South Florida Vision Trip members pray over Pastor Wesner from the Venezuelan church at Thrive Community Church. Thrive has has six church plants on one campus. (Submitted)
Over the past two years, Arkansas Baptists have seen how a small team, a shared burden, and a willingness to say “yes” can grow into sustained partnerships that strengthen churches, engage students, and lead people to Christ.
Between March 2024 and January 2026, Arkansas Baptists participated in 10 vision trips, launched 18 return or scheduled church trips, mobilized nearly 200 individuals on domestic and international mission fields, engaged 64 churches and four associations, and celebrated at least 64 known salvations.
“A seasoned pastor once told me that, while ministry can never be about a number, the number does reflect how God is moving,” said National/International Missions Strategist Steve Lasiter. “I feel this applies to what we’re seeing God do through these vision trips—how He’s calling church leaders to go, see opportunities firsthand, establish heart connections, and return to Arkansas with a vision to lead their churches back to these areas to encourage, assist and serve.”
Lasiter said the multiplication effect comes from opportunities to go, listen to missionaries and church planters, and pray about how Arkansas Baptists can impact lostness together.
Send South Florida
The Send South Florida partnership is one of the clearest examples of this movement.
The first vision trip – led by Lasiter – in January 2025 included seven participants, then nine in January 2026. Those trips have already resulted in nine return trips to serve the Miami metro area through prayer, outreach events, construction, door-to-door evangelism, and food distribution.
These visits have created real, sustained partnerships.
While in South Florida, Pastor Tyler Bramlett of Ruddell Hill Baptist Church connected with Pastor Joey Chafton of The Church at Oakland Park, where Chafton has revitalized a once-dying congregation into a fellowship of roughly 70 members experiencing baptisms and renewed community engagement. Bramlett plans to return with a team in September.
Bramlett said he was motivated to join the vision trip because of his friendship with Lasiter and the opportunity to develop mission partnerships in Florida.
“There were so many moments that impacted me,” he said. “The one that encouraged me the most was the overwhelming sense of devotion to the Lord displayed by each church planter and their families. These men and women have left everything to plant in extremely challenging areas. Seeing their faith and pride in what the Lord has done, regardless of church size or facilities, encouraged me to see God’s glory at work in ways we might often take for granted.”
Bramlett also reflected on the diversity in South Florida. “It really is an international mission trip on U.S. soil. There are so many people groups represented. This trip helped me understand that God is for all people—every tribe, language, and tongue—even right here in our own country.”
Brazil
Brazil also continues to be a strategic partnership. Vision teams traveled in February 2024 and November 2025 for leadership conferences, preaching, and collaborative ministry.
Brett Cottrell, pastor at First Baptist Church in London, said he felt called to go immediately. “The resources and time were already available, and when the opportunity became clear, it was a no-brainer to go,” he said.
During the trip, a conversation with a young volunteer left a lasting impression. The volunteer shared his heartbreak over his brother’s lack of interest in the Lord. “The time spent praying with him has lasted,” Cottrell said. Another moment that stood out was hearing the testimony of a teammate. “His story of salvation and redemption moved not only those we were serving, but our own team as well,” he said.
Cottrell also reflected on the friendships formed during the trip. “The only teammate I knew before going was Steve. I came home with friends across the state. What a wonderful team from Arkansas,” he said.
Seeing the work of Brazilian believers strengthened Cottrell’s perspective on missions. “It was incredibly encouraging to witness their fervor and dedication for Christ. It reminded me that God is always at work everywhere. Anytime we go and serve the Gospel somewhere that isn’t home, it influences how we live out our faith at home.”
He encouraged others to participate. “To anyone considering a vision trip – do it. No one I know who was obedient to the Lord regretted it later.”
Dominican Republic, Canada, and Detroit
The pattern is further evident in the Dominican Republic. An April 2024 vision trip of seven participants grew to 19 in April 2025. Return trips expanded quickly: FBC Harrisburg and White River Baptist Association sent 21 participants in August 2025, and several more trips are scheduled in 2026, including another April vision trip.
Karyn Jones of Monticello First Baptist Church said one of the most meaningful parts of her recent mission trip to the Dominican Republic was serving in a medical clinic.
Jones described the clinic as a “tangible ministry” to families and a powerful platform for sharing the gospel. She said seeing individuals she fitted for glasses come to faith in Christ was especially rewarding. She also valued time spent encouraging Dominican pastors’ wives, noting that while she taught and ministered to them, she was deeply challenged by their faithfulness in difficult circumstances.
Jones said this season of life has provided the resources and time to serve cross-culturally for short durations and refresh the faithful who are there serving every day.
“Since returning, I have encouraged women in our church that even if they have never considered going on mission to take the opportunity to serve outside of our context. And I’ve shared that the aspects of the trip you think will be your ‘sweet spot’ may actually lead to new experiences and other ‘sweet spots’ for ministry,” Jones said.
“Going into the world with the purpose of making disciples is a command of God for Christ-followers. These type of opportunities are available to us, but require obedience on our part. My spiritual life was enriched as I traveled to enrich the spiritual lives of others.”
Smaller partnerships in Canada and Detroit reflect the same pattern. A two-person vision team went to Canada in July 2024, followed by a 21-person return team from FBC Dewitt in 2025. Send Detroit hosted one participant in March 2025 and plans for a fall 2026 trip.
Across all locations, the story is consistent: a small group goes, God connects hearts, churches return, more churches join, and the gospel advances.
“While many churches in our state are actively on mission, some may not know where to begin,” Lasiter said. “After spending time in prayer, visit our partnership missions page to see what opportunities are available. Some of the 64 churches that mobilized 197 Arkansas Baptists over the past two years began by participating in a vision trip to explore the possibilities.”
For more information on partnership opportunities, visit Partnership Missions.