Kibler Baptist Church in Alma celebrated 24 baptisms on 2025 Statewide Baptist Day. (Facebook)
Arkansas Baptist churches reported a 14.5% increase in baptisms last year with the overall total reaching 8,525, up from 7,439 the previous year.
This marks the fourth consecutive year the number of reported baptisms has increased. Annual reports submitted to the Convention by the state’s congregations show baptisms have risen by 84% from the 4,632 reported in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic was gripping the state.
On a national level, a Baptist Press article reported for the first time since the late 1980s into the early 1990s, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) saw four consecutive years of growth in baptisms. Not only have baptisms climbed out of pandemic levels, but the 2024 numbers also topped the last pre-pandemic year – 2019, according to Annual Church Profile data. Arkansas churches reported 7,873 baptisms in 2019.
In the fall, Rose Bud First Baptist Church hosted three events that led to 44 salvations and 34 baptisms in a seven-day span.
“It’s been neat to see a church that was on a downward trend and to see their desire to not stay that way,” Pastor Chris Miller said in a previous article. “It is really cool to see God doing that, how God is blessing my church members’ efforts, and then seeing the joy on their face when they see how God can use them,” he said. “We’re a small church, but God can still do big things here.”
States with the most baptisms in Southern Baptist congregations in 2024 were Florida (30,701), Texas (28,619), Tennessee (18,935), and Georgia (25,651). Thirty-one state conventions saw an increase in baptisms in 2024.
Despite the increase in baptisms across the U.S., the SBC still saw an 18th consecutive year of overall membership decline. The Baptist Press reported the 12,722,266 members of Southern Baptist congregations marked a 2% decline from 2023.
In Arkansas, total membership actually grew by 15,577 in 2024, rising from 373,477 to 389,054. Statewide in-person weekly worship attendance increased, as it did nationwide, rising 11.98% from 107,631 to 120,520. That increase also extends to average Sunday School attendance, which rose 10.4% from 69,031 in 2023 to 76,249 in 2024, and Vacation Bible School enrollment, which saw a 6.5% increase. Additionally, Arkansas saw a 9.3% increase in undesignated receipts.
Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) Associate Executive Director Marcus Brown said they are very encouraged to see significant increases in several key areas.
“We know that statistics do not tell the full story about the health of a church, but we also know that Arkansas Baptists are seeing the Lord do some amazing things in their churches as they work hard to reach people. We have much to celebrate,” Brown said. “What may be most encouraging is that Arkansas Baptist churches reported even more baptisms in 2024 than in 2019, which was the last year before COVID’s impact.”
Each year, Arkansas Baptist churches are asked to complete the Annual Church Profile. The ABSC, SBC, and their agencies use the data collected to be aware of trends and plan ministry accordingly. In Arkansas, the 2024 ACP was answered by 69.4% of churches
“We are grateful to Arkansas Baptist churches for their willingness to take the time to participate in the Annual Church Profile. That allows the ABSC, as a family of churches, to celebrate some of the ways the Lord is blessing,” Brown said.
Looking at 2025, already the fruit of God’s work can be seen throughout Arkansas. On April 27, multiple Arkansas Baptist churches celebrated Statewide Baptism Sunday with numerous baptisms. For instance, Balboa Baptist Church in Hot Springs Village baptized nine students.
“We have been seeing a tremendous growth in our family ministry over the last nine months, and we are seeing the fruit of that,” Family Ministry Director Denise Hussein said in an article on Statewide Baptist Sunday. “We’re just praising the Lord.”
Balboa Baptist was just one of many Arkansas Baptist churches to celebrate baptisms that Sunday. Friendship Baptist Church in Conway Friendship Baptist Church in Conway celebrated nine baptisms and five salvations, Fellowship Southern Baptist Church in Hardy baptized seven, and Kibler Baptist Church in Alma celebrated 24 baptisms – just to name a few.
In March, the ABSC held its first Medical-Dental clinic of the year, partnering with Mountain Top Cowboy Church in Heber Springs.
A total of 113 patients registered to see a physician or to have teeth cleaned or extracted. As a result of gospel conversations at the clinic, two people made professions of faith, while many others were encouraged in their spiritual journey. “They’re coming to get a physical need met, and we’re there to also meet the spiritual need,” ABSC Community Missions Strategist Clint Ritchie said.
God has also been moving through Arkansas Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) this year. Across the state, BCM reported 13,497 students engaged, 602 international students engaged, 587 professions of faith, 669 students involved in evangelism, 661 students participated in leadership training, 355 students participated in mission work, and 50 students are pursuing vocational ministry post-graduation.
These numbers are just a glimpse of what God is doing in Arkansas.