Arkansas Baptist Life—ABSC Newsletter—April 2024

MISSIONS INVOLVEMENT DRIVES NEW ‘MISSIONS U’ TRAINING

Participants equipped with roadmap for missions involvement + support

BY JEFF GINN VP, MOBILIZATION, INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD

Our world is racked by problems. War, racial tensions, poverty, hunger, addictions, and broken families loom on every side. As daunting as these problems are, they are not the world’s greatest problem. The greatest problem is spiritual lostness. The reason is because its consequences are eternal. People who die while still lost in sin are destined for eternal separation from God. That is bad news.

The Good News is that the Gospel is the antidote to this problem. Missions has as its aim getting the Good News to the spiritually lost. There is no greater

task than this. That is why it is called the Great Commission!

My family and I have had the joy of serving as International Mission Board missionaries in Latin America. We have roots in Arkansas. Our home church, First Baptist, West Memphis, shaped our heart for evangelism and missions. We cut our ministry teeth as volunteers in the many outreach efforts of that wonderful fellowship. Your church has the same capacity to disciple those who will go to the nations.

With that in mind, I want to invite you to join me for Missions U on April 29 in North Little Rock or April 30 in Fayetteville. Sponsored by the Missions Team of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, Missions U is a missions-intensive training and equipping event for all pastors, church staff, missions leaders and anyone else interested in pursuing missions involvement for themselves and their church.

Missions U offers three different tracks toward missions involvement: International Missions, Community Missions, or Missions Discipleship. Each track includes a variety of breakout sessions for you to attend, led by international, national, and state missions leaders. You will choose one track and attend three breakout sessions from that track.

‘MISSIONS U’ TRAINING: ONE DAY, THREE TRACKS

BY SAM ROBERTS, MISSIONS TEAM LEADER

Can you imagine what would happen if all Arkansas Baptist churches engaged their communities in missions and evangelism on the same day?

A glimpse of this has been realized the past three years through One Day: Serve Local, where approximately 6,000 Arkansas Baptists have been mobilized in their local communities, resulting in at least 351 professions of faith!

The Missions Team of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention is excited to now offer Missions U—a one-day workshop dedicated to training and equipping pastors, church staff, missions leaders, and any Arkansas Baptist who wants to see their church actively involved in God’s mission.

Pastor, we encourage you to join us and bring your whole team! Not only will you have the opportunity to learn from and interact with international, national, and local missions leaders like Jeff Ginn (VP for Mobilization, IMB) and Sandy WisdomMartin (Executive Director, WMU), but you will leave with renewed excitement and helpful resources to join God on His mission to reconcile the world to Himself through Jesus.

Each participant will choose one track (see details at right) and attend three breakout sessions from that track, then graduate from Missions U with a working roadmap to help you on your way to missions involvement including a directory of resources and contact information for continued support throughout the year. Arkansas Baptists, let’s go!

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” —Mark 16:15

April 29

Park Hill Baptist North Little Rock

April 30

First Baptist Fayetteville

2:00-3:00 p.m.

Session with Sandy Wisdom-Martin Cost: $25 (lunch included)

COMMUNITY MISSIONS TRACK

ΠENGAGING YOUR COMMUNITY WITH THE GOSPEL

 PRE-PACKAGED, ALL-INCLUSIVE MISSIONS OPPORTUNITIES

Ž BUILD YOUR OWN MISSIONS OPPORTUNITIES

 MISSIONAL LIVING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

 COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT

MISSIONS DISCIPLESHIP TRACK

ΠSTORYTELLING TO INVOLVE OTHERS IN MISSIONS

 50 STEPS WITH JESUS

Ž INVOLVING STUDENTS IN THE MISSION

 INVOLVING MEN IN THE MISSION

 INVOLVING KIDS IN THE MISSION

‘ THE GOSPEL FOR ALL CULTURES

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS TRACK

ΠTHE MISSIONARY TASK

 MISSIONARY PATHWAYS

Ž WHAT EVERY MISSIONARY WANTS YOU TO KNOW

 UNPACKING PARTNERSHIPS

 KINGDOM PARTNERING

‘ NO PASSPORT REQUIRED

CELEBRATING THE HIGHLIGHTS— ARKANSAS BAPTISTS WORKING TOGETHER THROUGH THE Cooperative Program

190 PROFESSIONS OF FAITH

2,357 IN ATTENDANCE

Baptist Collegiate Ministry

2023 Disaster Relief

38,416 VOLUNTEER HOURS

83 PROFESSIONS OF FAITH

40,024 MEALS SERVED

PraiseWorks

2023

PROFESSIONS OF FAITH

WORSHIP

DISCIPLESHIP

RECORD-BREAKING

ATTENDANCE AT MARCH 4

Apologetics Conferences

1,296

HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS ATTENDED LEAD>DEFEND

750 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND LEADERS ATTENDED FOUNDATIONS

One Day

ACTS 1:8 MISSIONS EXPERIENCE

OCTOBER 7

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

210 PROFESSIONS OF FAITH

1,400 REGISTERED AND SERVED AT APPROXIMATELY

130 MINISTRY PROJECT SITES

Giving IN 2023

$21.1 million

GIVEN THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM * $1.87 million

GIVEN THROUGH THE DIXIE JACKSON ARKANSAS MISSIONS OFFERING *

*Preliminary unaudited totals

8 Church Plants

LAUNCHED THROUGH SEND NETWORK ARKANSAS

Kids Ministry + VBS Trainings

APRIL 18, 20, 27

Kids matter in Arkansas, and Kids Ministry can make a huge impact in the life of a child. Make a difference today and experience how you can use Kids Ministry + VBS tools to reach children and families this summer. Breakout sessions included. Bring your children’s leaders and join us for a time of encouragement.

• April 18—Harvest Baptist Church, Paragould

• April 20—FBC Hot Springs

• April 27—FBC Harrison

 absc.org/vbs

Leadership Collective

APRIL 20

Leadership Collective is a one-day workshop for Arkansas Baptist women’s ministry leaders. Find encouragement, ideas, inspiration, and friendship to strengthen your leadership journey.

 absc.org/abwcollective

First Responder Chaplain/Peer Support Training

APRIL 26–27

Learn how to effectively serve law enforcement/fire/EMS first responders and those who are a victim of a disaster or crime. This is not a certification course. This is for chaplains, pastors and church leaders, law enforcement/fire/EMS Peer Support Team Members and other emergency responders, or anyone desiring to minister to and support first responders.

 absc.org/peersupport

National Day of Prayer

MAY 2

The first Thursday in May was first designated by Public Law 100-307 and signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. In 1998, President Bill Clinton signed into law Public Law 105-225: “The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.”

 nationaldayofprayer.org

Camp Paron is truly Arkansas Baptists’ best kept secret. Located 25 miles west of Little Rock adjacent to the Ouachita National Forest, Camp Paron captures the beauty of our state while providing facilities for church groups to retreat and rejuvenate.

Camp Manager Andrew Campbell and the staff invite you to consider Camp Paron for your next men’s or ladies’ retreat, youth camp, or staff retreat.

Man UP!

MAY 4

Held May 4, 2:00–7:00 p.m., Man UP! is an afternoon of fun, food, fellowship, and disciple-making for men of all ages. Invite an unchurched friend and enjoy an afternoon of horseshoes, fishing, archery tag, and other activities followed by a wild game supper and a closing Gospel message.

 absc.org/manup

Engage Camp

JUNE 17–21

This unique camp combines biblical teaching, worship, evangelism, fun, and fellowship with hands-on ministry opportunities to help equip students to be engaged full-time in God’s mission. This year’s camp will be held at Camp Paron.

 absc.org/engagecamp

PraiseWorks/ JoyWorks

JULY 8–12

Worship arts camps held simultaneously on the campus of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia. The mission of PW/ JW is to partner with churches in the discipleship and equipping of the next generation of worshipers and worship leaders. Registration is open.

 absc.org/pwjw

Disaster Relief Training

AUGUST 10, SEPTEMBER 21

When disaster strikes, Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief is not far behind. You can become a trained, credentialed Disaster Relief volunteer by attending regional trainings being held on August 10 in Jacksonville or September 21 in Rogers.

 abscdisasterrelief.org/ volunteer

PRAY FOR CHURCH PLANTERS

Pray for the Partain family and their church plant in Brookland, and pray daily for Arkansas church planters using our monthly prayer calendar.

Michael and Chassity Partain moved to Jonesboro to plant Emmanuel Cowboy Church on May 7, 2023, in Brookland, Arkansas. They said, “We have a great leadership team that are Kingdom-minded and are starting to see our community come to know Christ through our obedience.”

Pray

7 For the Partains’ endurance during this transition.

7 For their church to be a pillar in the community.

7 For people to continue to hear God’s voice and be obedient to the purpose He has for them.

We spend each month praying for planters around the state. You can find a daily calendar each month at absc.org/prayforplanters

Stay connected to us on social media, watch and listen to our videos and podcasts, sign up for our monthly eNews, and find all things Arkansas Baptist on our website.

Get started at:

April 7 Statewide Baptism Sunday

April 11, 18, + 30 Worship Leaders’ Roundtables

June 8–10 WMU Missions Celebration, Indianapolis, Indiana

June 10–12 SBC Pastors’ Conference + Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, Indiana

June 22–29 Super Summer JV & Super Summer

September 21 Arkansas Baptist Women Conference + WMU Annual Meeting

The ministries of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention are funded by the generous giving of Arkansas Baptists to missions through the Cooperative Program and the Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFIC EVENTS, CALL 501.376.4791 OR 800.838.2272

OR VISIT ABSC.ORG/CALENDAR FOR COMPLETE EVENT INFO.