A group from FBC White Hall visit the ABSC building on Wednesday, July 12. (Submitted)
Children at First Baptist Church in White Hall spent the week learning about missions in Arkansas and beyond. Day camp participants visit Baptist Building
Children’s Minister Jennifer Weaver said the goal of the missions camp was to give the youth a new perspective on missions happening around them.
On Monday, the group visited the Arkansas Baptist Children’s Home in Monticello. They received a tour from the Campus Director Allen Elkins. They learned about missions, evangelism, and the Gospel as well as how important it is to share the “Good News” with others
On Tuesday, July 11, they learned more about Annie Armstrong, Lottie Moon, the North American Mission Board (NAMB), International Mission Board (IMB), and the Cooperative Program. They served at the White Hall Food Pantry in the morning, and then in the afternoon served at the Foster Love Closet.
On Wednesday, July 12, they visited the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) and got to see all the offices on a tour led by Children’s Specialist Emily Smith. The children learned from the leadership how they spread the Gospel by empowering churches and the different missions opportunities they lead. Weaver said they even had Pastor Paul Williams join them. After exploring the Convention, the group toured the Arkansas Baptist Children & Family Ministries office.
While visiting these locations, the youth also completed a scavenger hunt. For instance, they had to get a signature from somebody in the ABSC office. They also had to find out who was campus minister at the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff and other trivia, which they kept track of in a curriculum booklet. Weaver said it was a fun way to keep them engaged.
In the past, Weaver said they have hosted sports camps, but they wanted to try something different this year more focused on discipleship. They planned their own “mini missions” trip. She compared it to a day camp. The children were with them from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
“They’re pretty good little Southern Baptists now,” Weaver said. “We just wanted to really disciple them and teach them.”