ABSC Executive Board meets at Camp Paron, approves team merger

ABSC Executive Board meets Tuesday at Camp Paron. (Photo by Cassidy Higgins)

PARON, Ark. – Tuesday’s meeting marked a first for the Executive Board of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) as members met at Camp Paron.  

The meeting was called to order by Board President Paul Williams, who led the group in scripture and prayer. ABSC Executive Director Rex Horne then shared a few words and welcomed everybody to the gathering.   

During the meeting, the Executive Board unanimously approved combining the Church Planting Team and the Missions Team. Horne called the merger of the two teams a “natural fit.”  

“In order to serve and assist churches well, the thought of merging church planting and missions made sense,” Horne said. “The leaders of those two teams came together and saw how team members on both teams could contribute in missions and church planting efforts.”  

Dr. Sam Roberts, who has served as the Missions Team leader since January 2022, will head the newly formed team. Roberts has been with the ABSC since January 2019.   

Vince Blubaugh, who has led the Church Planting Team since 2021, will continue to serve the ABSC as the Send Network Arkansas director and leading church planting strategies in the state.  

Executive Board attendees also heard updates from various agencies and institutions, including Williams Baptist University, Ouachita Baptist University, and Arkansas Baptist Children & Family Ministries. Additionally, board members received news of a clean 2023 audit and heard testimonies from four Baptist Collegiate Ministry campus ministers as well as new ABSC team members.   

Board members were also reminded of the Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering and Week of Prayer, which is Sept. 8-15.   

Camp Paron  

In addition to regular business, the meeting provided an opportunity for board members to tour and learn more about the venue, which has provided the backdrop for camps, conferences, and retreats for more than 50 years.  

Andrew Campbell, who took on the Camp Paron director role at the start of 2024, shared his testimony with the Board and gave an update on Camp Paron.  

This summer has stayed busy with camp weeks and projects, such as hosting a family camp, a children’s camp that consisted of a large group of third through sixth grade students, a missions camp that allowed the youth to get an understanding of missions and ministry, and several junior high/senior high youth camps.  

 “It has been exciting to see how God has been moving in the lives of those who have been at camp this summer. One of the best parts of camp is seeing how people arrive on the first day and leave different because of how God has done a work in their life while they were at camp,” Campbell said.  

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The Camp Paron hotel lobby has been refreshed with a new floor and furniture for guests to enjoy. (Photos by Alex Blankenship)
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The Lodge has new flooring and paint throughout the building and new furniture in the the public gathering area.

 He said each group has brought their own way of programming their week of camp, with different styles of worship services, high-energy, fast-paced rec times, and breakout sessions with deep conversations about faith and spiritual truths. Because of the ministry accomplished this summer, there have been at least 16 professions of faith and 10 rededications, and two young people who answered the ministry call. One group used the pool for a late-night baptism of seven students.   

 The Snack Shack has been opened a lot this summer and is a big hit with the groups. It is typically opened in the afternoon for a couple of hours when the students have free time and then again in the evening after the worship service. Each group was appreciative of the variety of items kept in stock, Campbell said. The new outside lighting made the Snack Shack a favorite place to hang out in the evening.     

  “Camp Paron has everything needed to host an event. It doesn’t matter if you are hosting a weekend retreat, a full week of camp, or a one-day conference, we have the facilities to accommodate your needs,” Campbell said. “We have a great staff that is eager and willing to serve the groups who choose to use Camp Paron. We want to serve the groups when they are here and make sure they have as few distractions as possible.”  

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New bedspreads and drapes have been added in the guest rooms. (Photo by Alex Blankenship)

  Along with the ministry that has been taking place, Campbell said they have also been busy updating some of the buildings on campus. The Lodge has new flooring and paint throughout the building and new furniture in the public gathering area. New lights have been installed throughout The Lodge and new bedspreads and drapes have been added in the guest rooms. The Chapel has new flooring in the foyer and bathrooms and new exterior doors installed, along with new lighting inside and outside the building. New landscaping has also been done around the chapel. The hotel lobby has been refreshed with a new floor and furniture for guests to enjoy.  

 For more information about Camp Paron, call 501-837-7362 or visit the website at campparon.com.  

The Executive Board is made up of representatives from cooperating churches within each association voted on by the messengers at the Annual Meeting. The representation is determined by numbers reported by churches on the previous year’s Annual Church Profile. They meet throughout the year and oversee the affairs of the Convention.  

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