Pastor Ryan Scantling visits with Rhonda and David Graham, associational missionary, while Pastor Laramie Lequieu and Bobby Thomas, Arkansas Baptist Foundation president, visit in the background at the 2024 Arkansas reception. Staff photo by Mary Alford
Arkansas Baptists are invited to a state reception on Monday evening, June 9, during the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) 2025 Annual Meeting & Pastor’s Conference in Dallas, Texas.
The come and go reception for Arkansas Baptist church messengers will be from 8 to 10 p.m. in Trinity Ballroom 8 within the Omni Hotel. The hotel is connected to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas, 650 South Griffin Street, where the SBC Annual Meeting is being held.

Arkansas reception. Photo by Mary Alford
This is the second consecutive year Arkansas will host a state reception for Arkansas Baptists at the SBC Annual Meeting. Larry White, pastor at Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Conway, who attended the reception last year in Indianapolis, called the event a “great new tradition for Arkansas Baptists.”
“There was a room full of old friends and newcomers from all walks of Baptist life. It was a highlight for my wife and me. Grateful for those who planned and arranged the accommodations,” he said.
Greg Varndell, associational missionary for the North Pulaski Baptist Association, said he loves the idea of connecting with Arkansans at the Convention.
“It’s a great reminder that we are better together. It’s a great reminder that we are at our best as Southern Baptists when we focus on missions and evangelism,” Varndell said.
Ryan Scantling, pastor at East Side Baptist Church in Fort Smith, said the SBC Annual Meeting “allows messengers to experience what their cooperative giving does: make a massive Gospel impact worldwide.”
“Having a dedicated time to gather with other Arkansas Southern Baptists enables fellowship, encouragement, and opportunity to lock arms with those with whom we cooperate to make a global Gospel impact,” said Scantling, who attended last year’s event. “For those who don’t know many of their fellow Arkansas Baptists, show up to meet people who will encourage you in your ministry. For those who are well acquainted with other Arkansas Baptists, show up to reconnect with old friends and encourage new leaders in our state. I’ll plan to see you there.”
The SBC 2025 Annual Meeting is June 8-11. For more information on the SBC Annual Meeting, visit sbcannualmeeting.net.