Arkansas Baptists sit in the stands at the University of Arkansas at Monticello football stadium before heading out to serve during One Day.
MONTICELLO, Ark. – Arkansas Baptists traveled from across the state to Monticello on Saturday, Oct. 7, to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
The One Day Acts 1:8 Missions Experience provides an annual opportunity for Arkansas Baptists to impact lostness in a specific area within the state. This year, the location was in southeast Arkansas.
More than 1,400 Arkansas Baptists registered to serve, and an estimated 210 people made professions of Christ.
Leaders gathered in the evening on Friday, Oct. 6, for a banquet, where they enjoyed a meal, worshipped and prayed for a successful One Day that glorified God.
During the kickoff Sunday morning held at the University of Arkansas at Monticello football stadium, Arkansas Baptist State Convention Missions Team Leader Sam Roberts told participants that is what the event is all about.
“What takes place today is not about me or the missions team or the Convention or you and your church. What is taking place today is all about God. It’s about God’s glory. It’s about the desire the scripture teaches us that God has for every person in southeast Arkansas to know him and to worship him now and forever,” Roberts said. “That is the reason that we do One Day. That is the reason that you are here. I encourage you, before you step out of this stadium and head to your place of ministry today, to pray along those lines. That every word and every action is done for glory of God.”
Throughout the day participants took part in 132 different ministries which included block parties, medical and dental clinics, prayer walking, no sale yard sales, food distribution and much more.
“We think it is such a blessing to see all of these people come together to spread the word about Christ,” said Pam Stewart, who volunteers during One Day with her husband, Don. The Batesville couple has participated in the missions event since its start more than a decade ago.
This was the fifth year for Bono Baptist Church in Greenbrier to participate in the missions experience. Pastor Will Russell said they like how One Day offers multiple avenues for people to use their giftedness to reach people with the Gospel. On Saturday, several of their group were ministering to the lost during a fishing derby held at the pond by Monticello Middle School.
“There are multiple avenues for people to use their giftedness to engage and reach the lost. It’s a neat opportunity,” he said.
Using her talents to minister to the lost at Immanuel Baptist Church in Monticello, which hosted food distribution and more, was Telese Huffman, whose husband, A.J. Huffman, is the youth pastor at the church. Telese assists with the regular food pantry the church hosts Monday and Friday every other week.
“I am glad that the state convention is putting some focus down here in southeast Arkansas,” she said. “I also love the chance I’m getting to meet some new faces … and we also get the chance to share with them the gospel.”
It was the first year for Immanuel Baptist Church in Monticello to participate with One Day. Also new to One Day was First Baptist Church in Hamburg, which is located roughly 30 miles south of Monticello.
With One Day taking place in Monticello and the surrounding 30 miles, Music Minister Will Richey said they knew their church was going to be called upon. He said Pastor Robin Allen was given a clear vision on what they would do as a church, which included a block party at the Old Milo Pumpkin Patch, a no sale yard sale at the church, a prayer walk and more.
“We’ve had a ton of volunteers step up to the plate. It’s been really cool to see people in our church do that. It’s been great,” he said.
Also ministering at the pumpkin patch were members from Trinity Baptist Church in Mabelvale, First Baptist Church in London, and First Baptist Church in Mayflower. The event featured pumpkin and face painting, snow cones, popcorn, and games. Richie said they presented a Gospel presentation each hour.
“The most important part of each ministry is that the Gospel has been shared and people have been invited to place their faith in Jesus,” Clint Ritchie of the ABSC Missions Team said in a follow up One Day video shared on social media. “The impact of today will continue and will be seen through changed lives and momentum in the local churches. Today serves as a powerful reminder of the value of cooperation and what happens when God’s people come together in prayer, service and Gospel witness. … I know the Spirit will continue to work in lives beyond today.”
Ritchie encouraged Arkansas Baptists to mark their calendars for Oct. 5, 2024, to participate in the next One Day Acts 1:8 Missions Experience in north Pulaski County.
