Everyone loves a good superhero story.

It does not have to be a story about a hero with superhuman capabilities. Sometimes the story follows a doctor, nurse, or first responder as they fight against the unexpected. A soldier or police officer saves a life, or a schoolteacher captures the mind of a child on which everyone else had given up. Whether supernatural or every day, every superhero story has a common theme. A need arises right in front of the hero, and the hero responds to meet that need.

How many times do we read stories or hear testimonies of fellow believers who have experienced God working through them in phenomenal ways and wish we could be that kind of hero?

Whether it is stories from Scripture about Jesus and the apostles, stories from the mission field, or even stories shared about how God is working right here in Arkansas, we marvel at the way others seem to know how to serve God.

Fortunately for us, we have everything we need to make that wish come true. Jesus showed us the answer through His own life. He went where the normal, everyday people were. He went to their towns and villages. He taught in their synagogues. Most of all, He saw them.

That verb saw is the key. Jesus interacted with the people around Him as they went about their everyday lives, and in the process, He truly saw them. He saw them for who they really were and felt compassion for them. Then He acted on that compassion.

As you hear stories about God’s work through medical and dental clinics in Arkansas, it is easy to think of the people involved as superheroes who have an extra special sense to help them know how to be in the right place and do the right thing to accomplish God’s mighty works. But the truth is that they are people just like you and me. The only difference is that they recognize the power of the Holy Spirit within them to see like Jesus saw and respond as He did.

The greatest heroes are not those who are more talented or stronger or wealthier or any other form of “better.” They are, instead, those who see the needs, choose the compassion of Christ, and act.

Sometimes we need a little nudge to help us learn how to see.

Participating in medical and dental clinics or Acts 1:8 One Day Missions Experiences, volunteering in pregnancy or job corps centers, or engaging in other such ministries can teach us how to see the needs right in front of us. Then we can take that vision back to our own towns and churches. But the key is not just the vision. It is what we do with that vision. Seeing the people and putting compassion in action just like Jesus. If we see the needs but do not act, we will never see lives changed or the Kingdom of God expanded.

This year’s Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions testimonies show how participation in organized events throughout the state can help us see needs, feel the compassion of Christ, and act on that compassion. See the vision? Are you ready to be a part of showing Compassion in Action?

Donate

Your Giving Funds Arkansas Missions

Every dollar given to the Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering helps RESOURCE and MOBILIZE Arkansas Baptists to SERVE and REACH people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Resource

We utilize experienced leadership to enable Arkansas Baptists to respond to needs across our state in Jesus' name.
Mobilize

We equip Arkansas Baptists for strategic Great Commission engagement.
Serve

We provide opportunities for Arkansas Baptists to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their communities and across our state.
Reach

We prepare Arkansas Baptists to share the hope of Jesus and His saving grace with everyone.

Prayer Guide

Arkansas Missions Offering

Pray that Arkansas Baptists will learn more about how to be involved in the ministries funded by the Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering.

Community Missions

Community missions lead to the discovery of unchurched community residents with the aim of leading them to a relationship with Jesus. Pray that Arkansas Baptists will seek ways to be involved in pregnancy care centers, food banks, etc. to connect with those who need to hear the Gospel.

Medical and Dental Clinics

Medical and dental clinics are an avenue for the local church to meet needs and share the Gospel while attending to people’s immediate physical needs. Pray for Coordinator Jennifer Allbritton as she works with host churches and volunteers.

Disaster Relief

Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers seek to share God’s grace, hope, and truth while meeting physical needs. Pray for more volunteers to be trained and ready to deploy when disasters strike.

Christian Women’s Job Corps

Christian Women’s Job Corps is designed to lead a woman from economic dependency to self-sufficiency. Pray for the women who participate to not only learn valuable skills but to encounter Jesus.

Block Party Ministry

Block Party Ministry trailers and equipment are tools to help the church share the Gospel with people in their community and on missions trips. Pray for the churches who host block parties to be creative as they present the Gospel and diligent to follow up with decisions made.

Prison Seminary Initiative

Prison Seminary Initiative is a partnership between Arkansas Baptists and Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary to train long-term inmates and “lifers” to serve as lay ministers under an ADC prison chaplain, earning an undergraduate degree in the process. Pray that inmates who participate in the degree program will cultivate a relationship with Jesus.

One Day Acts 1:8 Missions Experience

Pray for the upcoming One Day Acts 1:8 Missions Experience on October 5 when Arkansas Baptists from across the state will travel to the North Little Rock and Jacksonville area to spend five hours serving in a variety of compassion ministries enabling them to share the Gospel with people they encounter.

Dr. Joe Barker, Dental Clinic Volunteer Dentist

Dr. Joe Barker is a dentist from Searcy, Arkansas who has been volunteering his time at medical + dental clinics for several years. His perspective as a dentist helps shed a new light on missions efforts in Arkansas. Whenever you give, pray or serve... you and your church are making a life-changing difference in communities all around our state.

Pastor Chris Barnes, Grace Cowboy Church Host Church

Pastor Chris Barnes and his congregation at Grace Cowboy Church have been faithfully investing into their community in Warren, Arkansas through medical + dental clinics. Because of their faithfulness to serve, they have seen God move in many people's lives. Whenever you give, pray or serve... you and your church are making a life-changing difference in communities all around our state.

Mr. & Mrs. Stewart, Community Missions Volunteers

The Stewarts are a great example of the local church in action. Over the years, this sweet couple has invested into various ministry opportunities like Acts 1:8 One Day and medical + dental clinics. They enjoy traveling the state and serving wherever help is needed. Whenever you give, pray or serve... you and your church are making a life-changing difference in communities all around our state.

Ms. Candice’s Story

Last year, over 800 people were served at medical + dental clinics around Arkansas. Candice is one of 137 people who decided to follow Jesus after attending one of these outreach events last year. We hope you enjoy hearing her testimony. Whenever you give, pray or serve... you and your church are making a life-changing difference in communities all around our state.