As summer vacation winds down our attention and our calendars turn to the start of a new school year. It’s also that time of year when churches across the Arkansas Baptist State Convention turn their attention to the annual Dixie Jackson (DJ) Arkansas Missions Offering and Week of Prayer. DJ offers an opportunity during the month of September for Arkansas Baptists to partner together and to celebrate all that God is doing as we work to reach the lost and the underserved in Arkansas.
Hot off the presses
her daughter pack DJ materials.
Photo by Mary Alford
Volunteers from across the state came together at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention offices on Tuesday to pack the materials for our annual DJ promotion. Boxes should be arriving soon. Be on the lookout for your box of resources and begin now to plan for your church’s promotion of the DJ offering. Be sure to check out the planning guide for an overview of the theme and the stories, and ideas for decorating, promoting and planning your campaign. Enlist the help of a volunteer or team of volunteers in your church to help advocate for the mission and get the word out.
The theme for 2024 is “Compassion in Action.” This theme comes from Matthew 9:35-38 where Jesus sees the crowd, sees their needs, feels compassion for them and ultimately meets their needs. Arkansas Baptists have been modeling this very thing for almost a full century as we partner together to give, pray, and go through the ministries of Dixie Jackson.
Medical + Dental Clinics
This year we are focusing primarily on a ministry that many may not even know is offered– medical + dental clinics. Because of the faithful giving of Arkansas Baptists, communities are impacted as medical professionals join with numerous other volunteers to offer dental services as well as physicals, mammograms and sometimes eye exams. The videos tell the stories of compassion in action as seen through the eyes of a local dentist who provides his services, a church pastor who hosts a clinic, a volunteer couple who provide a block party in conjunction with a clinic and a participant who not only received services but ultimately had a life changing encounter with Jesus at a DJ sponsored medical + dental clinic.
For More Information
Be sure to check out the website at www.absc.org/dj for additional resources and to download the videos as they become available. If you would like to order additional materials or a hard copy DVD of the videos, please email Chrissy King ([email protected]) or call the Missions Team at 501.376-4791 ext. 5137 if you have questions.