Arkansas Baptists are missions people. “We have it drilled into us from a young age,” said Owensville Baptist Church Pastor Jim Lagrone.  

One of Lagrone’s favorite state missions opportunities is the One Day Acts 1:8 Missions Experience, an annual opportunity for Arkansas Baptists to impact lostness in a specific area within the state.  

Partnering with the churches of a local association, Arkansas Baptists from across the state spend five hours on the first Saturday in October serving in various ministries. From community outreach and children’s ministries to block parties and more, Lagrone said One Day brings “a whole experience.”   He has seen and heard first-hand the impact of the event.  

“We were part of a One Day experience about two years ago in the Hot Springs area,” he said. “Our church had 12 pray to receive Christ that day. … The One Day experience was incredible for our church. If anybody has a chance to do one, they’re just crazy not to.”    

Lagrone has also seen and heard the impact of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention Missions Team’s Medical-Dental Clinics, which serve as an avenue for the local church to meet needs and share the gospel. 

“A church close to our house hosted an event and the people with needs showed up, and Arkansas Baptists were able to meet some of those needs. I was told there was a man from Fort Worth, Texas, and another from Tulsa, Oklahoma, which illustrates the needs people have,” he said.  

Additionally, Lagrone touted Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief.  

“I had a tornado not far from our home when we lived in the Bryant area. DR teams were cutting and trimming trees. We lost 29 trees that day. Without disaster relief teams, it would probably still be a mess,” he said.  

Lagrone said all these missions opportunities are made possible “through the generosity of Arkansas Baptists” giving to the Dixie Jackson Arkansas State Missions Offering. They are also great examples of Arkansas Baptists working together.  

“It’s corny to say, but it’s true. We can do a lot more together than we can individually,” he said.