Cabot, AR—The 168th annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) will take place on Oct. 25-27 at First Baptist Church, 204 N. 3rd Street, Cabot, AR. The theme for this year’s annual meeting is “COMPELLED.” As Christ followers, we are compelled by the Spirit to testify to the Gospel. (Acts 20:22,24).
Convention business will be conducted which will include receiving team, agency and institution reports, election of convention officers and a vote on the 2022 ABSC Cooperative Program (CP) budget of $21 million, which will be the final year of the current five-year budget formula. During the meeting, the ABSC Nominating Committee will present recommendations of people to serve on the boards and committees of the ABSC and its agencies.
Continue reading for more information and to download schedules and lists of times, dates and locations.
Pastors’ Conference
Monday, October 25
The Pastors’ Conference will kick off this year at 11:30 am with a “Reaching the Next Generation” lunch for all pastors and staff. The lunch will take place at the Veterans Park Event Center (508 N. Lincoln) located just minutes from the church. There is no cost, but registration is required no later than Friday, October 22 for lunch. Click here to register for the lunch.
Following lunch, the venue will change to the First Baptist Cabot Worship Center and will begin at 1:30 pm.
2021 Pastors’ Conference President Nick Floyd shared, “I am so excited about what the Lord is doing related to our upcoming Pastor’s Conference. Our theme is “Compelled,” and we are going to talk about the compelling work of God in our own hearts and churches. We are going to talk about what that means for our daily lives as pastors and members of churches. We have a fantastic lineup scheduled for Monday. We will be hearing from Noe Garcia, H.B. Charles, Jr., Robby Gallaty, and others. I hope you’ll make plans to join us for this special time of investment into our spiritual lives. My heart is for this to be an encouraging day together in the Lord. Let’s be praying together for this time.”
Click here to download a schedule of the Pastors’ Conference.
Ministers’ Wives Conference
Monday, October 25
The Ministers’ Wives Conference is set to begin at 11:30 am at FBC Cabot with lunch provided. The theme for the 2021 Ministers’ Wives Conference is “COMPELLED by a Common Bond.” The featured speaker will be Aamie Mason, Licensed Counselor with Living Well Counseling, a ministry of the Arkansas Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries. Worship will be led by Melanie Jenkins, a pastor’s wife for 25 years who has led worship in local churches.
All ministers’ wives are invited to join in this time of fellowship and worship to establish friendships and to share in the joys and challenges that come with being a minister’s wife.
Click here to download a schedule of the Ministers’ Wives Conference and to preregister.
Annual Meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention
Tuesday and Wednesday, October 26-27
Convention President Manley Beasley, Jr., pastor of Hot Springs Baptist Church, Hot Springs, will preside over the meeting. The 2021 ABSC Annual Meeting will feature sermons by Manley Beasley, Jr., Convention President and Pastor of Hot Springs Baptist Church; J.D. “Sonny” Tucker, ABSC executive director; Robby Gallaty, Senior Pastor, Long Hollow Church, Hendersonville, TN; and, Kyle Reno, Directional Pastor, The Summit Church, North Little Rock. Andrew Chandler, Hot Springs Baptist Church, and Ken Holland, FBC Cabot, will lead worship.
The annual meeting will also include the election of officers, recommendations from the Executive Board, miscellaneous business, Cooperative Program ministry reports from Arkansas Baptist leaders, live podcast recordings, and a free lunch provided by Arkansas Disaster Relief.
Only elected messengers are allowed to vote on convention business, but everyone is invited to connect and fellowship with other Arkansas Baptists from around the state as we join to worship, hear timely sermons, pray together, and celebrate all that God is doing around the state. Childcare will be provided and must be reserved in advance.
Click here to download information on becoming a messenger.
Click here to download a list of convention committees.
Click here to download a complete schedule for the Annual Meeting.
Click here for information on childcare.
Featured Events
In addition to the Pastors’ Conference and Ministers’ Wives Conference, several featured events will be happening on Monday, October 25 and Tuesday, October 26. These events include the following:
Hispanic Celebration, Associational Missionaries’ Fellowship, AR Student Pastors’ Network, Chaplains’ Lunch, AR Kids Ministry Network Luncheon, and Seminary Alumni Luncheons. Registration is required for most of these events.
A new addition this year will be the Cooperative Program Fellowship on Tuesday night, October 26. This will take place in the foyer of the church following the evening session.
Click here to download a detailed list of dates, times and locations for featured events.
Resolution Submission
Convention Resolutions Committee Chairman Larry Page, Executive Director of the Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council, has invited Arkansas Baptist messengers with proposed resolutions to send them to the committee for early review.
Anyone desiring to present a resolution to the committee should mail a copy of the proposed resolution to the address below by Tuesday, October 5. Proposed resolutions may also be submitted at the annual meeting until 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 26. Mail to: Arkansas Baptist State Convention, Attn: Mrs. Vera Clancy, 10 Remington Drive, Little Rock, AR 72204
Resolutions will be considered during the morning session on Wednesday, October 27.