By Anthony Crocker, President • BMA of Arkansas
On Thursday, Nov. 6, the Baptist Missionary Association of Arkansas will hold its 76th annual meeting. We’re looking forward to gathering under the theme, “For the Sake of the Name,” taken from III John 7. Here’s what you need to know as you make plans to attend.
Please allow me the liberty to make an appeal to all our churches. As a pastor, I know how full our schedules are, and as a partner on your Global Missions team, I understand the many demands on our ministries — both locally and globally. Yet I cannot overstate how important it is for your church to attend local, state and national meetings. These gatherings are vital opportunities to stay connected, encouraged and informed. They are the primary way our departments provide full transparency to the churches that support them. It is our best means of being informed not only how they are stewarding the resources God is providing them through the churches, but also how we can best serve them further. Please make every effort to send at least your pastor. Remember, each church may have up to three messengers.
To simplify schedules this year, we will use a single-day meeting format. There will be general sessions at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and a final session following the annual message that evening. We’re asking everyone to stop by the registration table early, since this year’s sessions begin in the afternoon. This will help both you and our Enrollment and Finance team that serves the churches so wonderfully every year.
A final schedule for our meeting will be in next week’s Baptist Trumpet, and available at their table prior to our meeting. Other information can be found on the Baptist Trumpet at BaptistTrumpet.com/BMAArk2025.
For vendors interested in having a display at our meeting, our second vice president has already contacted all those who had displays last year. If you have not heard from him and are interested in reserving a table, please contact Derrick Bremer at derrick@dsmbc.org. He will be happy to assist you and help you get set up.
Speaking of Bro. Derrick, many of you have seen that he is in the missions pipeline with BMA Global and will not be available to serve as first vice president next year. That means we need to prayerfully consider how we will fill these important leadership roles. I am completing my second year as your president, which means I am not eligible to be reelected. Your first vice president has served one term in that role. Please make this a matter of prayer as you come.
Thank you to all the committees and departmental leaders for all they have done in preparing for the meeting. A special thanks to CBC Vice President for Advancement Duffy Guyton and the fantastic team at CBC for all they have already done to make our meeting possible. Please see Bro. Duffy’s previous articles for information about meeting hotels and logistics you need to consider as you arrive on the CBC campus next week (See the Sept. 24 and Oct. 22 issues or visit BaptistTrumpet.com/BMAArk2025).
Above all, please pray for your officers, department and ministry leaders, and one another as we come together “For the Sake of the Name” next week. May our time together renew our shared vision and strengthen our unity in Christ. May the Lord bless you and keep you.
