By Dr. Mark Dance 

Executive Director, Arkansas Baptists 

Some people LOVE Summer, but it is the stepchild of seasons for Janet and me. We too often dream away our Summer while waiting for our favorite season of the year – Fall! We try to tolerate the oppressive heat of July and August by enjoying fresh fruit that comes from the fertile soils of the Natural State in this season.  

This Summer is an exception in many ways for me. It has been one of my favorite seasons as your executive director because of the spiritual fruit that has been harvested so far this summer. Through your generosity to the Cooperative Program and Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering, you have supported: 

• Seven free Medical + Dental Clinics across Arkansas so far in 2026, serving 658 patients. These clinics resulted in 142 professions of faith. 

• Several Disaster Relief and mission teams were deployed throughout Arkansas, the U.S., and all around the world.  

• Five regional catalysts have been added to our new Pastor + Church Health Team.  

• A new church planting catalyst – Kason Branch – was added to our Missions Team, who has already hosted pastor gatherings in Little Rock and the Delta.  

• Arkansas Baptist camps, which were packed with thousands of children, teenagers, and adult leaders. Praise the Lord of the Harvest for what He has done at Super Summer, JoyWorks and PraiseWorks, Camp Paron, Camp Siloam, and many associational camps. Although I was not able to personally go to all these camps, I did get a glimpse of how God is calling countless teenagers to salvation and to ministry.  

• I met so many new pastors at associational listening sessions in Pine Bluff, Wynne, Searcy, Batesville, and Monticello. I have also been privileged to preach in Arkansas Baptist churches in Harrison, Rogers, Conway, Fort Smith, Paragould, and Greenbrier.  

• Summer will wrap up for me in August at our SEND Network Arkansas Day in Conway, and the Installation Service for Lifeway’s new president, Arkansan Dr. Ryan Blackwell!  

On behalf of almost 400,000 Arkansas Baptists, I want to give all glory to the Lord of the Harvest for the abundant fruit He has brought forth this summer. I also want to thank you, Arkansas Baptists, for partnering with us and our extended SBC family to reach the fields that are still “white unto harvest.”  

I consider it a great privilege to love and lead you!