LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Baptists Executive Board has approved a significant organizational restructuring aimed at strengthening support for pastors and churches while building a clearer pathway for developing future ministry leaders. 

In a message shared with staff, Executive Director Dr. Mark Dance said the changes come after months of intentional listening to ministry leaders across the state. 

“Over the past several months, our leadership team has engaged in an intentional season of listening to pastors, associational missionary strategists, and other ministry partners across the state,” Dance said. “The feedback … has been both encouraging and clarifying.” 

That listening process – part of the Arkansas Baptist Listening Tour – highlighted opportunities for Arkansas Baptists to better align their structure and strategy while maintaining their core mission. The restructuring focuses on regional support, leadership development, and continued missions engagement. 

The Leadership Team initially presented the plan to the Operating Committee, where it received unanimous affirmation, before it was brought to the Executive Board on May 20 for final approval. Following that approval, implementation is set to begin immediately and continue throughout the summer. 

At the center of the reorganization are several key structural changes: 

Pastor + Church Health Team expands regional support for pastors and churches 

A newly formed Pastor + Church Health Team will focus on strengthening pastor care, church health, and revitalization efforts across Arkansas through a strategic ministry model. 

The restructuring creates regionally based positions designed to place experienced ministry leaders closer to pastors and congregations throughout the state. Rather than working primarily from the Little Rock office, those leaders will live and serve in their assigned regions. 

The Pastor + Church Health Team will oversee areas including pastor wellness, church revitalization, interim ministry and church health initiatives and will be led by Dr. Marcus Brown. 

Brown said the regional approach will strengthen relationships with churches across Arkansas. 

“Our team will strive to have healthy connections with pastors and churches in ways that will encourage and assist them as they carry out their mission,” he said. 

Dance described the effort as “localizing our ministry” to provide more accessible ministry support to pastors and churches statewide. 

Brown, who will transition from the position of associate executive director to lead the Pastor + Church Health Team, explains, “I have such a love for the pastors and churches of our state. When the opportunity to lead the Pastor + Church Health Team arose, I asked Dr. Dance if he would consider allowing me to step into that role. He has graciously agreed, and I am very enthusiastic about the restructuring, the work of this team, and the future of our state convention.” 

Generations Team creates leadership pipeline 

The Generations Team, led by Warren Gasaway, brings together ministries focused on developing emerging leaders, from early childhood through seminary, creating a more unified discipleship and leadership pipeline. 

“We all know that God is at work in the generations,” Gasaway said. “If God is at work in the generations, then we need to absolutely lean into that.” 

Gasaway said pastors across the state consistently emphasized the importance of investing in younger generations during listening sessions. 

“What we love to do around here is to help churches reach students, children, collegiates, young adults, and then raise them up for leadership,” he said. 

The team will focus on helping churches identify and develop future ministry leaders while strengthening generational discipleship efforts statewide. 

Missions Team maintains focus on evangelism and church planting 

A continued emphasis on evangelism and outreach will be carried forward through the Missions Team, led by Dr. Sam Roberts, with a focus on reaching unengaged, unreached and underserved populations through Great Commission partnerships and initiatives. 

“We’re going to continue doing what we have always been doing, and that is equipping our churches, helping our churches to mobilize for missions,” Roberts said. 

The team will continue overseeing disaster relief, partnership missions, church planting efforts and collaboration with the North American Mission Board and International Mission Board. 

Roberts said Arkansas Baptists remain committed to expanding gospel outreach across the state. 

Patrick Henry assumes expanded leadership role 

The restructuring also includes an expanded role for Patrick Henry, who will serve as associate executive director while continuing in his current role as treasurer and chief financial officer. 

In this dual capacity, Henry will help coordinate administrative operations alongside the convention’s broader ministry strategy and organizational structure. 

Henry said the restructuring is designed to help Arkansas Baptists operate more efficiently while continuing to support churches and ministry efforts across the state. 

Dance, who will continue to directly supervise the associate executive director, team leaders, and the communications director, emphasized the restructuring is intended to strengthen support for Arkansas Baptist churches while maintaining organizational health and accountability. 

“While our mission remains unchanged, we will attempt to initiate opportunities to better align our structure and strategy to strengthen support for pastors and churches on a regional level and create a robust development pathway for the next generation of leaders,” Dance said. 

For more information on Arkansas Baptists and upcoming events, visit ABSC.org. 

The work of our state convention is made possible thanks to the generous giving of Arkansas Baptists through the Cooperative Program and the Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering.