El Dorado, Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has named Michael Kornegay of El Dorado as the second featured Arkansan in a series honoring individuals whose impact reaches far beyond their immediate communities. The series, launched earlier this year, aims to spotlight the everyday citizens who form the foundation of Arkansas — people whose work, perseverance, and care make the state thrive.
Each honoree’s portrait is displayed at the entrance to the Governor’s office in the Capitol, accompanied by a video and written profile, as a visual reminder of public service’s true purpose: the people. With Kornegay’s inclusion, the series shifts its focus to someone who sees connection not as a task, but as a way of life.
From the Camera Lens to the Church Door
Michael Kornegay’s journey began not in a pulpit but behind a camera. As a student of photography and videography at Southern Arkansas University, he never imagined his path would lead to ministry. But in 2013, just shy of completing his degree, he experienced what he described as a divine redirection.
“I felt like the Lord wanted me to go into ministry,” Kornegay recalled. “And my first thought was, how do you do that without a ministry degree?”
The reaction he received from his then-pastor was unexpected — a warning rather than encouragement. Ministry, he was told, was hard. It demanded presence in the messiest moments of life, not just the mountaintop ones. So, Kornegay waited. For seven years, he held back, quietly preparing for something he wasn’t yet sure of. Then in March 2020 — the very week the world began to shut down — his calling became clear.
As churches scrambled to move services online and communities grew distant under lockdown, Kornegay’s media background proved invaluable. More than ever, people needed connection, and he helped his church meet them where they were — digitally and emotionally.
A Local Mission with Statewide Reach
Now serving as Connections Pastor at El Dorado First Assembly, Kornegay helps people feel seen the moment they walk through the church doors. He builds systems to ensure no one gets lost in the crowd and steers newcomers into small groups where faith and friendship flourish.
“We’ll never be able to pastor everyone,” Kornegay said. “That happens in small groups, people doing life together.”
That grassroots philosophy of relational care is the heart of the 10:33 Initiative, a statewide pilot program launched by Governor Sanders in October. Designed to unify government agencies, local churches, and community groups, the initiative is active in three counties: Union, Pulaski, and Pope. Kornegay and El Dorado First Assembly have embraced the program as a natural extension of what they already do — show up, listen, and walk alongside people for the long haul.
The program relies on Restore Hope’s HopeHub, a collaborative platform used in 19 Arkansas counties to provide wraparound case management services. Once connected with a community advocate through HopeHub, individuals can access resources for housing, healthcare, employment, and job training through Arkansas LAUNCH.
From South Arkansas to South Africa
Kornegay’s work in El Dorado is only part of the story. His willingness to say “yes” has carried him across the world, from South Arkansas to South Africa and parts of Asia. In every case, relationships opened doors, and those doors led to opportunities he hadn’t sought out but was ready for.
One trip, he explained, stemmed from a conversation that unknowingly fulfilled a prayer spoken over him years earlier. This guiding openness is what he lives by: “The light’s always green until it’s red,” Kornegay said. “If it fits the mission, we say yes.”
That mission — to help people connect with faith, community, and purpose — remains unchanged, whether it unfolds across oceans or in a church lobby. Born in Hot Springs and shaped by small-town life in Magnolia, Kornegay understands the deep-rooted bonds of Arkansas communities. In El Dorado, connection isn’t planned — it’s lived.
As Governor Sanders continues to recognize those who make Arkansas what it is, Michael Kornegay’s story serves as a reminder: some of the biggest changes begin in the smallest places — and all it takes is someone willing to pay attention.
