Ladies gather at FBC Benton for Arkansas Baptist Women Conference

BENTON, Ark. – Hundreds of women gathered on Saturday, Sept. 21, at First Baptist Church in Benton for the Arkansas Baptist Women Conference.  

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Andrea Lennon, center, speaks during the 2024 Arkansas Baptist Women Conference.

The Conference kicked off with a welcome by Andrea Lennon, former women’s ministry specialist at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC).  

Lennon told the women that the night before, she and the leadership team had prayed over every seat in the worship center. Those prayers were felt as the women raised their hands in praise and worship led by Cory and Stephanie Epps, worship leaders from Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro.  

“One of the things I love the most is being in a large group of women worshiping God together. I think we always get this every time we come to one of these conferences … I get to fellowship with people I’ve known in the past and see them again, here. It’s very much fun to be here and I get to worship God with fellow believers,” Patti Snowden of FBC Benton said.  

Felicia Toler of FBC Crossett said she attended Conference for the first time in 2023 and fell in love with it.  

“I fell in love with the way it fills you up and the people and just everything about it,” she said. Immediately, Toler decided she wanted to be involved. She talked to Lennon and soon joined the leadership team.  

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Women are greeted as they enter FBC Benton on Sept. 21 for the 2024 Arkansas Baptist Women Conference.

“I am just excited about what God is doing for the women of Arkansas in our churches, in our ministries and just being able to tell others about Jesus,” Toler said.  

The theme this year was “More of Jesus and less of me!” The key verse was John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  

The keynote speaker was Rachel Lovingood, who has been doing ministry with her husband, Jeff, for 30 years. Her passion is to see lives transformed by the Word of God.  

During the hour before lunch, the attendees separated into five connection groups, where women enjoyed meaningful times of conversation about more of Jesus.    

Stacy Cunningham of FBC Benton said, “I love seeing the collaborative effort, all the women from all across the state coming together. It’s just my favorite.”   

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Eddie and Charlesetta Gibson, from right, provide music as women enter the room for the Arkansas WMU annual meeting and missions’ celebration on Sept. 21 at FBC Benton.

Additionally, during the hour before lunch and during, Woman’s Ministry Union (WMU) members held their annual meeting and missions’ celebration, which included hearing words of encouragement from Eddie Gibson, a product of Southern Baptist missions work in Liberia, and his wife, Charlesetta.  

All the groups reunited after lunch for a second session led by Lovingood.  

After another time of worshipful music, Lennon closed out the day, announcing to the women present that after 10 years with the ABSC she accepted a new job with Lifeway, where she will serve as director of women. 

“It has been my joy to love you and to serve you. … Today is my last day. I am so glad I got to go out worshiping the Lord with all of you,” she told those in attendance.  

Women were encouraged to mark their calendars for Sept. 20, 2025, and make plans to meet at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church for the 2025 Arkansas Baptist Women Conference.    

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