Before 1988, the Child Development Center was in the nursery area of the First United Methodist Church serving around 75 children.  The present site of the CDC was an auto parts store, which the church bought to "tear down" and "put up a parking lot".  Due to the inspiration of a creative lady (Mary Katherine Raper) and a visionary committee, a request was made to the Senior Pastor to build a day care center on the property instead, and the rest, they say, is history!  Members of FUMC went in debt 21/2 million dollars to build the current facility which opened in March of 1988.  In 1991 Richard Butler endowed the Center for $250,000, and the building was named the Gertrude Remmel Butler Child Development Center of First United Methodist Church.  Mr. Butler served on the Budget Committee for many years, setting the tone for the future and ensuring that its programs would remain viable and stable for generations of working parents in downtown Little Rock.  Volunteers continue to serve the Center and church members are seen every week reading stories to the children, re-shelving our Resource Room and taking pictures of new admissions and staff.  In 1997 the Child Development Center received national accreditation by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs.  (see related Accreditation link), the highest rating offered early childhood programs in the United States.  The CDC is a non-profit service of the First United Methodist Church, and is governed by a Council of Directors who meets quarterly. Its membership is made up of both church members and parents.