ABSC Disaster Relief 2012 Training Schedule

Trinity BC, Searcy - March 3, 2012
Units scheduled to attend training:
Feeding Units:  Calvary          
Recovery Units: Union Valley, Valley Baptist Church, Caroline

FBC Mountain View - March 10, 2012

Units scheduled to attend training:
Feeding Units:  Independence
Recovery Units: Independence, Rocky Bayou

FBC Brinkley - March 17, 2012
Units scheduled to attend training:
Feeding Units:  Forrest City                          
Recovery Units:  Harmony, Centennial, Arkansas Valley

Fair Park BC, Russellville - March 24, 2012
Units scheduled to attend training:
Feeding Unit: Washington/Madison                   
Recovery Units: Arkansas River Valley, North Central Arkansas
Shower Unit: FBC Ozark 

Bear Creek Springs BC, Harrison- March 31, 2012
Units scheduled to attend training:
Feeding Units: North Arkansas                      
Recovery Units:  White River, Big Creek

FBC Arkadelphia - April 14, 2012
Units scheduled to attend training:
Feeding Units:  Red River, Carey                            
Recovery Units:  Southwest, Little River

Trinity Baptist Church, Blytheville  - April 21, 2012
Units scheduled to attend training:
Feeding Units:  Current-Gaines                                 
Recovery Units:  Mississippi, Tri-County, Central, Jonesboro, Walnut Street,
Jonesboro, Black River
Shower Unit: Mt. Zion

Geyer Springs FBC, Little Rock - April 28, 2012
Units scheduled to attend training:
Feeding Unit:  Unit #1                                    
Recovery Units:  Unit #1, Church at Rock Creek, Central, Balboa, Caroline
Shower Unit:  Geyer Springs FBC          
Command/Communication Unit:  North Pulaski

Mt. Olive BC, Crossett  - May 5, 2012
Units scheduled to attend training:
Feeding Units:  Liberty
Recovery Units:  Bartholomew, Delta, Ashley

FBC Pea Ridge - August 11, 2012
Units scheduled to attend training:
Feeding Units:  Washington/Madison           
Recovery Units:  Arkansas River Valley, Northwest, Cross Church, Springdale
Shower Unit:  Grand Ave, Ft. Smith            
Communication Unit:  Washington/Madison

Regional Training Agenda for New Disaster Relief Volunteers*

• 8:00 – 8:30  Picture Taking and Registration (new volunteers only)
• 8:30 – 8:45  Introduction/Training Agenda
• 8:45 – 10:15 Involving Southern Baptist in Disaster Relief
• 10:15 – 10:30 Break
• 10:30 – 11:00 Paperwork for New Volunteers
• 11:00 – 12:30 Initial Safe Food Handling (Unit Blue Cap)
• 11:00 – 12:30 Initial Recovery Training (Unit Blue Cap)
• 12:30 – 1:00  Lunch
• 1:00 – 3:00 Initial Hands On Training (Feeding, Recovery)
  (Blue Caps conduct new volunteer unit training)

*Each Unit Blue Cap is responsible for conducting Update training for their unit.

Hispanic Focus: Bible institutes celebrate milestones

This year has been an interesting year for the Centro de Capacitación Bíblica (CECABI) and the Instituto Teológico Bautista de Arkansas (ITBA), according to the directors of the Hispanic Bible institutes that serve Hispanic Baptists in Arkansas.

CECABI was established by the Northwest Baptist Association in partnership with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC). Daniel Cerda is the CECABI director.

Francisco Gómez, who serves on the ABSC missions ministries team, also directs ITBA.

These biblical training centers are designed to provide Christian leadership training. Their objective is to effectively prepare students with the knowledge and the practical skills for the work of the ministry in the local church. 

The centers focus on training leaders to be Christ-like. They educate, enable, motivate, disciple and exhort the Christians with the goal to reproduce a permanent leadership to minister in the church of Jesus Christ.

Three students who graduated from ITBA in Little Rock May 14 are now serving in pastoral roles. 

The first CECABI graduation was held at the Primera Iglesia Bautista in Fort Smith Sept. 25. Seven students – representing seven churches – obtained their certificate in biblical studies.

Robby Tingle, ABSC missions ministries leader, preached the graduation sermon for the occasion and challenged and encouraged students to be servant leaders based on the example of Jesus when He washed the disciples’ feet. 

CECABI and ITBA are sponsored with gifts given through the Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering.

More information about these ministries is available at www.absc.org/ministries/hispanic-ministry.html and www.nwbaptist.net.

Evangelism conference set for Jan. 23-24

SHERWOOD – Speakers for the 2012 State Conference on Evangelism and Church Growth plan to “stir up a passion for evangelism,” according to the conference theme. 

The two-day event, which will be held at First Baptist Church, Sherwood, Jan. 23-24, will feature speakers from Arkansas and across the country.

Keynote speakers include Roy Fish, retired distinguished professor of evangelism, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas; Robert Smith, professor of Christian preaching, Beeson Divinity School, Birmingham, Ala.; Michael Catt, pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church, Albany, Ga.; John Meador, pastor of First Baptist Church, Euless, Texas; Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, La.; and Archie Mason, senior pastor of Central Baptist Church, Jonesboro.

An old-time camp meeting will be a highlight of the meeting. Camp meeting speakers include Don Chandler, pastor of Central Baptist Church, Conway; Doug Compton, an evangelist from Paragould; Tommy Miller, pastor of Union Valley Baptist Church, Beebe; and John Sammons, pastor of Marshall Road Baptist Church, Jacksonville.

Worship will be lead by Charles Billingsley, worship leader at Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Va. The Skit Guys, Christian comedian sketch artists, will also perform.

A prayer conference will be held  prior to the conference Jan. 23.

Evangelism section planned

The Arkansas Baptist News is planning to publish a special evangelism section during the State  Conference on Evangelism and Church Growth in January. If you would like to submit the name of an evangelist you would like to see featured in the section, email abn@arkansasbaptist.org.

Mission Connection set for 2012

Looking for a way to be a part of mission opportunities in Arkansas, across the nation and internationally? 

Mission Connection may be for you.  

Mission Connection, which participants may attend on either Feb. 9 or Feb. 11 at Second Baptist Church, Jacksonville, is a one-day event for anyone interested in connecting with state, national and international mission partners.

Connect with international mission partners from Belgium, Chile, Japan and Russia, along with North American mission partners from Alaska, Chicago, Kansas, Nebraska, Philadelphia and South Dakota. 

Mission representatives from Arkansas will be available, as well.

The conference will be held from 9:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and includes lunch. 

To register, go to www.absc.org/uttermost, or call Jill Modlin at 800-838-2272, ext. 5149.

Student Missions Roundtable dates set

What should I do to lead students to adopt a biblical missions lifestyle? How do I lead my students to take the gospel into their schools? How do I choose where to go on a mission trip? How do I finance mission trips? Is an in-state mission trip really that helpful? When is a student ready for an international trip? Can my group adopt a church planter or missionary? 

Answers will be provided to these questions and more at the Student Missions Roundtable, a free conference for full-time, part-time or volunteer adult leaders of students in Arkansas Baptist churches.  

Participants can choose from identical conferences on either Thursday, Dec. 1 or Saturday, Dec. 3. The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Arkansas Baptist State Convention building, located at 10 Remington Drive in Little Rock. 

For more information or to register, go to www.absc.org/uttermost.