A group of 12 high school students and six adults from Woodland Heights Baptist Church recently spent a week in South Florida on mission serving at Thrive Community Church. (Submitted)
In January, Woodland Heights Baptist Church Youth and Families Minister Hayden Waller traveled with a group of other Arkansas Baptists on a Send South Florida vision tour.
The goal of the trip was to connect Arkansas Baptists with missions opportunities in South Florida. It did exactly that. Six months later, July 21-28, Waller led a group of Woodland Heights Baptist Church high school students on a mission trip to Miami, Florida, to serve Thrive Community Church. Like the region of Florida where it is located, the church is vibrant and diverse.
Representing diverse cultures and backgrounds, multiple congregations – including English, Hispanic, Arabic, Venezuelan, Brazilian, and Haitian – gather for worship services on the church campus.
“It was almost an overseas trip. It was about as close as you could get without leaving the country. That part of the country is that way. It is so diverse, and it is very lost,” Waller said.
Throughout the week, the Conway team helped with projects around the church, such as clean up and painting, during the day and assisted with Vacation Bible School in the evening.
“Anywhere they were needed, they helped, and they were happy to do so,” Waller said of the students who went on the trip.
Waller said one of the most eye-opening moments of the trip for him and others in the group was the Sunday worship service. Once a month, the church brings all the congregations together for one service. They worship and sing in all the languages.
“It was beautiful,” Waller said. “It was truly a moment that was a picture of heaven to get to worship with people of every tribe, nation, and tongue. … to hear truly different nations worshipping the one true God with the same purpose of chasing after Christ.”
The group from Woodland Heights Baptist Church was comprised of 12 students and six adults. Waller said the trip was an opportunity for the students to dig deeper within their walk with the Lord and step out of their comfort zones. “It was a beautiful trip. Our students did phenomenal,” he said.
In a July 26 Facebook post, Thrive Community Church shared, “We’re so grateful for the team from Woodland Heights Baptist Church, and all the work they’ve done on our campus this week! Getting to serve alongside them during VBS was a blessing as well. Grateful when God brings people together to help glorify His name!”
Woodland Heights was just one of six churches represented on the 2025 Send South Florida vision trip. Of those six churches, four returned this summer to serve SBC churches throughout the Miami metroplex. With its growing population, cultural diversity, and spiritual needs, South Florida presents both a challenge and a tremendous opportunity for ministry.
“It’s been really exciting to watch our ABSC pastors and mission leaders connect with local church leaders while on these vision trips. As a result, we’re watching some of those leaders return with teams from their respective churches, and partnerships are being established,” said Steve Lasiter, Arkansas Baptist State Convention national/international partnership & cross-cultural missions strategist.
Registration for the 2026 Send South Florida trip, set for Jan 13-16, is now open. If interested, visit absc.org/SOFLO.
One Response
Great article Mary! Thank you for sharing.