The Board of Directors of the Arkansas Baptist Foundation (“ABF”) held its Quarterly Board Meeting on Thursday, May 14th at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (“ABSC”) building.
Eric Brown, Missions Pastor of Central Baptist, Jonesboro gave the opening devotional covering Matthew 15:21-28. Brown encouraged the Board to cry out to the Lord with our requests. Brown also urged that we take time as individuals and as a Board to approach the Lord each day with our requests and to make certain that we sit long enough with him to hear his response and to be obedient to what he calls us to do.
Highlights of the board meeting included:
- Sonny Tucker, ABSC Executive Director, shared how the global COVID-19 pandemic has affected both the working environment for ABSC employees and its impact on local churches. Tucker noted he has been encouraged by the way churches have stayed engaged and have learned to minister to their communities in new ways with online services.
- Randy Milligan, Landmark PLC Managing Partner, reviewed the 2019 Audit and presented a clean auditor’s report.
- Bobby Thomas, ABF President, presented a President’s report that included a review of first quarter distributions, up 30% from first quarter 2019. Thomas also provided an update regarding the Hammons Charitable Foundation and the Paycheck Protection Program.
- Jay Shell, ABF Operating Chairman, shared the proposed 2021 Operating Budget to be presented to the ABSC Finance Sub-Committee.
- Mike Marquez, Merrill Lynch Institutional Consultant, presented a report called Student of the Market, which helped the Board understand how the markets have responded historically to unpredictable times.