Visit www.baptisttrumpet.com for videos of both sessions from the BMA of AR 2020.
You can also download the written reports from each department.
Visit www.baptisttrumpet.com for videos of both sessions from the BMA of AR 2020.
You can also download the written reports from each department.
2nd Longest Serving Editor Retires
By Jeff Herring, Executive Editor
The Editor/Business Manager of the Baptist Trumpet is retiring. During her time at the Trumpet, Diane has faithfully served the people of the BMA of Arkansas and beyond.
Diane joined the Baptist Trumpet staff on January 2, 1980 when she was hired by David Tidwell, the Trumpet’s longest serving editor, as a “temporary, part-time typesetter.” She served under and learned from him for 22 of the 32 years he served as editor.
From 1980 until 2002, Diane served in many different roles as part of the Trumpet staff and in 2002 she was appointed by the Publications Committee as the Assistant Editor to the newly elected editor, Bobby Bowman, who served until 2005.
On November 3, 2005 the Publications Committee presented Diane to the messengers gathered at First Baptist Church in Magnolia as their chosen candidate for the next Editor/Business Manager of the Baptist Trumpet. The BMA of Arkansas unanimously approved the recommendation of the Committee. When she retired last week, she had served as editor for 15 years becoming the second longest serving editor in the history of the Trumpet.
“I had no idea what an adventure awaited me when God brought me to the Trumpet so many years ago,” said Diane. When asked what she has learned over the past 40 years, she said it has actually reinforced something she already knew: “If you’re doing something for the Lord, do it full out with nothing held back and love your ministry with all your heart.”
Diane’s mission was always to keep the most important person in the churches, the person in the pew, informed about all things related to the BMA on the local, state, national and international levels. She loved reporting in the Trumpet about her ministry opportunities that have reached from Little Rock to many other states and around the world including Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Armenia, Ghana (2 times) and maybe the most memorable, Tanzania, where she broke her leg on the last day of her trip. During her time at the Trumpet Diane was able to speak around the world at women’s conferences and other events. She is known throughout all of Arkansas and beyond because of her faithful and diligent efforts to keep the “person in the pew” informed about what is going on with the BMAA.
Diane recently recounted one of her most memorable interviews with Governor Mike Huckabee, who also happens to be a former columnist for the Trumpet. She noted that “From our first words, it seemed like I had known him forever.” During the interview, which took place while he was considering a run for the U.S. presidency, she asked, “Well, Governor, are you going to run?” Huckabee’s reply was, “So you want me to break the story in the Baptist Trumpet?” To which Diane said, “You know I wouldn’t tell anyone!”
Without a doubt the greatest legacy Diane leaves from her time at the Trumpet is the Baptist Trumpet Archives that can be found at www.baptisttrumpet.com. There you can find digital versions of the Trumpet dating all the way back to 1939, when it began as the Temple Trumpet, that are available to be searched. Great care, lots of work and many hours went into making the archives as complete as possible. While there are a few missing issues, the great amount of history and information that has been preserved because of her diligent and faithful service is priceless.
When asked about what she would like to see in the future ministry of the Baptist Trumpet, Diane shared, “My dream has always been to send the paper free to anyone who wants it.” In fact this is the only dream that she shared with the Publications Committee prior to being elected that has not been fulfilled (The other two dreams were going to a full-color publication which was fulfilled in 2011 and sharing information from other states which began with some coverage in 2007 and the 12-page From the States monthly edition that began in 2015). Diane stated, “It may be a long time before that can happen, but I fully believe it will someday.”
Until that dream can be fulfilled, Diane envisions the Trumpet continuing to be the “source of news for the BMA, from the local church to the foreign mission field and everywhere in between,” and also continuing to be a weekly paper because “there is just too much to tell!”
I could go on longer, but space will simply not allow. Diane does say, “If you have a few more hours, I could share a lot of other things that stand out from all these years at the Trumpet.” Diane retired as Editor/Business Manager after faithfully serving on the Trumpet staff for almost 41 years. She will be greatly missed around the office, but we know that she will always be a friend of the Trumpet and of all “Beamers” (what David Tidwell called BMA members).
Diane was honored by the Publications Committee and the people of the BMA of Arkansas with a love offering. Churches and individuals that were willing were asked to give $40 ($1 per year of service) toward a love offering to honor her for her over 40 years of service. At the meeting she was presented a check for $9,650. It was also noted that more was still coming in towards the love offering. The amazing response is just one way that shows how she touched the lives of so many people in the state of Arkansas and around the world through her ministry.
Diane also received a plaque for her years of “faithful and dedicated service” to the Lord and the people of the BMA of Arkansas. In addition, she was presented an official Citation issued by the Arkansas House of Representatives honoring her for her time of service at the Trumpet.
To close out the time of honoring Diane for her service and devoted heart for “her baby” — the Trumpet — with the approval of the Publications Committee, Executive Editor Jeff Herring appointed Diane as Editor Emeritus (aka Mouth at Large) of the Baptist Trumpet.
New Trumpet Editor Elected
By Allan Eakin, Associate Editor
During the 71st annual session of the BMA of Arkansas, messengers unanimously approved Jeff Herring as executive editor of the Baptist Trumpet. He succeeds retiring editor Diane Spriggs.
Herring joined the Trumpet staff in May 2019 as assistant editor. Because of his life-long connection with the BMA, his writing skills and technical abilities, Jeff is very qualified for the position. Former Editor Diane Spriggs trained him for nearly eighteen months.
Commenting on the choice of the new executive editor, Diane Spriggs said, “I truly believe God sent Jeff (and Allan) to the Trumpet at the perfect time. Jeff has shown that he has a heart for this ministry, and that he will take it to the next level by seeking the Lord’s will and following His leading. I am asking God to bless and greatly use my son in the ministry; and since He ‘never wastes a willing heart’ I know He will do just that.”
Jeff has a deep loyalty to the BMA and a passion for its churches. He stated, “This position is not something to which I aspired, but I believe God has made it clear that this is where He would have me serve.”
Jeff is available to speak at churches, associational meetings and auxillary gatherings to promote the ministry of the Baptist Trumpet. Contact him at (501) 565-4601 or editor@baptisttrumpet.com.
BMA of Arkansas Meets
By Allan Eakin, Associate Editor
The 71st annual BMA of Arkansas meeting was held Thursday and Friday, Nov. 5-6, at Central Baptist College. The theme, chosen by President Tom Mitchell, was “In Times Like These” based on Ecc. 7:14.
The meeting format varied from past gatherings due to COVID-19 restrictions and as a result the Thursday breakout sessions were omitted.
The 1st general session kicked-off at 6:30 p.m. and began with a welcome by CBC president Terry Kimbrow followed with worship led by Max Sullivan, Mallory Sullivan and Andrew Guyton. A highlight of the meeting was the annual sermon.
Jorge Vasquez (pastor of El Faro Baptist Church in Little Rock) introduced this year’s speaker, referring to him as a mentor, friend and leader. Hensley Bennett, a member of First Baptist Church of Caldwell provided special music prior to the annual sermon by Michael Hight (pastor of First Baptist Church at Caldwell).
Bro. Hight shared a sermon titled, “In Times Like These, Guard Your Heart,” based on Prov. 4:23-27. The message was applicable to everyone, but he took opportunity to speak, from his heart, directly to pastors and provide encouragement in these difficult times. J. E. Hughes, who nominated Hight for the annual message the previous year, expressed thanks on behalf of the association to Bro. Hight.
The messengers re-elected Tom Mitchell as President of the BMA of Arkansas, along with 1st Vice President Gary O’Neal, 2nd Vice President Michael Battenfield and Recording Clerk Randy Shepherd. Don Embry was elected to replace Allan Eakin as a recording clerk due to term limits on that position. You can see a listing of the various committees and committee members and a collage of photos from the meeting on page 8 of today’s Trumpet.
The reports from the four departmental directors — Terry Kimbrow, Paul White, Dan Carson and Diane Spriggs/Jeff Herring — appear on pages 4-5 of today’s Trumpet. These reports were printed in the Combined Reports booklet that was distributed at the meeting. All of the recommendations from the various committees and directors were approved.
Department Reports
Baptist Trumpet — The report included special recognition of retiring editor Diane Spring for over 40 year of service and Jeff Herring was elected as Executive Editor of the Baptist Trumpet to succeed Spriggs (see related articles on page 1). Plaques were presented to Thom South and Robert Gunnells for completing three years of service on the Publications Committee.
Youth Department — Director Dan Carson reported success with the weekly podcast Student Ministry Matters and asked churches to prayerfully consider increased financial support to the ministry.
Central Baptist College — President Terry Kimbrow reported stable enrollment in spite of the potential devastating effects of COVID-19 on colleges and universities. Kimbrow also shared about some of the pressures placed on the college to conform to modern political correctness and progressive political ideals. He confirmed his commitment to CBC’s mission and maintaining biblical principles as an institution.
State Missions — Executive Director of Missions Paul White reported progress with existing mission projects in the midst of the current pandemic. The Missions Committee recommended the election of Clinton Morris as missionary in Northwest Arkansas and Angel Colon as missionary to the Hispanic population in Northwest Arkansas (pending review by the Advisory Committee). The addition of these two men would bring the total number of state missionaries to ten.
Special Reports from Guests
BMAA Moral Action — Director Dr. John Adams shared via video about the work to stand up for biblical values and encouraged everyone to continue to support the effort.
BMAA National Meeting — BMAA president Jeff Swart shared a brief update on plans for the 2021 national BMAA meeting scheduled for April 19-21 at Farley Street Baptist Church in Waxahachie, Texas (watch for more information in next week’s issue).
Lifeword — Director of Digital Strategies Jon Dodson shared how the Lifeword Cloud (lifeword.org) is reaching more people with the gospel (look for more information in next week’s issue).
BMA Theological Seminary — President Dr. Charley Holmes shared three announcements concerning the seminary: the seminary has received a 10 year approved accreditation and this provides worldwide access to their online degree programs; the republication of the revised and expanded Cobb’s Church Manual is now available and a companion study guide that can be used to disciple new ministers will be available soon; and a book that can help you understand current societal issues (Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, etc.) is available from the BMA Seminary.
BMAA Missions — Executive Director of Missions Dr. John David Smith shared on behalf of over 500 BMA missionaries around the world serving in approximately 80 countries about our “Great Commission Mission” and how hundreds of people are coming to Christ, becoming disciples, disciplemakers and churches are reproducing. The theme — Go. Disciple. Plant. Repeat. — will be seen leading up to World Missions Day and the Missions’ Offering that has been renamed to honor Jerry Kidd for his years of service (see Nov. 4, 2020 issue).
Other Reports
Brotherhood — Secretary Bill Thornton reported that the 2020-21 project will again be Arkansas State Galileans. Michael Battenfield was chosen to bring the message at next year’s meeting. All officers remained the same for the coming year.
WMA — President Kelly Williams reported that approximately $4,000 had been raised for this year’s project — Evangelistic International Ministry (EIM). The project for the new year will remain EIM. Arkansas/National Miss GMA Lydia Dunlap brought the devotional in the WMA meeting on Thursday. Next year’s Arkansas Ladies’ Retreat will be a one-day event held Sept. 25 at CBC. Valerie Fish was elected to serve as president for the coming year.
The final Enrollment Committee report indicated there were 101 churches represented at the meeting (48 by messenger and 53 by letter) with 18 visitors for a total of 98 registered in attendance. Total money received for the minute fund was $5,270. We had one petitionary church (see Just Thinking article on pg. 3).
The 2021 annual meeting of the BMA of Arkansas is set for Nov. 4-5 at Central Baptist College. Wade Allen (pastor of Temple Baptist Church at Rogers) was elected to bring the annual message with Wyndell King (pastor of Oak Grove Baptist Church at Jonesboro) as the alternate.
CBC Announces 2nd Annual Gala
Central Baptist College will host its 2nd Annual Scholarship Gala Feb. 20, 2021 at 6 p.m. at the Conway Expo Center. The black-tie optional event will be a celebration of patriotism and faith and will feature keynote speaker, Ret. Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell. The proceeds from the event benefit the CBC Scholarship Fund which supports all institutionally funded scholarships.
“I am pleased to announce that an anonymous couple has committed to matching contributions to the 2021 Scholarship Gala, dollar-for-dollar, up to $400,000,” said CBC President Terry Kimbrow. “We are setting our event goal at $800,000, one hundred percent of which will be used to fund student scholarships. We hope this matching campaign inspires individuals and businesses to support this event and double the value of their donation.” The inaugural event held in September 2019 raised in excess of $500,000 through event sponsorships and private donations.
“On Sept. 11, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 77 was crashed just yards away from his second floor Pentagon office, Ret. Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell was critically wounded and severely burned. Of the burns that covered more than 60 percent of his body, nearly half were third degree in severity. Today, following 39 operations, months of hospitalization and numerous skin grafts, Brian has made a miraculous recovery. Despite physical limitations, he testifies not only to his physical healing, but the ultimate miracle of grace through Christ.” In 2004, he authored a book, Refined by Fire: A Family’s Triumph of Love and Faith, with his wife, Mel. He has served in the Texas State Senate since 2010.
“I don’t know what the conditions will be like in our country by Feb. 20, 2021; however, I am proud to be an American, and I am proud of the way that CBC honors the men and women who proudly serve our country through military service. Those things will not change,” said President Kimbrow. “I can’t wait to celebrate with many others the red, white, and blue and the amazing blessings bestowed upon us by God. Ret. Lt. Col. Birdwell is dynamic and inspirational; his story is one of faith and miracles, as is the story of CBC.”
Event sponsorships begin at $2,000. Single tickets are on sale for $100 each. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit cbc.edu/gala or contact Amy Reed, Director of Development, at areed@cbc.edu or 501-205-8934.
The First Family Gospel Singers, Nov. 21, 5:30 p.m.: Shiloh, Waldo.
Drive Through Bethlehem, Dec. 4-5, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Unity, Hope.
CBC Homecoming, Jan. 29-30; Central Baptist College.
CBC Scholarship Gala, Feb. 20, 6:00 p.m.; Conway Expo Center. Contact Amy Reed for more info at areed@cbc.edu.
Fresh Grounded Faith Women’s Event, Aug. 6-7, 7 p.m. Fri., 12:30 p.m. Sat.; Antioch, Conway.
Ark. Ladies Retreat, Sept. 25, 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Church Health
P.O. Box 878 • Conway, Ark. 72033-0878
(501) 455-4977 • larry@bmaam.com
Larry barker
Director of Operations North America
BMA of America Missions Department
Over Functioning
When I first began working as the BMA Director of Church Planting, I remember being at the office one day, overwhelmed with the amount of work that was on my desk. Many days, I felt like I ran from one fire to the next, doing my best to extinguish them. The workday was over according to the clock, but I wanted to get all the work accomplished on my to-do list that was staring me in the face.
One of my heroes and mentors, Jerry Kidd, stepped into my office and told me to go home. He then gave me two great pieces of advice I have always remembered — that it would be there when I got to the office the next day, and it could wait until then; and that it was not going to get any better.
There would be many days ahead when this same overwhelming feeling would be present and I would need to accept that there would be times I needed to just step away and begin afresh the next day. Yes, it is important to prioritize, but you also need to accept that interruptions will occur. We must remember that people are always more important than the task.
If you are in full-time ministry, you need to know that it is hard work and no one should work any harder than us. Paul said, “But by God’s grace I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not ineffective. However, I worked more than any of them, yet not I, but God’s grace that was with me” (I Cor. 15:10 HCSB). Wow, Paul declared that none of the Christian leaders of his day worked any harder than he did!
A minister’s work ethnic should always be exemplary, but also realistic. Being a workaholic does not mean we are spiritual or that we are pleasing God.
Over-functioning is defined as “doing for others what they can and should do for themselves.” That may make us feel good and give us a sense of accomplishment, but it is far better to train people to develop the leadership skills they need to meet their own needs. When they begin feeding, teaching and learning, then they will be able to begin teaching and training others.
The reality is that most projects do not require you to take care of all the details personally, but instead, delegate those items to your team. Here are some things to think through as you build a team that can accomplish so much more by working together:
• Look for the right people to help you. Two things that should be non-negotiable are that they have a teachable spirit and that they will be loyal. That does not mean they are a “yes” man or woman, but that they understand confidentiality and there is a good chemistry between everyone on the team. Everyone should enjoy working together and look forward to the time they focus on the project.
• Know what to delegate and what not to delegate. All too often, the leader is actually the bottleneck that keeps the project from becoming a reality. Spend some time deciding what cannot be delegated and write it down. Then seek out a leader/mentor who could talk over that list with you. Is it realistic or are you being too controlling?
After that, make a list of everything you can delegate on that project or responsibility. Once again, seek counsel from another leader or leaders, then tweak both lists.
• Realize that the best ideas will probably come from the others on your team. Embrace the truth and enjoy the fact that you do not have to be the sole producer of great ideas. Listen to them and give their ideas merit.
• Give them permission to risk and you must be willing to take a chance on them. In a church planting training, I heard Rick Warren say, “If it does not require faith, does that mean we have been unfaithful?” John Piper says it this way, “The Christian life is a call to risk. You either live with risk or waste your life.”
According to Matt. 25:16-30, the servant who refused to risk was called “wicked’ by his master. J.D. Greear says, “Risking for God is dangerous; but not risking is more dangerous.”
Yes, you may get burned and someone may drop the ball; but we must risk by being willing to invest in raising up more leaders.
• Give them permission to fail. Two things are very important here — if someone never fails that means they probably are not doing very much and keep reminding yourself of those who took a chance on you.
I am so thankful for those who believed in me enough to give me a chance; then when I did mess up (and the stories are plentiful) were still supportive of my efforts. But they were also helpful in showing me where and how I had messed up.
Walk them though a WIN — What did they do well? Where do they need to improve? What will they do next after having evaluated?
Sometimes we are over-functioning because there is no one else available to help us. But other times, it is because we refuse to equip and empower others. If the second is true, we are hindering others from developing their leadership skills and utilizing their spiritual gifts to be a blessing to our ministry.
God has put a lot of leadership capacity in other people around us. We do not serve our team well by leading in their place and not allowing them to step up and lead themselves. Do not allow the “if I want it done right I must do it myself” attitude to control your leadership style.
Dave Ferguson of Exponential says that when we approach other people, we should remember these four letters and share what “ICNU!” (I see in you!)
Sports
News
By Erik Holth
Women’s Basketball
Conway, Nov. 3 — CBC hosted the Royals of Ecclesia College at Reddin Fieldhouse to kick off their season. CBC (1-0) used 27 and 25-point 2nd and 4th quarters to take charge, beating Ecclesia (2-1), 85-67.
Muskogee, Okla., Nov. 6 — Playing a team for the first time in 10 years, CBC was on the road at the Muskogee Convention Center taking on Bacone. CBC (2-0) trailed at halftime but used a 26-point third quarter to beat the Warriors (1-2) 76-66.
St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 9 — The AMC announced Holly Allen was selected as the American Midwest Conference (AMC) women’s basketball player of the week. Allen earned the selection for the first time in her career after a historic week.
Cross Country
St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 6 — Competing for the final time, CBC men’s and women’s cross country ran in the AMC Championships at Francis Park. The men’s team finished in sixth place with a score of 132, while the women tied for fifth with a 142.
Wrestling
Corbin, Ky., Nov. 7 —CBC was on the mat for the first time this season at the Patriot Open hosted by University of the Cumberlands. CBC didn’t post a team score, but many individuals had building blocks for a successful season.
Softball
Conway, Nov. 9 — CBC head softball coach Jordon Jones has announced the addition of five new signees to her 2022 recruiting class. These five new signees take the total recruiting class up to 12 for next year. The five newest Mustangs are Madalyn Tubbs, Caroline Byers, Allie McWhorter, Madeline Brooks and Melanie Phillips. These five come into one of the largest recruiting classes in program history.
Student Ministry
Matters
Phone: (479) 790-7808
bmayouthdepartment@gmail.com
www.StudentMinistryMatters.com
BMA of Arkansas Youth Department
1410 North Porter Rd. • Fayetteville, AR 72703
Dan Carson
Director
Qualities of a Faithful Servant
This past week, I had the opportunity to attend the 71st annual meeting of the BMA of Arkansas to share about the work of the BMA of Arkansas Youth Department. It was great to see friends and fellow servants as we work together to honor God through service.
Perhaps one of the most meaningful moments came when Diane Spriggs was honored for 40+ years of service at the Baptist Trumpet as she retired. I have known Mrs. Diane for a number of years, but during these past four she has been a special encouragement to me. She would contact me each week with a little question, “Got anything for me?” She never nagged. She just faithfully asked because she knew the power of communication, especially if you are trying to rebuild a ministry.
As I think about her influence in my life and others, we can see the qualities that make it easy for us to say, “Thank you for being a faithful servant.” What are some of those qualities that we might be able to apply to our ministry with students?
• She brought enthusiasm to her leadership role. My father once told me that no matter what you are leading, you need to have enthusiasm. He managed Walmart stores and led a number of Lions Clubs. He always managed to be enthusiastic about those organizations. Mrs. Diane shared that same type of energy about the Baptist Trumpet. She believed that everyone in the BMA of America should be reading the Trumpet and she was never afraid to tell anyone. Do you bring enthusiasm into the place that God has placed you? Students will see right through you if you are putting on a show, but real enthusiasm about the ministry will be contagious.
• She remained true to the vision of the organization. She wanted “beamers” to be connected through information. She could have approached the Baptist Trumpet in so many different ways, but she didn’t. She pushed forward with a persistent vision of what God wanted out of the Baptist Trumpet. Do you seek to honor and fulfill the mission and vision of the church where God has placed you or are you trying to build your own kingdom? Mrs. Diane wasn’t about building her kingdom but building up the His kingdom.
• She loved on those that she worked with. While it is clear that those that worked with her in the office appreciated her, I think about the men and women of the churches of the BMA of Arkansas. She loved visiting local association meetings and giving presentations in other venues as well. Do we love on the volunteers and people that God has us serving with? If we are not careful, we can view our ministries as simply jobs to be accomplished. There was never any doubt in my mind that Mrs. Diane saw her role as something more than that. Do you love your students and volunteers? If not, it is time to make some adjustments.
• She loved on her family. Whether it was Mrs. Diane’s words about her husband or even her choices about retiring, I have never questioned that family was important to her. Faithful servants of the King must be mindful of the families that God has placed in their care. They understand that family is that first line of ministry. Are you taking care to show love to your family and keep the lines of communication open with them as you serve in the church?
I would imagine that if we asked others how Mrs. Diane showed her faithfulness in ministry, they could come up with even more characteristics. However, I do know that if many of us in ministry would simply adopt these four, we would be taking a great step in the right direction. I know that I long to be known as faithful just like Mrs. Diane.
Just Thinking...
By Tom Mitchell
President, BMA of Arkansas
(501) 804-6647 • temitchell1946@gmail.com
The Lord is on His Heavenly Throne
After a weekend separating us from the two days of meetings at the 71st Annual Session of the BMA of Arkansas, I was just thinking…the eyes of the Lord are always on us! King David, the lyricist of Israel, wrote, “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them” (Psa. 11:4).
The year 2020 is coming to a close in a short while. What a strange, odd and curious year it has been. The old adage “hindsight is 20/20” certainly comes to mind. I will be glad when it is behind us. But no matter what may confront us, “the Lord is on His heavenly throne.”
Expressing Gratitude
When Arkansas became affected by COVID-19, questions arose on every turn. At the top of the list was, “Will there be an annual meeting of the BMA of Arkansas?” For a while it appeared it could not take place due to the pandemic. Yet prayers were offered and prayers were answered. We had a very good meeting despite the potential for difficulty.
I must again thank CBC President Terry Kimbrow, CBC Director of Church Relations Duffy Guyton, Mrs. Jill McCollum, Mr. Chris Mitchell, Mr. Jerry Dowdy and Mr. Byron Baker for their diligence in planning for and providing the setting so annual meeting could take place. These people went “the extra mile” to get things done with God’s blessings.
A Very Fine Meeting
The theme for the meeting was “In Times Like These.” While the focus of the theme was the trials and difficulties of this year, our time together on the CBC campus was a good time. It was a very fine meeting. I am appreciative for the cooperation of the WMA, Brotherhood, BMA of Ark. Missionary Committee and other working committees for adjusting schedules, times and meeting places to ensure that all went well.
Worship is always part of our annual meetings. Thursday evening, worship was led by Max Sullivan, Andrew Guyton, and Mallory Sullivan. Special music prior to the annual message was presented by Hensley Bennett and then her pastor, Bro. Michael Hight presented a powerful and challenging message to the messengers and visitors present in the Burgess Auditorium.
The associational messengers welcomed into the fellowship the Archview Baptist Church of Little Rock. Bro. Cory Mitchell is the pastor of this congregation.
Bittersweet was the Thursday evening time of business. After 40 years of faithful service, Diane Spriggs retired as editor and business manager of our Publications Department. She has been such a blessing to our churches as she led in the work of sharing information via the Baptist Trumpet. It was a joy to see her receive gifts and accolades for her service and knowing she was totally surprised.
Elected to serve the association now as the Executive Editor of the Baptist Trumpet is Jeff Herring. Associate Editor Allan Eakin will continue to serve. Pray for these men as they step in and continue the great work of keeping the churches informed.
Four Excellent Departments
The BMA of Arkansas works together to support four excellent entities. These exist for the churches and are such blessings to the associated work. Please continue to give your fair share in financial support as well as your “prayer share” — lifting up the directors, editor, and president who lead their respective entities (Missions Executive Director Paul White; Youth Department Director Dan Carson; Baptist Trumpet Executive Editor Jeff Herring; CBC President Terry Kimbrow).
These have been difficult times for these leaders. COVID has taken its toll on churches and, consequently, on offerings to the associated work. In the year ahead, I will undertake to remind you, cheer you and encourage you to pray for each of these and the ministries under their leadership.
BMA of Ark. Officers for 2020-21
It is a joy to serve the Lord and to serve His churches. I am both honored and humbled at being elected for a 2nd consecutive term as president of this wonderful association of churches. I am the oldest to serve in this position and may have been given the honor more than any other. I served as president in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2020. I do not take such opportunities lightly. I have been blessed and through it all, the Lord has remained on his heavenly throne, watching over our association, examining the needs and the hearts. He has always and will always be faithful.
Dr. Gary O’Neal (pastor of Oak Park Baptist Church in Little Rock) was elected to serve a 2nd term as 1st Vice-president. Michael Battenfield (pastor of First Baptist Church in Cave City) was elected to serve a 2nd term as 2nd Vice-president. I am so grateful for the privilege of serving along side these two men to moderate the business of the association.
Randy Shepherd (pastor of the Spring Lake Baptist Church in Texarkana) is in his 2nd year of a 2-year term as recording clerk. Don Embry (pastor of the Central Baptist Church in Ashdown) was elected to serve a 2-year term as recording clerk. This is a huge responsibility, and these are two very good men who will be diligent to ensure accuracy in the reporting of the work of the association via the minutes taken and printed in the yearbook.
Just Thinking…
In many ways, this has been an awful year. In many other ways, this has been an awesome year. It is awful that so many have died due to a pandemic. It is awful that many of those were likely without Christ. It is awful that our nation has been in upheaval. It is awful that things are not “normal.”
However, it is awesome that churches are still ministering. It is awesome that young people’s lives are being influenced through education at a Christ-centered college. It is awesome that missions are being started, others are growing and souls are being saved across our state. It is awesome that we can read about these blessings through a periodical either by mail or online.
But this is what is truly awesome: “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne!” That, my friends, is purely normal!
Baptist Trumpet
(USPS 043-720) (ISSN 0888-9074)
Published by the Baptist Missionary Association of Arkansas; sponsoring Missions, Benevolence and Christian Education.
JEFF HERRING, Executive Editor
editor@baptisttrumpet.com
P.O. Box 192208 • Little Rock, Arkansas 72219-2208
Telephone (501) 565-4601 • Fax Line (501) 565-NEWS
(Note: An answering machine on the 565-4601 line will take
messages after regular working hours — Monday-Thursday)
www.baptisttrumpet.com
ALLAN EAKIN, Associate Editor
associateeditor@baptisttrumpet.com
(mailing list changes & billing inquiries)
Price: $23.50 per year; Church Plan: $20.25 per year
Published weekly except for the week of New Year’s and one week in April, May, July, September, November and December. Periodical postage paid at Little Rock, Arkansas. Editorial offices at 10712 Interstate 30, Little Rock, Arkansas 72209. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Baptist Trumpet, P.O. Box 192208, Little Rock, Arkansas 72219-2208.
Opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the churches of the BMA.
Student Ministry Matters
By Dan Carson, Director
The 2019-2020 associational year has been one full of twists and turns for all of us. We went into 2020 hopeful and with goals in light of a 2020 vision. Reality has been altogether different. However, we are happy to report that the work of the BMA of Arkansas Youth Department has continued in our mission to invest in those that are seeking to impact the next generation for Jesus Christ. Our mission remains the same — we exist to provide connections, continuing education and coaching for student ministry pastors and leaders.
One of the most exciting things that happened for your Youth Department this year was the addition of a podcast aimed at student ministry workers. Since February 2020, listeners have been able to download weekly episodes as hosts Dan Carson, Chris Vines and Micah Powell discuss student ministry topics for full-time, part-time, bi-vocational and volunteer student ministry workers. The podcast has featured interviews from a number of leaders in student ministry in addition to leaders in the Baptist Missionary Association. The podcast can be found at studentministrymatters.podbean.com or through all major podcasting apps. At the time of this report, 40 episodes have been released, with a total of 2,117 downloads. While Arkansas is where the bulk of listeners are found, the Student Ministry Matters podcast has downloads from France, Romania, Russia and all parts of the United States.
The BMA of Arkansas Youth Department is also continuing to bring student ministry leaders together through digital means. During the heavy pandemic months, we hosted Student Ministry Workers Digital Hangouts through Zoom. It provided an opportunity for us to gather and share some of our worries, frustrations and fears. During this year, the BMA of Arkansas Youth Department Facebook group became the Student Ministry Matters Community group. This tied more directly into our Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/StudentMinistryMatters) and website (www.StudentMinistryMatters.com). In our group, we grew from 213 members to 242 members. Our page is now followed by 321, compared to 227 in 2019. Our Twitter and Instagram accounts also saw growth. Twitter went from 73 to 81 followers and Instagram went from 131 to 166. We still have a small footprint on social media, but we continue to look for ways to see that grow. In 2020, we also established a YouTube channel to share the podcast, announcements from Student Ministry Matters and teaching videos. With only 24 subscribers, it is only in the beginning stages.
This year’s Student Ministry Workers Retreat was heavily impacted by COVID-19. Due to a large amount of uncertainty, our leadership decided to host the event online. Those that participated had the opportunity to hear and interact with Chris Swain of Replicate ministries as he shared about discipleship in student ministry and worship with Riley Carson and Stuart Sowerbutts of Ouachita Baptist University. In addition, we had four breakout groups led by Joel Young, Chris Vines, Michael Schalk and Heidi Sorrells. I am so thankful for our people and their flexibility. While we didn’t have the number of attendees from previous years, our featured speaker’s talks are now available on YouTube.
We also had the opportunity to partner again with the CBC Youth Group Day in February. They have grown every year, and it is exciting to see the work that Justin Moore and his staff are doing with this event. They simply invite youth groups to come in for a time of fun, lunch and a basketball game. It isn’t complicated, but the students attending are having a great time. I encourage you to have your student ministries participate. Contact the CBC admissions office for more information.
We continue to seek out ways to fulfill our mission to help student ministry pastors and leaders impact the next generation for Jesus. When gathering becomes more acceptable after COVID-19, we hope to push forward on more ways to provide connection, education and encouragement for our student ministry workers.
You can help us fulfill our mission by doing the following:
• Pray for us.
• Give monthly to the BMA of Arkansas Youth Department. We want to continue to expand our reach and ministry, but we can’t do that alone. I am so appreciative of the churches that give on a regular basis to our ministry. They allow us to do all that we do. Consider joining our team. You can do that by mailing a check to BMA of Ark. Youth Department c/o Calvary Baptist Church, 1410 North Porter Road, Fayetteville, Ark. 72703.
• Give a one-time gift. If your church is unable to give monthly, consider sharing a one-time gift with the Youth Department. It was a one-time gift that gave us the courage to start our annual Student Ministry Workers Retreat.
• Share about our ministry with your student ministry workers. They may not know about our podcast, social media accounts or annual conference. We want to help them. It doesn’t matter if they are paid or volunteer. Our heart beats to help them.
Central Baptist College
By Terry Kimbrow, President
The Central Baptist College Mission Statement: “Central Baptist College is committed to transforming lives through education that integrates Christian faith and academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment.”
Stepping out in Faith
In the Dec. 5, 1951 issue of the Temple Trumpet (now Baptist Trumpet), Dr. D.N. Jackson, Promotional Secretary of the Christian Education Committee, gave this charge: “We all know that we need this college. This writer feels like that we, as an association have come to the kingdom for just such a time as this. We must provide an institution of higher learning for our young men and women. After all, it is upon their shoulders that the responsibility of proclaiming the gospel will fall. This project is going to demand the assistance of every Missionary Baptist in Arkansas. Who will be the first to send a liberal offering to fill this great need?”
The next year, on Aug. 18, 1952, Dr. Jackson was elected the first president of the college. Ironically, our chapel theme this year is “For such a time as this.” Just uttering those words alone invokes courage and hope among believers. These six simple words inspire us to take action, to strike out on a mission to make a difference and to live wisely, “… redeeming the time, for the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16).
Now Is the Time
I’m not one to sound the alarm, but I can tell you without reservation that Central Baptist College is at a pivotal time in our history. I am finding increasing pressure to conform to issues that would potentially compromise our mission. You have my word — we will protect our mission. But we need your help! There are some things that must occur for us to not just survive, but to thrive. To continue in our mission of transforming lives by integrating Christian faith and academic excellence, here are a few things that need to happen:
• The Support of our Churches. It is imperative that we have the financial support of BMAA churches. Many of our efforts in the past few years have been centered on getting churches to promote the college through hosting a “CBC Day” in their church. A few years ago, based on input from pastors, we decided that rather than asking churches to give a special offering to the college during the three months designated by the BMA of Arkansas as our time of “Special Emphasis,” we would ask churches to host a “CBC Day” on a day we designate or another day that works best for them. I appreciate those who have followed through and planned something special to promote CBC. However, at the same time, we have lost significant financial support from churches that were once our largest givers.
I assumed the office of president on Dec. 26, 2004. Our church giving for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005 was $593,885 (15.3% of our total budget expenditures). As of June 30, 2020, church giving for the fiscal year was $567,067 (6.8% of our total budget expenditures). During that same time period, our student enrollment has more than doubled, we have expanded the campus footprint significantly, acquired 30+ houses/lots adjacent to the campus for future expansion, invested $22 million in new construction and renovations, increased our athletic team offerings four-fold and added over 30 bachelor level degree programs.
In our most recent accreditation visit, the site visit team leader told me that at least 25% of our budget should come from churches that own the college. We are doing our best to make up the difference with special offerings from churches and by going to individuals for financial support. Yet our church giving, as a percentage of our budget, continues to fall. A recent review of church giving revealed that 14 churches discontinued their giving to CBC sometime during the last fiscal year. Of greater concern are those churches that have, over the past 32 years (we began keeping electronic records of giving in 1988), either given a special offering or had CBC in their budget but no longer give. That report lists 199 churches that have, at some time, contributed to CBC (with a cumulative contribution total of $2.7 million), but they have discontinued their giving.
• The Support of our Alumni & Friends. Everyone who has been touched in a positive way can and should be giving to CBC. I really believe that, but I don’t think we have done the best job of challenging our alumni and friends to give. I’m asking you to do just that! Recurring giving, monthly giving sustained giving, it doesn’t matter what you call it. We need men and women to commit to a monthly donation and know that every single contribution helps us continue our mission of “transforming lives.”
Giving online is easy! Go to cbc.edu/give. You have 12 different giving opportunities from which to choose. You can make a single gift or recurring gift — be sure to check the “make this a monthly gift” box. You may want to make a pledge to give a certain amount and spread your donation over a period of months or years. If your employer has a gift matching program, we will work with you/them to complete that transaction. If you are not sure, go to the menu item, “Does Your Employer Match Gifts,” and type in the name of the company to search the database of the over 1,000 companies that will match your donation to CBC. All this is available in one location, making it possible for anyone and everyone to give.
• Increased Student Enrollment. Fall 2020 enrollment of traditional-age students was basically flat (1.3% increase). Praise the Lord! I never thought I would be so thankful for maintaining the status quo. Yet, in the midst of what many consider a “global pandemic,” I was overjoyed to see our student numbers hold up. Additionally, the college reported a 3.6% increase in first-time entering students (includes first time entering freshmen, transfer students, re-admitted students and transient students) and an increase of 17% in the incoming freshmen class. However, the Professional Adult College Education (PACE) program did not fare as well. Despite the strong enrollment for the traditional program, overall enrollment for the institution decreased by 9.9%. Total enrollment on the tenth day of classes was reported as 607 students, compared to 685 in the fall of 2019. The enrollment decrease was due to a decrease in both PACE and high school concurrent students. Thankfully, we planned for and budgeted for a decrease in total enrollment due to the uncertainty surrounding the start of the fall semester, and actual numbers came in very close to projections.
Because of COVID-19, our recruiters will not be allowed into many high schools for the traditional college fairs. SOAR, the BMAA’s largest gathering of young people (or any people for that matter), did not meet in person. Those two things alone will make it very challenging to build our “admissions funnel” of prospective students. If you know of a junior or senior in high school who is a good fit for CBC, please let us know. Go to cbc.edu/referral or e-mail admissions@cbc.edu. We have resumed campus tours, taking all the necessary precautions, and we love to host students, parents and coaches on our campus.
I just read in a national Christian publication that over the past six to eight years, “prospective students and their parents seemed to increasingly prioritize an education that would lead to a good job over one that would integrate faith and learning.” That disturbs me! I’ve noticed a waning of loyalty among those who once had strong ties to the college. It’s difficult to say anything without sounding negative. It troubles me deeply, and I do try to not take it personally, when I see parents and students, but mostly parents, choosing a college or university based on how little they have to pay while disregarding the fact that their student’s faith will certainly be challenged. Some survive; others may not.
Much of the blame falls on us, actually on me. Sometimes we are prone to say, “We are doing the best we can with what we have.” That’s seldom true in any situation. We must reach more students, do a better job of telling our story and stop apologizing for being who we are — which is what God called us to be. We are a Christian college with high standards for academics, morals and spiritual growth. We are CBC!
I’m pleased to tell you that students at Central Baptist College are still required to complete three courses (nine credit hours) of Bible. No matter what program of study or course delivery system they are enrolled in, they will take Survey of the Old Testament, Survey of the New Testament and then a third Bible course of their choice. For example, they could take Life of Christ as their third course option.
In addition to the Bible coursework, they will participate in a weekly chapel service, facilitated by our Director of Spiritual Life Programs (delivered virtually for now). They will have other opportunities to participate in a student-led discipleship program, student-led worship services or other Bible study programs on campus. But in addition to all of this, as I mentioned above, all coursework will be presented from a biblical worldview. That will never change, and it shouldn’t!
Pray that all our students will increase in their knowledge of God and lead others to trust Jesus for their salvation. God continues His work in the lives of students. Decisions have already been made this academic year to trust Jesus for salvation! That truly is the mission of Central Baptist College!
The Future of CBC
Our challenges are huge, but they are not bigger than our God. I remind myself often of the words of Christ in Luke 18:27: “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” As the calendar year draws to a close, we are transitioning out of “Vision 2020: A Miracle in the Making,” the campaign that has guided the institution for nearly a decade. We didn’t accomplish all 10 of the planned projects, and we did not meet our enrollment goals. But, as I typed the previous paragraphs, I rejoiced in all God has allowed us to enjoy and I am looking forward to His continued blessings on CBC.
We are in the early stages of developing a new campus strategic plan which will then guide our next steps as an institution. I hope to be sharing more with you soon!
Thank you!
When you support CBC, either through prayer or financial support, you are making a difference in lives of our students — you are contributing to the “transformation of lives.”
Baptist Trumpet
By Diane Spriggs, Editor Emeritus
I graduated from high school back in the dark ages — our North Little Rock Wildcats class yell that year was “We’re the Wildest Cats Alive, We’re the Class of ’65!” You do the math, like I said, the dark ages!
Seriously, though, one thing I loved about those times was that our graduation theme was based on Scripture — “A Time for Every Purpose” from Eccl. 3:1-8
Well, friends, I’ve always heard it said that “what goes around comes around,” and the time has come for my purpose at the Baptist Trumpet to come to an end. I have “finished my course,” and I’ll leave it up to God (and you) to determine whether I have “fought the good fight and kept the faith.” All I can honestly say is that I have tried.
One thing about it, you will never forget my last year at the Trumpet! You may not think of me when you think of 2020, but this year will undoubtedly be forever etched in your mind!
And all of you, my dear friends, will be forever etched in my mind and my heart.
In just a moment, Assistant Editor/Editor Elect Jeff Herring will give the rest of the Baptist Trumpet report. My catchphrase around the office, especially the last few weeks, has been that “he must increase, and I must decrease.” So he will give you the majority of our report so he can share his heart with all of you.
I’ve often said that Jeff and I have this Timothy and Paulette thing down to an art. He has been great to work with, and I know he and Associate Editor Allan Eakin will do a great job of taking the Baptist Trumpet into the future. Paulette is proud of you, Son, and I wholeheartedly recommend you to serve in this position.
I love you all, and, for the last time, thank you, my wonderful BMA family, for allowing me to have “the best job a girl can have in the BMA!”
By Jeff Herring, Executive Editor
If the Lord Wills
Following the state meeting last year, Diane and I began the associational year with an idea of how we expected the next 12 months before her retirement to play out, including the usual time of Special Emphasis in the early spring, covering the BMAA national meeting, a summer full of activities and speaking appointments. Then we planned to close out the year by visiting as many local association meetings as we could so she could say goodbye and I could introduce myself and make connections for the future ministry of the Trumpet. We were both looking forward to attending the state meeting in November with family and friends present as she retires and I begin a new role in this ministry according to the Lord’s will.
As we progressed into the early Spring, right in the middle of our time of Special Emphasis, everything changed with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. As always, we prayed and began to adjust as the Lord gave us direction. This meant that much of what we had “planned” for the year was not going to be possible, at least not in the way we expected. There has been plenty to learn along the way, and this unexpected twist has been a great reminder of the truth found in James 4:15: “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
Special Emphasis a Success
After approval from Paul White, Director of Missions, we borrowed a month from those allotted to State Missions and extended our time of Special Emphasis through May. Even though there were times that we wondered how God would work things out, we were amazed and awed as He used His people and His churches to bless the Trumpet by allowing us to not only meet our goal but to exceed it!
The primary focus of our Special Emphasis this year was to raise the funds to pay for the new Trumpet SUV after we retired Gracie last year. We were able to completely pay for the SUV, as well as have the funds necessary to continue the ministry without a rate increase or other measures. Our subscription price covers about 50% of the cost of producing the Baptist Trumpet. Without the funds received during our time of Special Emphasis we simply would not be able to keep the Trumpet going out every week.
Thank you for your faithfulness to give and support the Baptist Trumpet. In our times of Special Emphasis, we prayerfully set a goal that is designed to meet the expected needs and expenses, and this will continue to be the case going forward. We will only ask for what we need and continue to trust that God will provide through your continued faithfulness.
Staff Changes
As we began preparing for Diane’s retirement and trying to plan for a smooth transition, we knew we would need to find someone to fill the assistant editor role when I became editor. As we talked and discussed what that might look like, we created a job description that seemed to be pretty daunting since we would be combining many assistant editor duties along with the bookkeeper duties. Diane and I discussed that it would have to be the “right” person to fill this role, but we knew that if God led us to this point, He surely had someone in mind!
After sending out notices to area pastors asking if they knew anyone that might be interested, we received three different leads. We interviewed two candidates and, through that process, we offered the new associate editor position to Allan Eakin. He serves as the bi-vocational lead pastor of Celebration Baptist Church in Haskell and will continue in that role. Allan began working with us on Oct. 5 and is already fitting in very well and learning about the many parts of the ministry of the Baptist Trumpet.
Our Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper Jen Marvel finished her time at the Trumpet at the end of October after being with us for just over a year. We knew when she was hired that it would most likely be temporary since her husband (who works for FamilyLife) was being moved to Florida because of his job. She has been a great blessing this past year and has spent time training Allan as he prepares to take over the bookkeeping duties.
Updates in Progress
One of the things I began working on soon after I came on staff at the Trumpet was a way to update the way we manage our subscribers. Our current system is a custom-built Access database that has been causing us problems for a while now. It is creating more work instead of being a help because of all the time that must be spent correcting the mistakes in the program.
As I began searching for a solution, I quickly realized that we are pretty unique in the way we bill for our Church Plans. We bill our churches weekly and statements are mailed out monthly. We want to make sure we are fair to our Church Plan subscribers so we allow churches to add/remove subscribers as often as they would like so that we are not billing them for subscribers they have removed. When I tried to explain this to the vendors, most replied with, “We don’t have a way to do that.”
We did finally find a solution that allows us to fully customize the way we bill and offers us many other options as part of the process. We have been working for the past three months to transition to the new system and make sure that everything is working as it should be. That means we have been running both systems side-by-side for the past two months. We are making progress and we hope to have things working well before the end of the year.
Our goal with the new system is to not only make the process more efficient but that it will also allow us to take advantage of future ministry opportunities by giving us a way to connect our subscribers to our website. This will allow us to expand our digital presence via our website, provide ways for individuals and churches to see and update their profile information online and allow things that are just not possible with our current system. Please pray with us that we can get all of the changes finalized and get the system up and operating soon.
Looking Ahead
As we look ahead to the upcoming year, we will continue to look for ways to expand the ministry of the Baptist Trumpet. Our mission is to get the news of our association, from the local church to the foreign mission field, to the most important person in our churches, the person in the pew. We plan to do our best to produce a quality paper every week (45 issues per year), and we need you to be a part of this ministry.
Here are a few ways you can do that:
• Pray for God’s clear direction in all things related to the ministry of the Baptist Trumpet.
• If your church is already on the Church Plan, please make sure to add all of your members so that they are well-informed about their association and its ministries.
• If your church is not on the Church Plan, please let us set you up and start getting the paper to your members. We will offer a three-month free trial for any churches willing to sign-up.
• Please prayerfully consider adding us to your church budget for regular offerings. Your offerings help us keep the paper affordable for our churches and individuals.
“But God”
As we have so often heard over the years, this phrase is a favorite of Diane’s. It carries so much meaning as we seek to serve Him every step of the way. It is a comfort when we don’t understand, but God does. It is a help when we don’t see how it could be possible, but God makes it possible. It is a strength when we don’t think we can go on, but God is able.
But God — this phrase recognizes that we have come to the end of ourselves and our abilities and have moved to a place where we fully rely on God. We recognize that He is more than capable no matter what we are facing. Our goal with every issue of the Baptist Trumpet that is produced is to fully rely on God as we seek to accomplish our mission by being a blessing to our churches and every person in the pew. Thank you for your prayers and support as we continue the ministry of the Baptist Trumpet, not in our strength, but God’s.
State Missions
By Paul White, Executive Director
What a crazy year this has been. With the COVID-19 closures and restrictions, this has truly been a challenging year for missions everywhere. Outreach is the key method of reaching those in the communities for new church planters and the distancing and COVID has made it nearly impossible to get out in the neighborhoods to share the good news.
But our men have remained dedicated through these challenging times. As pastors and church members, you know how difficult it has been to keep the flock together, much less have a tremendous success in reaching others.
It is predicted that this pandemic has set some of our State Missions’ efforts back as much as a year or longer in different locations. It will be impossible to determine as only time will tell.
I want to take a moment to thank you for your faithfulness to this important ministry. We continue to reach the lost because of your love for lost souls.
Earlier this year, we placed our eighth man on the field in the Flippin area — Flippin is located between Mountain Home and Harrison. Johnny Shew and his wife, Karen, make a great addition to our team.
We are also currently working with yet another possible candidate to serve in the Northwest Arkansas area. I hope to share more about this soon.
I am grateful that God is continuing to call men into the church planting ministry. State Missions is making a difference right where we live.
Please pray for your State Missions and for those who make up its ministry. Through your faithful and systematic giving, the future looks bright.
Thank you also for allowing me to be a part of this great group of men. To God be the glory.
Need
Printing?
Trumpet Printing
can help. Call
(501) 565-0479
Bradford Baptist Church in Bradford is seeking a full-time pastor. Resumes may be sent to the Pulpit Committee at P.O. Box 16, Bradford, Ark. 72020 or bbcbradfordar@gmail.com. For more information, call (501) 344-2414.
Columbia Baptist Association in Magnolia is seeking a missionary to fill the position of ABS Director at Southern Arkansas University. Resumes should be mailed to ABS Search Committee, c/o First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 456, Magnolia, Ark. 71754-0456 or emailed to cindy@firstmagnolia.org. The deadline is Nov. 30.
First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Tex. is seeking a pastor. Please send resumes to: Search Committee, 210 Philips St, Jacksonville, Texas 75766 or reception@firstjax.org.
Meadowside Baptist Church in Pittsburg, Kan. is seeking a full-time pastor. Contact Greg Hardister at (620) 704-6860.
Oakland Heights Baptist Church in White Hall is seeking a pastor. Resumes may be sent to P.O. Box 21144, White Hall, Ark. 71612. For more information, contact Bill Eubanks at (870) 267-5043
Spring Branch Baptist Church of Taylor is seeking a bivocational pastor. We are a small BMA church looking to grow our congregation. Please send resumes to Jody Taylor at jodytaylor2019@icloud.com or P.O. Box 366, Sarepta, La. 71071. For any questions or concerns call (318) 230-5856.
Jonesboro District WMA, Jan. 9, 10 a. m., Prospect, Jonesboro.
Southwest District GMA, Jan. 23, First, Taylor.
Oops!
In the obituary for Judy Herring last week, we failed to list some of her nephews that are ministers. BMA Ministers include: Jerry Goodwin, pastor of Pleasant Grove, Carlisle; Dennis Clark, retired in Okla. and Mac Kennedy, member of Sulphur Springs, Enders. Other Ministers include Scotty Karber and Jimmy Goodwin.
Journey with Jeff
By Executive Editor
Jeff Herring
Honored to Serve
Thank you for electing me to this place of service. As I have shared previously, this is not a ministry that I aspired to but I believe it is a ministry that God brought me to and a place He has asked me to serve. From the time I answered God’s call to ministry 27 years (Nov. 7, 1993), my goal has been to be faithful to serve to the best of my ability in whatever capacity He asks me to serve.
When I was wrestling with the idea of whether God was calling me into the ministry or not. I felt that I would not be able to do it and God used my pastor at the time, Rick Bolin, to remind me, “It is not your ability that God asks for, but rather your availability!”
As I look back over my years of ministry, I can see how God has been faithful to use me, not because I have some spectacular abilities, but because I simply made myself available to be used by Him. As I begin serving in the role of Executive Editor at the Baptist Trumpet, I feel anything but qualified and able, but I know God will continue to be faithful. My prayer is that I will always lean on Him to make the ministry of the Baptist Trumpet all that He wants it to be. After all, as I have heard Diane say many times over the last year, “God is the real editor of the Trumpet!”
Scruggs, BMA Minister, Dies
Luther Aaron Scruggs, 88 of Springdale passed away Nov. 5. He was a pastor for almost 60 years and pastored 12 churches in 3 states, including: Bald Knob Baptist Church at Plumerville and Zion Baptist Church at Lowell. Most recently he was a member of Springdale Baptist Church.
Survivors include: a son, Kennith (Sharon) Scruggs of Springdale; a daughter, Judy (Chris) Isbell of Humnoke; a stepdaughter, Patrice (Jeff) Glur of Lowell; a stepdaughter-in-law, Virginia Samuelson of Cave Springs; four grandchildren; eight great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.
Services were held Nov. 10 in the chapel of Memorial Funeral Home in Springdale.
Church
Reports
Worden, Worden welcomed one by baptism, Paul Bearfield, pastor; Gale Bell, reporter.
Tenth Street, Paragould reports two by baptism, Jerry Jolly, pastor.
Magnolia, Hattiesburg, Miss. added one by baptism, Greg Medenwald, pastor.
Terry Lynn Riddle, 69 of Damascus, passed away Nov. 8. He was a member of First Baptist Church.
Jimmy Glenn Cockrell, 83 of Stephens, passed away Nov. 6. He was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church in Magnolia.
Linda Brewer, 74 of Success, passed away Nov. 5. Her survivors include CBC professor and BMA pastor Dr. Tim Brewer of Guy.
Betty Lou Roberts Colvin, 84 of Warren, passed away Nov. 5. Her survivors include BMA pastor Mike Colvin of Manila.
Joseph “Joe” Earl Ussery, 76 of Trumann, passed away Nov. 3. He was a member of Central Baptist Church.
Joseph Denapoli, 78 of Moro passed away Nov. 1. He was a member of Trenton Baptist Church in Poplar Grove and a 27-year veteran.
Russell E. Isbell, 88 of Hermitage, passed away Oct. 27. He was a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church in Jersey.
From the
Mailbox
Baptist Trumpet
P.O. Box 192208
Little Rock, Ark. 72219-2208
e-mail: editor@baptisttrumpet.com
Thank You!
Dear Editor:
It is hard to know where to begin thanking you, Allan, the Publications Committee and my wonderful BMA family for everything that was done for me as I retired from the best job I could have ever hoped to have.
Every act of kindness, all the hard work that went into pulling off a wonderful retirement luncheon and the events of last Thursday night (and to completely surprise me!) - every card, gift, word of encouragement, pat on the back and hug, and every penny given toward the travel fund for Pat and me was sincerely appreciated and will always be remembered.
Y’all are the best, the very best! It was a joy to serve our Lord and the BMA through the Baptist Trumpet, and I can’t wait to see how God will bless this wonderful ministry in the years to come.
Thank you for everything, and may God bless you all!
Always, Diane, Editor Emeritus (a title for which I am most grateful because it forever connects me with this ministry I love), 16827 Spring Club Dr., Hensley, Ark. 72065; r.diane.spriggs@gmail.com
Arkansas Faith And Ethics Council
Larry Page, Director
P.O. Box 25112
Little Rock, AR 72221
(501) 228-0432
(877) 665-6883
llp@arfaith.org
www.arfaith.org
The Will Of God Will Be Done
By Dr. Michael Brown
There are many conditional promises in the Bible. God will do this if we do that. God will relent if we repent. God will answer if we pray. Perhaps the most famous example of this in the Scriptures is in 2 Chron. 7:14, spoken by the Lord to King Solomon after the building of the first temple in Jerusalem.
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (II Chron. 7:13-14 ESV).
Now, we cannot make a direct application of this verse to the USA, since America is not chosen in the sense that Israel was chosen, and God does not call our entire nation “My people.” Yet, since there are tens of millions of His people in America, to the extent we humble ourselves and repent and pray, I believe that God will answer from heaven and have mercy on our nation.
How, then, does this apply to the outcome of the elections? When all is said and done and the votes are fully counted, can we say, “The will of God has been done?” I believe the answer is yes, we can say, “God’s will was done,” regardless of the outcome. I say that because for much of this year, there has been a steady stream of prayer ascending to heaven.
The impeachment hearings drove us to prayer. The pandemic drove us to prayer. The protests and riots drove us to prayer. The elections drove us to prayer.
Even now, as I write on the evening of Nov. 2, 24/7 prayer vigils are taking place around the world — and I mean prayer vigils for America. Millions have been crying out for mercy, for God’s intervention, for His will to be carried out in our land. On Sept. 26 alone, there were two massive gatherings in D.C., Franklin Graham’s Prayer March and The Return. Another large gathering took place on Oct. 25, also in D.C., which focused on worship and prayer, including a special prayer meeting outside the Supreme Court.
Pastors and leaders who never prayed together have been gathering for regular online prayer meetings focused on repentance, abasement and the seeking of mercy. Churches that have gathered despite the pandemic have devoted time in their meetings for prayer.
Another major event in D.C. culminated immediately before I started to write this article, with seasoned participants saying that they have never seen such a prayer emphasis in their lives.
When it comes to the outcome of the 2020 elections, with the amount of prayer and fasting that has taken place, whoever the winner is, I will be convinced that God’s will was done. That being said, it’s possible that His answer will be the opposite of what we wanted in the short term, only to lead to greater good in the long term.
To be sure, it is possible that He will answer with great mercy, giving us time to mend our ways while our liberties remain protected. But it’s also possible that He will answer with judgment; something to humble us and drive us to an even deeper place of contrition. Have we really gotten to the place called for in Joel 2, where we rend our hearts, where we weep and wail and where we grieve deeply over our corporate and personal sins? Could it be that, with an outcome that is to our liking, we will return to our complacent state?
Only God knows the answers to these questions. But I truly believe that He has heard our prayers for intervention and that His purposes will come to pass.
BMA of Arkansas State Missions
Missionaries
Michael Hight, Hispanic Coordinator, ; (501) 326-0198
Ruben Isturiz, Misión Ebenezer, West Little Rock: (501) 707-5388
Carter Pearce, Grace, Green Forest; (870) 688-7412
Juan Carlos Posadas, Misión Creciendo en Cristo, NLR; (501) 712-8752
Jim Tollison, Mustard Seed, Cain; (870) 370-3938
Chad White, Connection Point, Brookland; (870) 243-4683
Darrin Smith, Life Journey, Fort Smith; (479)-763-8909
Johnny Shew, Faith Chapel, Flippin; (870) 421-1984
Office Location: 10712 Interstate 30 • Little Rock, AR 72209
(501) 565-4601 • E-Mail: bmaofarkfrontdesk@gmail.com
Mailing Address: PO Box 195514, Little Rock, AR 72219
Director’s Email: arstamis@comcast.net
www.bmaofarkansas.com
Facebook.com/ArkansasMissions
Paul White
Executive Director
Harmonious Meeting
The 71st Annual session of the BMA of Arkansas met Nov. 5-6 in Conway. Even in the midst of this terrible virus, it was well attended. I want to thank each of the Missionary Committee men for being there and accepting the recommendations as they were presented. I am truly grateful the association voted to reelect all of our present missionaries and to add Clinton Morris to serve as our newest missionary in the Rogers area. It was also agreed to approve Angel Colon as our new Hispanic planter to work in the northwest part of the state pending conformation from the Advisory Committee. When Angel is approved, he will make the tenth missionary serving at this present time. Wow! God continues to bless your State Missions work, even during all of the present turmoil.
I made you a promise ten years ago that I would not bank your offerings but spend them whenever the opportunity presented itself. Because of your faithful support, we are doing just that. Thank you for your past, present and future support of State Missions. As the late I.V. Hight stated, it is “For the sake of Souls.”
From Our Missionaries
Connection Point, Brookland: Chad White writes, “God blessed us with a great day on Sunday. We had some first-time guests and some returning guests. We had some technical difficulties, but they could not distract from what God was doing. We are so thankful for God’s blessings.
“This week, my dad, Paul White, worked to repair our sign. It is looking so good. We can hardly wait to get our new lights installed.
“It was wonderful to be able to meet with so many of our churches at the meeting this past week. I always enjoy getting to meet you and speak to you face-to-face. I am so thankful for all that the BMA of Arkansas has done for me and for Connection Point. May God bless each of you!”
The Mustard Seed, Cain: Jim Tollison writes, “COVID-19 has struck our community again. None of our people have it at this writing, but some have been exposed. Many will be quarantined for about two weeks. Our attendance was down significantly, yet the Lord was with us. Let’s agree to pray for God’s healing hand to hover over our communities.
“It was good to see many of you at the BMA of Arkansas meeting. The reports from various phases of our work were very encouraging. The missionary reports were very exciting. It is so encouraging to be reminded that our God is still on His throne. He is, and always has been, in charge of this world. As the song writer once said, “Yes, Lord yes, to your will and to your way....” I hope and pray you have a great week. Thanks again for your support and the trust you have placed in your missionaries.”
Misión Creciendo en Cristo (Growing in Christ), North Little Rock: Juan Carlos Posadas writes, “The Growing in Christ mission had three families visit us for the first time and a whole family surrendered at the feet of our Lord Jesus.
“After the service I went over to greet Jose Luis and his family, who had invited their friends Byron and Lixy to the Sunday meeting. Jose Luis and Consuelo shared some situations that clearly show the enemy’s attacks on their family. The answer to their needs was that they needed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. After sharing the gospel, I asked Jose Luis if he wanted to receive Christ as his Lord and Savior, his answer was “Yes.” We prayed and he received Christ. Then I asked Consuelo who also prayed and received Christ. Finally, I went back to see Oliver, 9 years old, who was sitting between his two parents, his face indicated that he also wanted to receive Christ. When I made the invitation he also responded affirmatively, we prayed and Oliver received Christ. This was the third time that this family visited us in the Sunday meeting. Consuelo and Oliver had already participated in two discipleship meetings and evidently God was working in their lives. We give glory to God for His work in the life of this family.
“Please, pray for the three families who visited us for the first time — Oswaldo and Nancy; Byron and Lixy; and Daniela with their children. Pray that the work that He has started in each of these hearts will be finished and that God will use this congregation to establish them in faith.
“Sunday evening, we went with a group of young people from the congregation to Burns Park. We walked to the top of a mountain and appreciated the view of the city when the lights were on. On the way back we used the lights of our cell phones to illuminate our descent and the young people really enjoyed the experience. God bless you, thank you for your prayers.”
Grace, Green Forest: Carter Pearce writes, “What a blessing it was to be at the BMA of Arkansas annual meeting. I shocked those in attendance by stating that ‘2020 has been a great year.’ In fact, Paul White suggested that I needed to verify that I was not suffering from illness. While it has been challenging, if viewed in the right perspective, this year has been great. I have seen some of my personal spiritual giants (James Ray Raines & Jesse Thomas) receive their heavenly reward and Diane Spriggs has reached the point where she can retire.
“When our congregation suspended public services, our men continued to meet for prayer, strength, and encouragement. When finances got tight, the Revolving Loan Fund Committee stepped in to offer assistance with our building payments. Within two weeks of meeting again, we had our core group together and have witnessed spiritual growth throughout the difficulty.
“From most perspectives, 2020 has been a terrible year and one that will be viewed better from the rear-view mirror. However, 2020 has also been a year to see God’s blessings, even through difficulty. Read the book of Habakkuk to see that God often works in ways that we don’t see and can’t understand. He is still in control!”
Faith Chapel, Flippin: Johnny Shew writes, “This was a very disappointing week. I had to miss the BMA of Arkansas meeting and cancel in-person services Wednesday and Sunday. I developed a sore throat and a cough with some congestion. Though I had no fever, my doctor recommended a COVID-19 test which I took it on Tuesday. The results were not back by Wednesday, so we canceled prayer meeting. They were not back by Thursday, so I was unable to come to the meeting. They still were not in by the weekend, so I had to cancel church.
“As I am writing this on Sunday night, I almost feel like I should apologize to you all. But even though I am disappointed, I believe I did the right thing. I would never want to selfishly put anyone else at risk and I know that God’s purposes were still served at the meeting. I know His word went out on Faith Chapel’s page this morning and we did have an internet service with a very good response. My message was appropriately from Acts 1, ‘Wait for the Promise.’ So, I will just trust in Him through all of this. Romans 8:28.”
BMA of Arkansas
2020-21 Officers, Departments and Committees
Tom Mitchell President
Gary O’Neal First Vice-President
Michael Battenfield Second Vice-President
Randy Shepherd Clerk
Don Embry Clerk
State Missions
Paul White, Executive Director • arstamis@comcast.net
P.O. Box 195514 • Little Rock, AR 72219
(501) 565-4601 • www.bmaofarkansas.com
Central Baptist College
Terry Kimbrow, President • tkimbrow@cbc.edu
1501 College Ave. • Conway, AR 72034
(501) 329-6872 • www.cbc.edu
Baptist Trumpet
Jeff Herring, Executive Editor • editor@baptisttrumpet.com
P.O. Box 192208 • Little Rock, AR 72219
(501) 565-4601 • www.baptisttrumpet.com
Youth Department/Student Ministry Matters
Dan Carson, Director • bmayouthdepartment@gmail.com
c/o Calvary Baptist Church, 1410 Porter Rd., Fayetteville, AR 72703
(479) 790-7808 • www.studentministrymatters.com
Missions Advisory Committee
2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Hershel Conley | Randy Shepherd | Joe Owens |
Tony Crocker | Tim Brewer | Keith Lewis |
Revolving Loan Fund Committee
2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Paul Rice | Randy Lingenfelter | Roy Hill |
Sidney McGraw | Michael Battenfield |
Central Baptist College Trustees
2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Winston “Sonny” Foster | Clif Johnson | Danny Kirk |
Sandy Lambright | Zane Clark | Mark Cassady |
Jimmy Elrod | Bobby Stoner | Jennifer Weaver |
Doug Brewer | Michele Corder | David Pickard |
2024 | 2025 |
Randy Stimach | Jim Fink |
Lisa Speer | Kristy Roberts |
Cole Crossland | Ali Chambers |
Preston Burton | Kellie Harper |
Publications Committee
2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Doug Brown | Carolyn Colvert | Chris Vines |
Hershel Conleys | Michael Hight | David Inzer |
Youth Department Committee
2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
John O’Conner | Heidi Sorrells | Jonathan Montgomery |
Skip Schalk | Will McGee | Stuart Estes |
Scott Small | Devin DiGuilio | Zac Lee |
Finance and Enrollment Committee
2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Brian Sheppard | Wes Hulvey | Mike Book |
Randall Murphy | Randy Ashcraft | Robert Gunnels |
Nominating Committee
2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Roger Pearce | Randy Veach | Kenneth Strickland |
Kenneth Colvert | Mike Silvey | Dan Williams |
Bill Thornton | Jorge Vasquez | Roy Johnson |
Credentials Committee
2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Bobby Tucker | James Coker | Martin Jameson |
Charles Reddin | Jeff Swart | Ken Beaver |