, harmonies, or support behind the scenes. Their shared commitment quietly enriches the ensemble and strengthens the worship experience week after week. As church member Paige Mims explains, the Meadows family’s influence can be felt throughout the congregation: “Amy and Mark Meadows, through the Spirit of J ministry, are such an invaluable and precious asset to our church and community. Their talent will bring you to your knees. Their dedication—along with Larry DeMont—has shown our children how important it is to ‘be the church’ and worship with their voices. We are beyond thankful for them and their roots in this church.”
Church member Jane Allen adds, “The Spirit of J touched my heart from the very beginning. I have attended every one of their special programs and look forward to the upcoming Night of Worship. They are a wonderful addition to our music ministry.”
This year’s Night of Worship, scheduled for Friday, December 5, at 6 PM in the church sanctuary, will benefit Church Under the Bridge, an extension of Mission Texarkana. All are welcome to come, worship, and experience the Spirit of J for yourself.
