The Board of Directors of the Arkansas Baptist Foundation (ABF) held its first Quarterly Board Meeting for 2022 on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) building. This marked the formal beginning of ABF’s new board year. As a means of commissioning the board and officers into service, Rex Horne, ABF consultant, opened the day with a guided time of prayer. Horne shared the importance of praying with a Kingdom perspective which means asking God to empower us, send us and use us.
ABF President, Bobby Thomas led the board in a time of orientation and a review of the 2022 Annual Report.
Highlights of the board meeting included:
- Celebration of 2021 distributions totaling $26,227,333. This brings total distributions since ABF’s inception to more than $500million.
- Introduction of new Board members this year including Sarah Young of Bank OZK in Little Rock and Chester Witherspoon of Tabernacle of God Baptist Church in Marion. Returning for a new term is Will Rusher of Practice Plus – Arkansas Health Group in Little Rock.
- Authorization of additional funding for the Williams Works WatersEdge Fund, which is used to undergird the recent partnership with Williams Baptist University and WatersEdge Ministry Services that provides work assignments for students in Williams Works.
- Establishment of new rotating distribution to an Arkansas Baptist ministry partner in conjunction with the ABF annual board advance. This year’s distribution will be made to the Arkansas Baptist Home for Children in Monticello.
- An update on the growth of the 13th Check Fund which provides additional financial aid and support to those Arkansas residents who are recipients of Mission:Dignity. The Board elected to provide additional funding and join Arkansas Baptists who have generously contributed to the 13th Check Fund.
- Presentation by Jason Wilkie, Executive Director of Arkansas Baptist Assembly – Camp Siloam. Wilkie recapped the impact of summer camps in 2021 and shared about current projects being completed onsite, including the addition of a new bunkhouse and the planting of hundreds of new trees. Camp Siloam will be celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2023.
- Approval of 44 scholarship awards for the 2022-23 school year for students attending Ouachita Baptist University, Williams Baptist University, or seminary.