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 Church in Helena.
Joe Garner, associational missionary for Calvary Baptist Association, said the association has been praying about a partnership with churches in the Delta for some time. Garner grew up in the Helena area and previous served as associational missionary for the Arkansas Valley Baptist Association for 15 years.
“The Lord has always kept that area in my heart,” Garner said.
About six months or so ago, Garner said they started talking to folks at Abundant Life Christian Baptist Church, formerly Helena First Baptist Church. Garner met Orel Stokes, pastor of the church plant, at the Annual Meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC). Later, Garner and a few other pastors visited the church and talked with Stokes more about his vision for the area and opportunities to come together. That led to the association agreeing to a three-year partnership with the church. The association will provide financial support and cooperate in mission trips to the area, such as the March 22 block party.
Garner said they had nine churches participate in the block party and 223 volunteers. It featured inflatables, popcorn, snow cones, cotton candy, face painting, games and more. They registered approximately 269 people from the community at the event.
“It was just amazing,” Garner said. “I don’t know how many salvations, but I know there were several.”
Leading up to the block party, Abundant Life Christian Baptist Church hosted a three-night revival, which Stokes called “very successful.” The weekend wrapped up with a community worship service on Sunday led by Bro. Carl Medley from Kennect City Church in Kensett.
This past Sunday, March 30, Stokes said they baptized three people and accepted nine members into their congregation.
“The purpose and goal is to reach out to those that are lost and make that introduction to Jesus and invite them to be a part of our family and what we are doing in the community,” Stokes said.
Throughout the process, Garner said churches in the Calvary Baptist association have been reenergized for missions.
“I’m excited, the churches are excited, and we’re just waiting to see what else God is going to let us be a part of down there in the Helena-West Helena area,” Garner said. “That area needs some light and He is the light. We just need to do all we can to help our brothers over there.”
Garner said the partnership benefits both the association and the area they are serving.
“It’s teaching us and encouraging us,” he said. “We’re getting as much out of this as they are. And it’s amazing what God is doing over there and going to do over there and over here because of the faithfulness of our churches to come together and partner with them.”
Bob Hall, Calvary Baptist Association missions coordinator, said “to see us working together, us working with them and them working with us, it was just a great day.”
Stokes said the churches of Calvary Baptist Association are “wonderful partners that have walked along beside us and have been very helpful in every aspect of ministry we’re doing since we’ve connected and began to partner together.”
“Accomplishing the Send Network Arkansas goal of ‘churches planting churches everywhere for everyone’ requires healthy partnerships between ABSC churches and church plants. What an incredible example of a healthy partnership we witnessed with the block party at Abundant Life Baptist Church. The churches of Calvary Baptist Association serving alongside the members of Abundant Life is a beautiful picture of the power of the Gospel,” ABSC Missions Team Leader Sam Roberts said.
ABSC churches interested in discovering how they can be involved in church planting in Arkansas are invited to participate in a Sending Church Lab.
A Sending Lab is a one-day workshop that will help leaders develop a vision and plan for leading their church to send. It is a collaborative experience that will connect pastors on the same journey, while guiding them to identify their next steps for finding, developing, and sending church planters.
Upcoming labs include:
- April 14 – Jonesboro
- April 15 – Little Rock
For more information on the upcoming Sending Church Labs, visit absc.org/ChurchPlanting.
One Response
Great job Bro Joe Bro Orel and Bro Jesse I hate I missed it but I was there in spirit. Praise God