The Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) Evangelism + Church Health Team is welcoming two new members to its service to Arkansas Baptists.
On Wednesday, April 9, Jared Farley will begin his ministry as the campus minister at the University of Arkansas Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM), and CJ Womack will transition from interim to campus minister at the University of Arkansas Monticello (UAM) BCM.
Evangelism + Church Health Team Leader Warren Gasaway said both men and their families are tremendous additions to the team.
Jared Farley
Farley and his wife, Mary, have been married since 2015 and have a passion for discipling young adults together. The couple has a 2-year-old daughter, Lucy, and recently welcomed a son, Sam.
Farley is a graduate of Henderson State University and served the BCM there from 2010 to 2023. For the past two years, he has served as the college and young adult pastor at First Baptist Church in Fort Smith.
In his spare time, Farley can typically be found doing something active. He will try any sport at least once. He enjoys a good burger and has been on a quest to find the “best burger” in Arkansas since 2010.
Farley described his personal style of ministry as relational, consistent, and practical.
“My goal is to see students come to know God and experience the transforming power of the Gospel. I believe that consistent evangelism and discipleship are essential to campus ministry – making disciples who are disciples. I believe that the college campus is our most strategic mission field. If we reach college students, God will use them to change the world,” he said.
Farley said God changed the trajectory of his life through college ministry. He said it is one of the most impactful ministries to be a part of it.
“If you can reach a student while in college at that stage of life, I think their life is going to be changed and then they can start to make decisions from that point on to partner with God and do His work wherever that is,” he said. “We are looking forward to being at U of A.”
Gasaway said Farley’s ministry experience, track record of developing leaders, and passion for reaching the college campus will serve Fayetteville and surrounding churches well.
“He, Mary, and their family will be a tremendous light to the U of A community,” Gasaway said.
CJ Womack
A former student and BCM leader at UAM, Womack brings a love for the campus and for surrounding churches.
Womack and his wife, Angela, have great ministry experience, serving two years recently as Journeymen through the International Mission Board (IMB).
“God will continue to use CJ’s faith and depth of character for a great work at UAM,” Gasaway said.
While at UAM, Womack became deeply involved in campus ministry. When he graduated, he joined the BCM staff as an assistant to the campus minister. For the last six years, he worked alongside Jeremy Woodall.
“It’s so personal to me because during my time in college is where I first really understood what it meant to follow Jesus and understood what it means to be a disciple that makes disciples. I didn’t really know what that was before. I didn’t really know that was the purpose of every Christian,” Womack said. “I was just really blessed to be surrounded by people who were wanting to make disciples and showed me what that meant. It was really developmental for my own life and then I see it continuing with students that we have now. … It has significantly impacted not only their life but the lives of other people around them. That’s been really cool to see.”
Womack said he looks forward to continuing to be a part of student discipleship on campus and to seeing them grow in their own passion for evangelism and discipleship.
Womack and his wife, Angela, met through BCM. She loves being part of the ministry, too. They have a passion for discipling young adults together. The two enjoy film photography and usually have a camera with them when they travel.
“We’re just so thankful. We’ve been overwhelmed by graciousness from God and other people. We’re grateful to be in this position and want to make the most of it,” he said. “I want to be a lifelong learner and just keep passing it down to the next person.”