David Bond, an employee of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) for over a decade, passed away Saturday, Oct. 1, at the age of 50 after four years of fighting cancer.
“One of the greatest honors of my ministry has been to work alongside David Bond. He was a tireless worker, leader, friend, husband, father, thinker, strategist, administrator, teacher, preacher, as well as a comedian. For years David has been a key component in most all of the major events, strategies, and ministries of the ABSC. His love for his Lord and his family was a model for us all. The love he had for Arkansas Baptist churches, pastors, staff and church leaders was an inspiration to us all. His early departure from us has brought great grief, but his grand entrance into heaven has brought even greater joy. I look forward to seeing my friend again someday,” said ABSC Executive Director Dr. J.D. “Sonny” Tucker.
Bond was married to his wife Renee for nearly three decades and they have two daughters and a son-in-law, Kelsey and Ethan Blackmon and Kassidy Bond.
Bond was a close friend in the ABSC building and loved by Arkansas Baptists across the state (as evident in a memorial post on Facebook with over 200 comments). His strong relationship with Jesus prompted him to the kind of work that pointed others towards The Source of Life. Ultimately, he was a servant of God, committed to ministry.
“David served the ABSC faithfully for almost 13 years. In that time, he impacted hundreds of churches and thousands of Arkansas Baptists. His love of and value to the Arkansas Baptist family cannot be overstated. But for me personally, even beyond his commitment to the ABSC, he was a dear brother and close friend who will be deeply missed,” said Marcus Brown, who serves as the director of convention administration for the ABSC.
After giving his life to Jesus at the age of six, Bond began singing solos and volunteering during his teen years at church. Through this, the Lord called him into ministry. He attended Ouachita Baptist University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in music education in 1994, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he received his master’s degree in Christian education in 2001. He also graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2015 with a doctorate in philosophy.
Bond was licensed by First Baptist Church in Ashdown, where he served as a youth ministry intern, and was ordained by First Baptist Church in Dover, where he was the minister of youth and music. Bond also served at First Baptist Church in Hamburg, First Southern Baptist Church in Bryant, Second Baptist Church in Russellville and Harpeth Heights Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee.
Bond served God by serving Arkansas Baptists. He began his work with the ABSC in 2009 as the adult Sunday school specialist for what was then the Evangelism and Church Growth team. He later joined the Executive and Administrative team, serving as the director of convention business.
“David has been a dear friend since our student days at Ouachita. David was a very gifted, passionate servant who loved the local church. He had strong music gifts and served as a worship leader,” said Craig Jenkins, the director for convention advancement and news for the ABSC. “He had strong educational gifts and served the local church, emphasizing the importance of Sunday School and discipleship. And he had strong pastor/shepherd gifts and served as a pastor. There are many leaders that are strong in one area, but few who are solid in all three throughout their ministry.”
Bond will be dearly missed from every corner of this state and beyond, and Arkansas Baptists are praying that divine comfort will give peace to his family in the midst of their heartache.
In the last devotional Bond gave to the ABSC staff, he shared John 19:18: “There they crucified him and two others with him, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle.” Bond expanded on the verse, showcasing how often Jesus positions himself in the middle. He stands between. He is the courage that stands between the believer and fear. He is the faith that stands between the Christian and doubt. And he is the hope that stands between Arkansas Baptists and despair. Right now, even in grief and loss, there is reason to rejoice because nothing, not cancer or even death itself, stands between Jesus and Bond.
A visitation will be held this evening, Thursday, Oct. 6, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pinecrest Funeral Home, and the funeral service will follow tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 7, at 10 a.m. at Bryant First Southern Baptist Church.
You can learn more about Bond’s life by reading his obituary.
One Response
Thank you for such a beautiful article on David. What a sweet blessing for our family to have this .