Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) Executive Director Dr. Mark Dance has officially kicked off his Arkansas Baptist Listening Tour, meeting with leaders in the Washington Madison and Great Commission Baptist Associations last week.
Dance’s goal with the Listening Tour is simple: to hear directly from pastors and churches about their greatest needs and how the ABSC can better serve them in the days ahead. The first two stops were full of encouragement, insight, and honest conversation — and this is only the beginning.
“We want to start a conversation, not give a presentation,” Dance said. “That distinction is the secret sauce. This is not a presentation from the ABSC. This is a conversation that we are starting along with our associational mission partners.”
That’s another unique component of this Listening Tour. “We’re co-hosting this,” he said. “Instead of this is a state event or an associational event, this is a combined event. The associations, the AMS (Associational Missions Strategists), will choose the location, the meal, and the timing and we’ll put it on our calendar and then we will create the conversation.”
Additionally, Dance said this Listening Tour is a way for him to get to know pastors and associational missions strategists across the state.
Washington Madison Associational Missions Strategist Ron Lomax said the association enjoyed having Dance and ABSC Evangelism + Church Health Team Leader Warren Gasaway stop in at their regular Monday morning Pastor/Staff Fellowship. Lomax said they had 20 in attendance, consisting of current and retired pastors and ministerial staff.
“Dr. Mark calls it a Listening Tour which is exactly what it was,” Lomax said. “They hung out with our men, we spent some time in prayer, they shared a bit about what is going on around the convention offices, and then just listened while pastors brought up topics and asked questions. … We believe Dr. Mark is genuinely interested in being quick to listen and slow to speak. He is a servant who thinks about the welfare of the pastor and pastoral family. We look forward to working with him as our new executive director.”
Gasaway said the pastor gatherings in the Washington Madison and Great Commission Baptist Associations “were a tremendous success, with strong participation and honest conversation.”
“Hearing directly from pastors is helping us chart a clear, shared direction for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention over the next few years,” Gasaway said. “The turnout from pastors in both associations affirmed how important these conversations are for our shared ministry. By listening well, we’re building a stronger foundation for where God is leading the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.”
Associations interested in getting Dance on their calendar for 2026 as part of the Arkansas Baptist Listening Tour, can contact Vera Clancy at [email protected] or 501-376-4791, ext. 5102.
