Fair Park Baptist Church
615 Knoxville Ave
Russellville, AR 72801

10 AM-2 PM | Lunch Provided
Cost: $10 per person

REGISTER

Protecting minors and those vulnerable from sexual abuse remains a top priority. Join us and Arkansas River Valley Baptist Association for an Abuse Prevention + Response Conference as we walk through the Essentials to actively assist and encourage Arkansas Baptist churches to train, screen, protect, report, and care when it comes to abuse prevention and response. 

Meet the Speakers

Emily Smith serves as the Abuse Prevention + Response Consultant for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. She has served on staff with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, and Beech Street FBC as a children’s minister. She has over 15 years of experience serving, training, and educating churches in the areas of safeguarding minors and next generation ministries. Emily and her husband enjoy serving in the Kids Ministry at First Baptist Church Hot Springs.

Christa Neal serves as the program director of the Community and Family Services academic program and the Title IX Coordinator at Ouachita Baptist University. She is a trauma specialized Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Christa provides abuse reform consultation to churches and organizations across the state.  Her family is active in First Baptist Church Arkadelphia where she serves as the chair of the Safety Team.

Kurt Hetherington serves as President of the James Greene & Associates Insurance Agency. He is a Certified Insurance Counselor, Risk Manager, and Professional Insurance Agent. Kurt is the current president of the Association of Christian Childcare Administrators. He is experienced in assisting churches with risk management techniques and developing structurally sound safety policies. Kurt is actively involved at Friendship Baptist Church in Conway.

Nathan Winiecki is a Licensed Professional Counselor with Living Well Counseling, a ministry of Arkansas Baptist Children and Family Ministries. He also serves as the Regional Supervisor for Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, providing leadership and clinical oversight for counseling services in those regions. With more than 30 years of experience in pastoral ministry and church leadership, Nathan brings a depth of perspective to his counseling work. At Living Well, he works with adults, adolescents, couples, and families, addressing concerns such as trauma, blended family dynamics, anger management, depression, anxiety, and related challenges.

For more information on Abuse Prevention + Response resources visit: ABSC.org/APR