Arkansas Baptists hosts block party workshops across the state
From planning to follow-up, Arkansas Baptists’ block party workshops are helping churches transform fun neighborhood events into meaningful ministry.
February 10, 2026
From planning to follow-up, Arkansas Baptists’ block party workshops are helping churches transform fun neighborhood events into meaningful ministry.
You are invited to join pastors, church staff, missions leaders, and everyday church members for a practical, inspiring day focused on helping your church move from interest
Spring offers a natural moment for churches to re-engage their communities with intentional gospel focus. The Spring Outreach Strategy is designed to help churches move from prayer to action to celebration. This Spring Outreach Strategy is built around four connected components—each simple on its own, but powerful when practiced together: Who’s Your One, Serve Local, Big Day, and Statewide Baptism Sunday.
Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) continues its response in northeast Louisiana after Winter Storm Fern caused extensive ice- and snow-related damage across the region. Twelve ABDR teams,
Several Arkansas Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) students delayed their Christmas break to serve on mission in the Arkansas Delta. Christmas in the Delta, which was Dec. 12-16, is an Arkansas
The Missions Team of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention recently partnered with the churches of the Red River Baptist Association to hold the annual Fall
Moises San Martin speaks to attendees of Mission Connection event on Sunday evening before ABSC Annual Meeting. RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Baptists on Sunday had the
Pro skateboarder, Jud Heald, a special guest at a One Day skate park activity in Silver City, talks with three skateboarders about competing for prizes.
JONESBORO, Ark. – Hundreds of Arkansas Baptists could be found ministering to the community throughout the Jonesboro area on Saturday, Oct. 4, as they participated
Students gather at Panther Stadium in Cabot for Fields of Faith, where 3,680 were in attendance. (Submitted/Abigail Rose Photography) CABOT, Ark. – Fields of Faith
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Send Network Arkansas on Friday, Sept. 5, hosted a local, one-day event designed to inspire and equip planters, pastors, and followers
Students register for a Conway BCM event. (Submitted) Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) is kicking off the fall semester of ministry with gospel-fueled, welcome week events
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. –Multiple pastors, church planters, and lay leaders gathered this past weekend at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) building for Heart and
PARON, Ark. – Hispanic church planters gathered over the weekend, Aug. 15-16, at Camp Paron for a spiritual retreat, where they were refreshed and re-energized
Volunteers came together at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention office on Monday to pack materials for churches to use to promote the annual Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering (DJAMO).
(Submitted photos) FORREST CITY, Ark. –Liberty Baptist Association recently took a team to serve in Forrest City, where they partnered with Rusty Nails Cowboy Church
A group of 12 high school students and six adults from Woodland Heights Baptist Church recently spent a week in South Florida on mission serving
(Submitted photos) Little Rock, Ark. – World Changers provides hands-on mission experiences that assist churches in developing students spiritually. Through construction, students actively meet the
The Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) Missions Team has hosted six Medical + Dental Clinics so far this year, resulting in more than 50 professions
Participants of Engage Missions Camp serve at a local food bank. (Alex Blankenship/ABSC) PARON, Ark. – More than 100 students and adults gathered at Camp
Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) volunteers quickly responded to provide aid in McCrory on Monday, June 16, after a widespread outage left many in the
BROOKLYN, New York – “When we go on mission trips it reignites an awareness of need around us,” said Sarah Bowen of Hillcrest Community Church
ENGAGE Missions Camp is set for June 16-20 at Camp Paron. The camp combines biblical teaching, worship, evangelism, fun, and fellowship with hands-on ministry opportunities
MCGEHEE, Ark. – Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) recently deployed to McGehee to assist with the recovery of homes flooded on April 5 following torrential
GOULD, Ark. – Seventeen inmates at the Varner Unit of the Arkansas Department of Corrections, a high security prison in Lincoln County, donned caps and
The team prays over a pastor in the Dominican Republic. (Submitted) A team of Arkansas Baptists recently traveled to the Dominican Republic where they made
Hannah Lasley poses for a photo with students during a recent vision trip to Liberia, West Africa. (Submitted) Eleven Arkansas Baptists from three different churches
Each spring for the past 16 years, student groups from across the state have come together in April for a weekend of missions and ministry
Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) is currently assessing damage in Northeast Arkansas following severe weather that left devastation in its wake. Mount Zion Baptist Association
More than 200 Arkansas Baptist college students from around the state recently traveled to Panama City Beach, Florida, to spend their spring break serving others
More than 200 volunteers from at least nine churches came together on Saturday, March 22, to orchestrate a block party at Abundant Life Christian Baptist
Sending church representatives attend a workshop during the Send Network Assessment Retreat in Little Rock. (Mary Alford/ABN) LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Church planting candidates gathered
217 newly endorsed church planters gathered at Send Network Orientation at the North American Mission Board (NAMB) building in Alpharetta, Ga., last week. The diverse
(Submitted) While the flood waters may have receded, the effects and need for aid remain in areas of Kentucky and West Virginia that were left
Arkansas Baptists are invited on Sunday, Feb. 16, to celebrate the ways that God has worked through the Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU). Focus on WMU
A man walks along a street in a city in South Asia (Submitted). Editor’s note: Names were changed for security. Feeling God’s call to missions
A group of Arkansas Baptists recently traveled to South Florida where they visited with and heard the hearts of church planters.
Arkansas Baptists have a lot to look forward for 2025. A few events to mark on the calendar are: Evangelism Conference The 2025 Statewide Conference
From the deployment of Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief’s first all-women chainsaw unit to the new Missions U training, Arkansas Baptists had a lot of news to share in 2024.
Central Baptist Church in North Little Rock Pastor Wyman Richardson, right, prays during a missions trip to Swerve Church in Brooklyn, New York. (Submitted). The
Bill and Evelyn Bullington served 39 years with the International Mission Board (IMB), most of that time in West Africa. They began doing evangelism and
Sen. Eddie Joe Williams introduces Varner Unit Field Minister Andre Dunn during Tuesday’s building dedication. (Photos by Mary Alford/ABN) GOULD, Ark. – It was a
LITTLE ROCK – Volunteers came together at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention offices on Monday to pack materials for churches to use to promote the
VALDOSTA, Ga. – Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) volunteers extend the love of Christ to disaster survivors, offering help, healing, and hope that is found
Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) has deployed teams to Georgia in response to the widespread damage from Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Helene made landfall in the
Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) is gearing up to deploy to Morgan City, Louisiana, to aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine. The hurricane slammed into
MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. – When disaster strikes, Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) volunteers are quick to mobilize and offer the help, healing, and hope of
Where is my mission field? This was the question students and adults from across the state and Missouri explored last week at Camp Paron as
SPRING, Texas – Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) teams deployed over the weekend to Spring, Texas, to aid the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s response
MORRIS, Okla. – Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) is deploying to Morris, Oklahoma. Five teams from First Baptist Church in Clarksville, First Baptist Church in
The Lord is moving through Arkansas churches.
On the weekend of April 12-14, more than 160 students from 12 different churches gathered in Marianna for the annual Spring CONNECT student missions event.
From Portland, Oregon, to Panama City Beach, Florida, Arkansas Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) students from around the state traveled near and far during their spring
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE, Ark. – Multiple Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) teams spent the weekend providing aid in Hot Springs Village following an EF-2 tornado.
ABDR volunteers sift through ash to help families locate valuable items that survived the fires. (Submitted) Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) recovery teams are lending
Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) recovery teams are on their way to Texas to aid areas impacted by wildfires ravaging the state. According to recent
A team of Arkansas Baptists recently embarked on a Brazil Vision Tour.
The ultimate reason we serve locally is to intentionally move people from the pews into the lives of the people in their communities to build relationships, share the Gospel, and call people to place their faith in Jesus.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) Red River Feeding Unit of Arkadelphia provided lunch on Tuesday for members of the Area
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) has a new podcast with a focus on missions for Arkansas Baptists. Missionize with the
IMB is in the process of assigning each missionary unit a portfolio of churches. This will serve to put a very personal face on our cooperative efforts to take the gospel the ends of the earth.
By Debbie Moore, Arkansas WMU Executive Director Arkansas Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) is so thankful for the privilege of serving Arkansas Baptists in the areas
From the announcement of the new Arkansas Baptist State Convention executive director to celebrating the first graduating class of the Arkansas Prison Initiative, Arkansas Baptists
Cobie Roux, Zach Chester and Andries Pretorius and Chance Watson stand in front following the braai sermon on Sunday, Oct. 29, at Drover Cowboy Church.
Arkansas Baptists sit in the stands at the University of Arkansas at Monticello football stadium before heading out to serve during One Day. MONTICELLO, Ark.
Partnership is at the heart of what we do as Arkansas Baptists. There is no greater evidence to that fact than what we experience each
he Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) Missions Team hosted a medical-dental clinic on Saturday, Sept. 23, at First Baptist Church in Stuttgart.
What does it take to confidently share the Gospel with those around us? Often, we want to wait until we feel truly “ready” to share
Four years ago, Arkansas Baptists celebrated the beginning of a partnership with Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis and the Arkansas Department of Corrections. This
We often hear about how Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) meets the needs of people trying to recover from natural disasters. Storm victims aren’t the
“I did not know how great the need is until I really was the hands and feet. I thought I was involved in church work.
A carved cross in Perry, Florida. (Facebook/Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief Volunteers) PERRY, Fla. – Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) volunteers are providing help, healing and
RDNE photo|Pexels This article was written by Heather Keller, the children’s missions consultant at National WMU. It was first published by LifeWay. As part focus
Ten people put their trust in Jesus on Saturday, Aug. 26, during a medical-dental clinic in Sherwood.
Little River Baptist Association holds a ribbon cutting for its new pregnancy care center. (Submitted) NASHVILLE, Ark. – With a heart for unborn children and
Bienvenue. Добро пожаловать. Beinvenida. 欢迎. Willkommen. Benvenuta. Those are just a few variations of “Welcome” on a sign that greets visitors at 7:9 Snoball stand in Little Rock.
MARVELL, Ark. – Marvell First Baptist Church Pastor B.J. Chatman and Rose Bud First Baptist Church Pastor Mitchell Vickers connected in March through the Arkansas
The Missions Team of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention partnered with the churches of the Little Red River Association on April 14-16 to bring 226
Everett Severs, Eli Severs, Holt Robinson, Drake Gray and other RAs at Wooster First Baptist Church made comfort packs for children impacted by the recent
This article was written by Bob Fielding, Arkansas Baptist State Convention Missions Team. The first senior class of the Arkansas Prison Initiative – College at
Volunteers begin cataloging relief supplies at First Church, Rolling Fork, after a super cell weather system raked the area March 24 and produced a deadly
Rolling Fork, Miss. – Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief is actively serving Mississippians after an EF-4 tornado tore through Rolling Fork, Mississippi, on Friday, March 24,
Survival from cardiac arrest doubles when a bystander steps in to apply an automated external defibrillator (AED) before emergency responders arrive, according to a 2018 report in the American
Marty and Chandler knew, as soon as they left the mission field, that they’d only be gone temporarily. They were only leaving their current assignment
File photo There are several ministry learning opportunities for Arkansas Baptists. Two such occasions on the horizon are the 2023 Arkansas Delta Vision Tour and
Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief is currently deployed to Florida, where Hurricane Ian drastically swept across the state on Wednesday, September 28. Hurricane Ian made landfall
Missions discipleship becomes the focus for one week each summer when Camp Paron hosts a group of students and their adult leaders for Engage Missions Camp.
Seven Arkansas Hispanic Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) members, led by state president Diana Rodriguez ministered to women and children in Lima, Peru during their first international mission trip June 6-16.
Missionaries heading to global areas where security is a concern were shown behind a screen. More than 90% of IMB missionary teams actively engage unreached people groups, many in hard-to-reach places where safety and security are daily considerations.
International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood began IMB’s report to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting with recent good news from the mission field.
Amid the busy event schedule of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting, nearly 2,000 attendees gathered for the International Mission Board dinner.
College students involved with Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) ministries across Arkansas spent their spring break serving others and sharing about Jesus in various contexts across the country.
The ABSC Missions Team recently hosted Arkansas Department of Corrections chaplains at Camp Paron for a three-day retreat on March 15 – 17. This was no ordinary retreat!
The goal of Serve Local is to provide a cooperative effort that assists churches in moving people from the pew to active ministry.
That is truly what being a part of the yellow shirt family is all about—being a helping hand, wherever, whenever and being the hands and feet of Jesus.
Clint Ritchie was recently named as the new Assistant Team Leader for the Missions Team at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC).
275 million people are estimated lost in North America. That’s men, women, young adults and children. Among that population are more than 40 million people
Being the Collegiate Church Mobilizer for the Metro New York Baptist Association involves helping churches reach over 80 college campuses with over one million students in a city with over eight million people.
“Everybody should be considering how the Lord is calling them to follow Jesus.”
The WorldCrafts mission is this: “WorldCrafts develops sustainable, fair-trade businesses among impoverished people around the world.” Their vision is “to offer an income with dignity and the hope of everlasting life to every person on earth.”
With the help of hundreds of churches, Pure Water, Pure Love (PWPL) provides thousands of water filters to missionary families and helps fund clean water projects.
“Jesus is for the nations, and so Christmas is for everyone. Opening your home for the holidays might just be one of the easiest ways to reach the nations this year.”
The week of prayer for international missions and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is Nov. 28-Dec. 5.
Collectively, these three ladies had and are still having an immeasurable eternal impact for the Kingdom.
“There is a difference between living next to someone and being their neighbor.”
For southern Louisiana, they are living through the aftermath.
Saturday October 2 – 1100 missionaries from 80 Arkansas Baptist Churches joined together in Russellville and the surrounding areas for the annual One Day Acts 1:8 Missions Experience (One Day). This experience was two years
RUSSELLVILLE – Arkansas Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) members and guests, together with International Mission Board (IMB) alumni and Arkansas missionary parents, celebrated missions at Second Baptist Church, Russellville, October
We rejoice knowing that churches were mobilized for missions, needs were met, the Gospel was proclaimed and more than 100 people came to saving faith in Jesus!
Hello! We are the Pollard* family. Both of us, Adam* and Evelyn*, were born and mostly raised here in Arkansas. We have five children, and four of them were born overseas. We have
We asked some recently returned Disaster Relief volunteers to share their stories and experiences, so far, from Hammond and these are their words.
Today is the last day to register so don’t wait!
On almost any given day throughout the year, Arkansas Baptist churches are actively meeting needs and sharing Jesus in their local communities.
The impact that short-term missions can have on an individual is immense.
The Gospel is still the power of God for salvation.
Church planting has been about more than just starting a church. It has been about igniting light in a very dark place.
Arkansas Disaster Relief is already preparing to help our neighbors as they begin to recover.
One Day Acts 1:8 Missions Experience provides an annual opportunity for Arkansas Baptists to impact lostness in a specific area of our state.
When a natural disaster hits, Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief is almost always the first to arrive and the last to leave.
This incredible ministry is provided by your missions giving through the Dixie Jackson State Missions Offering and the Cooperative Program.
“I want to follow Jesus, but I have years of Hinduism to unlearn.”
Since 2010, thousands of underserved Arkansans have received free medical and dental care and hundreds have trusted Christ through Medical and Dental Missions of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC), a mission funded 100% through Dixie Jackson.
“The calling keeps you, and seeing lives transformed by the Gospel motivates you.”
We are Asher and Loren Cross* serving with the International Mission Board. Although we grew up in Fort Smith and Dardanelle, we call Conway our adult home. We met at the University of Central Arkansas and settled near there after graduating college. We are members at The Summit Church in Conway. In 2013 we left Arkansas for East Asia and our two children, Lilly and Evan, were born there.
We are the Fox* family. I grew up in Arkansas where my parents serve in music ministry at an Arkansas Baptist church.
We are Travis and Beth Burkhalter and are currently serving with the International Mission Board (IMB) in Medellin, Colombia, with our four children. Our home church is University Baptist Church of Fayetteville, Arkansas. We have served with the IMB for over 11 years. The first eight were spent in a small jungle town on the Amazon River, and the past three have been spent in the city of Medellin in the Andes Mountains.
Tina Frost, a member of Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Cabot, just celebrated nine years of service as a volunteer chaplain with the Cabot Police Department.
What do fishing, camping, sports, metalworking, horseback riding, Dutch oven cooking, grilling, Baggo, swimming, and waterslides have in common?
Electricity! Transportation! Rent/Mortgage! Clothing! Food! Formally or informally, we all “budget” for these living expenses and others.
One Day: Serve Local is still a few weeks away, but Second Baptist Church in Russellville planned its outreach early…
ENGAGE is designed to provide participants the experience of a mission trip and summer camp all rolled into one.
Arkansas Baptists recently initiated a prayer adoption strategy for the unengaged unreached people groups (UUPGs) in South Asia.
The campus of Arkansas Tech University (ATU) is less than a mile from Second Baptist Church (SBCR). With an enrollment of over 10,000 students, the school offers a very diverse mission field.
The Missions Team of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention is introducing brand new initiatives for men and students to help involve them in reaching the lost and making disciples.
Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) Disaster Relief (DR) volunteers are known for serving others in the midst of the devastation of a natural disaster.
Blaylock began volunteering with the IFO in 2015 by hosting two international students in his home. It was through this experience that Blaylock realized food is a valuable tool for bonding between cultures.
What if I told you that 70 days or one summer of your college years could change the rest of your life?
the raising of awareness about church planting in Arkansas and North America, as well as advocating for thousands of unreached people groups around the world leads us to the notion that we can impact that lostness in spite of the travel restrictions placed on us by COVID.
Join thousands of kids across the country in hands-on ministry in your community for Children’s Missions Day! WMU invites all children in grades 1–6 to participate on a Saturday in February each year.
Melinda Chisum was sixteen years old when she discovered she was pregnant. Growing up in a very poor family, there often wasn’t enough food in her house.
Life affirming ministry is what executive director, Valerie Long, gets to do every day. However, she describes it as more – upholding it as God’s work that she gets to be a part of.
From giving $883 as a church for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering in 2011 to giving $18,684 for the 2020 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Hebron Baptist Church (HBC) of Little Rock has grown in financial generosity over the years.
During the month of January, the Arkansas Baptist News will feature an emphasis on the Sanctity of Human Life.
CONNECT for students is a weekend missions experience where Arkansas students and leaders find ways to make an impact in the lives of residents within a community.
Recently, Warren Gasaway of the Evangelism and Church Health team offered a model for doing multi-generational, missional, discipleship based on Titus 2. This strategy could help fill the void for the approximately 1,300 Arkansas Southern Baptist Churches that do not have full-time ministries.
There are approximately 145,000 immigrants in Arkansas, meaning 1 out of every 20 Arkansans (5%) was born in a foreign country.
When we consider the vast cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity of our growing immigrant, refugee, and international student populations in Arkansas, it can be overwhelming to think of how to effectively engage them with the Gospel.
This was the Psalm I was memorizing when I was sent home in March from my sophomore year of college. My semester was fueled by a newfound passion for scripture memorization.
Reaching the nations among us in Arkansas is not a new thing. Yet, because people are currently more dispersed around the world than at any other time in history, it is perhaps more needed than ever.
Tis the season for tinsel, twinkling lights all a glow, gift wrapping and hanging bows, but in a year like no other, does the hustle and bustle of traditions past leave something in people’s hearts that truly last?
As Arkansans, we are surrounded by visual reminders of Christmas, often before Halloween candy has even disappeared from the grocery stores. But, in some countries Christmas celebrations are nowhere to be seen.
Most of us have favorite Christmas traditions and memories we can share. We build them based on family and community culture, then personalize them along the way. Our International Mission Board (IMB) missionary families find that the influence of family and community culture is expanded even more as they also incorporate the traditions of their adopted countries.
While Sunday School and other activities may be curtailed for a stretch, this could be a good time for your church to look ahead and ask God for a fresh vision for your children.
For many of us, the six or so weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day represent a full and busy season. But in many cultures, the Christmas season represents a time of rest, even in the midst of celebration.