“It was an amazing day.” That’s how Sandra Valdez described her first time volunteering with the One Day Acts 1:8 Missions Experience in October 2024. She was excited to share what she had seen and heard.  

Valdez, a member at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, was one of the more than 1,500 Arkansas Baptists from across the state that descended on north Pulaski County to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus. She said everybody came together as a community to serve the community. 

For One Day, Valdez’s team provided food, haircuts, showers and more, as well as the opportunity to hear the Gospel. “We were just open to the community,” she said, sharing God’s love.  

One person they served was a homeless individual who was having a rough time and was considering ending his life by jumping in front of a car. Valdez knew the man from having served food to the homeless in the Jacksonville area every Monday for more than two years.  

“I talked with him, and I told him, ‘You know me, and I know you and, yes, times are hard, but you know God loves you and He doesn’t want this for you. We all have a path we have to take. You put your faith and trust in Him, and He’ll see you through it.’ A couple of the other ladies and men talked with him as well and he ended up making his profession of faith,” Valdez said.  

The homeless individual was one of 10 people Valdez’s team reported that gave their lives to Christ that day. “God just made it all work. It was really a rewarding day. The professions of faith were wonderful,” she said.  

Valdez said her team was made up primarily of volunteers from Jonesboro – the location for the 2025 One Day Acts 1:8 Missions Experience.  

“I recommend [One Day]. I would say to anybody that was thinking about it, do it. Because once you do it, you’ll want to stay doing it,” she said.