The Missions Ministries Team works hand-in-hand with Arkansas Baptists in finding practical ways to share Christ through a variety of ministries. Some meet the needs of believers, while others provide care and concern to the lost. The groups that make up the Missions Ministries Team are:
- Chaplaincy and Institutional Ministries
- New Churches and Language Ministries
- Inclusion Ministries
- Volunteer Missions
- Mobilization Ministries
- Migrant Ministries
- Church to Community Ministries
- Associational Missions Development
- Team Members
Chaplains in Arkansas minister with love and care to special groups of people in situations where the church isn't expected, or sometimes even able, to go. They serve in multi-ethnic and religiously diverse environments where their compassion becomes a powerful witness to their faith in Christ. There are many chaplaincy ministries in areas that include hospitals, prisons, the military and outreach to the mentally retarded. Three chaplains serve on the Missions Ministries Team.
New Churches and Language Ministries
The Church Planting Group of the Missions Ministries Team partners with local churches and associations to establish new congregations. Cooperation is a vital ingredient to church starting, and this ministry seeks the Lord’s guidance as it touches every stage of the process. In 2004, 24 churches serving people in eight language groups were started in Arkansas.
Language Missions
The Hispanic population continues to increase in Arkansas each year. Working cooperatively with multi-ethnic pastors, the Language Ministries Strategists strive to meet the needs of all races by providing pastors and associations with literature and Bibles in their language and offering training for new pastors.
The Inclusion Ministries
An estimated 500,000 people in the state of Arkansas (10% to 20% of every community) have one or more disabilities. However, only a few of these individuals attend worship services on a regular basis. Many church facilities are not handicap-accessible, or don't have classes available for those who are developmentally impaired. The Inclusion Ministries Strategists help churches learn how to meet the special needs of people with physical challenges.
Volunteer Missions Mobilization Ministries
There are four goals for volunteer ministries:
- Meet the needs of the people in the area
- Enrich spiritually the life of each volunteer
- Enlarge the missions vision of the volunteer and of the volunteer's church
- Please and glorify the Heavenly Father
These volunteer ministries are many in number; some of them are:
These ministries cover a broad range of needs, from building churches through Nailbenders for Jesus to rallying Christian campers in Arkansas with Campers on Mission. Each ministry is unique, but all fulfill the single purpose of sharing Christ.
Disaster Relief mobilizes almost 1,000 volunteers each year, helping individuals and communities struggling through the effects of fire, flood, hurricane or earthquake. Disaster Relief volunteers are able to provide hot food, shelter, showers and care to thousands of children and adults at a time, sharing Christ’s love with people in dire need.
Migrant Ministries
25,000 migrant farm workers travel through Hope, Arkansas each year. Hope is the central point of their travels and is thereby the location of both governmental and Southern Baptist support services. The Hope Migrant Mission Center is located near the government operated Farm Labor Center. Volunteers from across Arkansas make possible this ministry to the migrant laborers.
CCM partners with you to reach people beyond the walls of the church. The specialty of this strategy is reaching those who have possibly been missed, overlooked, or left behind. Included in CCM are many areas of involvement that all strive to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in practical ways.
Local associations are uniquely positioned in one of the most strategic and crucial places to impact the world. Close proximity enables them to challenge, encourage and resource local churches to carry out their mission of sharing the Gospel locally and globally. Associational Missions Development is available to
- Assists associations in Strategy Development.
- Providing orientation, training and materials to Associational Missionary Search Committees.
- Provides training opportunities for new and potential associational missionaries.
- Provides fellowship opportunities for associational missionaries and their spouses.
Volunteer Missions Projects - Partnership Missions
The ABSC Partnership Missions office can help you train, inform, and encourage your missions team or committee and identify meaningful missions projects that are suited to your ministry potential. Current partnerships are with the Kansas/Nebraska Convention; Mexico; Bulgaria; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and with IMB missionaries with Arkansas connections in Guatemala; Jordan; India; and Ukraine. We are not limited to these areas, however, and can help your church become involved in most regions of the world. We can also provide logistic support with travel, visas, interpreters, accommodations, insurance, and evaluation. Additional resources available for your church include:
- Comprehensive orientation sessions
- Missions speakers, PowerPoint presentations, mission fair booths, and more.
- A scholarship for senior pastors making their first international missions trip.
Team members
Call 800.838.2272 (toll-free in Arkansas) or 501.376.4791 (Little Rock area)