Arkansas Baptist State Convention

January 31–February 1
There is eternal value in equipping the next generation in biblical worship and worship leading. Join us for this year’s PraizFest, a student weekend of worship and equipping hosted by First Baptist Church, Benton. Check-in for PraizFest begins Friday night at 6:00 and will conclude Saturday afternoon with a student-led worship celebration at 3:00.

Information and registration

The Missions Team is partnering with the Arkansas Sheriffs' Association to provide jail/prison-ministry-related training on Saturday, January 25, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Fellow Arkansan and retired federal prison chaplain/author, Chaplain Rebecca Lewis, will be our guest for training and Q&A. Every participant will receive a copy of her book Streetwise Prison Ministry. Anyone interested in jail/prison ministry is welcome to attend. 

More information

Join us for the Worship Leaders' Roundtable that will be gathering in your area. These events held throughout the year are great opportunities to enjoy the fellowship of other worship leaders as we challenge, sharpen, and encourage one another. Please click on the links below to register for the Worship Leaders' Roundtable near you to be sure you are provided a meal. Contact jdaniel@absc.org for more information and later dates and locations.

January 9—Central Baptist Church, Conway

January 16—First Baptist Church, Harrison

March 20—First Baptist Church, Greenwood

Block Party ministry is a great way to reach your local community. Across Arkansas, hundreds of people have come to know Christ as their Savior during block party events. Block party trailers and equipment are tools that God has furnished to help the church share the Gospel with people in their community as well as on missions trips.

2025 Workshops
January 25–First Baptist, Hampton

February 1–First Baptist, Forrest City

February 8–Bryant First Southern

February 22–Northwest Arkansas ABSC Office

Explore Your Call seeks to minister to students who are feeling God’s call as well as the pastors who are investing in them. Join us for the regional Explore Your Call meeting in your area. This will be a time to learn and hear from church staff and pastors about serving in ministry, partnering together in ministry, and growing in your call to ministry.

Find upcoming dates and locations and register to attend one of five upcoming meetings

February 1

EQUIP is designed specifically with smaller membership church (SMC) leaders in mind. Whether full-time, bi-vocational, or volunteer, SMC ministry has many unique and challenging demands. This conference aims to further equip and encourage those serving in SMC ministry.

More information and registration

February 8

Leadership Collective is a one-day workshop for women’s ministry leaders in Arkansas. It will take place on Saturday, February 8, at the ABSC Building. This event offers opportunities for ministry leaders to receive training and to be equipped to serve as they connect with one another in an interactive setting.

More information and registration

The Arkansas Baptist State Convention is here to help your church. Protecting minors and those vulnerable from sexual abuse remains a top priority. Join us for the 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.

February 10—First Baptist Church, Fayetteville

March 8

Lead Defend and Lead Defend Foundations are apologetics conferences that equip the next generation to defend their faith. Both provide powerful worship, engaging messages, and practical breakout sessions and will be held on Saturday, March 8. Cost is $35 per person.

Lead Defend is geared for high school and college students. It is held at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock.
More information and registration

Lead Defend Foundations is geared for students in 6th–9th grade. It is held in the City Center down the hill from Immanuel Baptist Church.

More information and registration

The Missions Team and the Evangelism + Church Health Team are collaborating for the 2025 Spring Outreach Strategy. This strategy includes four components. Click on the links below to learn more about each one.

1. 3:16 on 3-16 On March 16, we invite you to share the powerful message of John 3:16 with others.

2. Serve Local Churches are encouraged to select a day, or multiple days, during April 12–19 to serve their communities, meeting practical needs and strategically sharing the Gospel. Resources include suggestions on identifying needs and evangelism resources.

3. Big Day “Big Days” are recurring cultural moments in the year that can be used to invite people to church, including Easter. For the Spring Outreach Strategy, Big Day is April 20, which is Easter, a natural high attendance Sunday.

4. Statewide Baptism Sunday Churches are invited to mark April 27, 2025, the Sunday after Easter, as a day of celebrating decisions made through Serve Local and Big Day.

Register to participate and stay up-to-date on new resources for the Spring Outreach Strategy

Join Sam Roberts and Clint Ritchie as they begin year 2 of their podcast with a look at the advantages of normative sized churches.

Listen now