Annual Reports from BMA of Arkansas Department Directors

Youth Department Annual Report – By Dan Carson, Director

      Even a gift of $10 a month can make a huge difference in how we can support the work of full-time, part-time and volunteer youth workers in Arkansas and beyond.

      We have added two ministry offerings over the past year. Previously, we have been providing a weekly article on student ministry in the Baptist Trumpet. Those articles might make it up on our blog or not. We have taken the steps and are now offering those at StudentMinistryMatters.substack.com. You can subscribe to those and receive them in your inbox. Our other new offering is a partnership with Shaping Student Ministry for digital resources. The team at Shaping Student Ministry is all about resourcing student ministry workers for the task of impacting the next generation for Jesus with gospel-centered materials. You can find out about the partnership at shapingstudentministry.com/studentministrymatters. For $27 a month, you can have access to a number of lessons and other resources that are constantly being updated. In addition, a portion of each subscription fee will go directly back into the work of the BMA of Arkansas Youth Department.

      Our podcast continues to be an important way for us to fulfill our mission. The Student Ministry Matters podcast now has over 200 episodes and over 37,000 total downloads since its beginning in 2020. We continue to discuss important issues for student ministry workers as well as interview authors, influencers, and others with a heart for student ministry. It can be found atStudentMinistryMatters.podbean.com.

         Our retreat has continued to do well. The 2025 retreat was our eighth annual event, and Central Baptist College was once again kind enough to host us. Stephen Castleberry served as our featured speaker, with a focus on technology and student ministry. We had around 75 with us for the day. Temple Carson, Ian Dunaway and Stuart Estes led our breakout groups. The date for our ninth annual Student Ministry Workers Retreat is September 19, 2026. You can register at SMWR2026.eventbrite.com.

      As always, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in this role and consider it a privilege to invest in the student ministry efforts of the churches of the BMA of Arkansas and beyond. If your church doesn’t support our work, please consider even a small donation. If financial support isn’t a possibility, please simply remember to pray for us as we serve our churches and the next generation.

Baptist Trumpet Annual Report – By Jeff Herring, Executive Editor

The Value of the Trumpet

      If the Baptist Trumpet were to stop printing tomorrow, we would lose far more than a newspaper. We would lose a unifying voice — the heartbeat of our associational life and the thread that ties together every church, missionary, and ministry across the BMA.

      The Trumpet is more than printed pages — it’s people. It’s the missionary on the field who knows someone back home is praying. It’s the small church that celebrates when a new mission point is planted. It’s the bivocational pastor who finds encouragement from a fellow BMA leader. It’s the student who reads about Central Baptist College and begins to see a place where God might call them to learn and serve.

      Every missionary update, baptism report, and ministry story adds to our collective testimony, but more importantly, it stirs hearts to pray, to give, and to go. The Baptist Trumpet is our living archive, recording not just what we do, but who we are — a family of churches walking together in faith. That’s why the Trumpet still matters — not just for our association but for pastors who want to lead churches that stay connected to the mission God has called us to. Every issue gives pastors tools to strengthen missions awareness, deepen discipleship, and remind their people that they are part of something bigger than their own congregation.

Why It Still Matters

      For many of our readers, the Trumpet is their only connection to the work of our association. They may not have email or social media, but they still pray faithfully, give sacrificially, and care deeply about what God is doing through our churches and missionaries. The Trumpet reaches where digital communication often falls short — into real lives and real moments of faith. From kitchen tables to pastors’ studies to small-town congregations, it keeps believers personally connected to the mission God has given us.

      As one longtime subscriber recently shared, “The Trumpet keeps me connected to what God is doing, even when I can’t travel or attend meetings.”

      For pastors, it provides a pulse on what’s happening across our churches — stories that encourage, resources that equip, and reminders that we’re part of something larger than ourselves. When your members stay connected through the Trumpet, they better understand where their missions dollars go, celebrate victories beyond their own walls, and become more engaged in your church’s mission efforts. And when your people are more engaged, your church becomes more unified and mission-minded.

      While we continue to expand our digital presence, the printed Trumpet remains an irreplaceable ministry tool — connecting generations, preserving history, and sharing the gospel in tangible form.

The Reality We Face

      Our current operating budget is $387,000, and we continue to serve over 5,400 subscribers each week. Though the budget remains lean, we continue to see God’s provision through faithful readers, generous churches, and disciplined management — remaining current on all bills through careful stewardship and the grace of God. Every dollar we spend keeps pastors and churches informed, inspired, and connected to the mission — multiplying ministry beyond any single pulpit and ensuring no church is left isolated from the larger work God is doing.

      Our subscriber base — made up of churches just like yours — represents both our greatest strength and our greatest challenge. Nearly 90% of our readers still prefer print, and that preference matters deeply to our mission. Some assume that going digital-only could solve financial concerns, but the opposite is true. While printing costs are significant, eliminating print would cause an even greater loss in subscription income. Most readers would not transition to a digital-only format, resulting in a steep decline in both readership and revenue.

      Print remains the heart of our ministry because it reaches people who would otherwise be disconnected from what God is doing through the BMA. As long as it is feasible, we are committed to maintaining the printed edition of the Baptist Trumpet — one of the most effective tools we have to keep our churches informed, inspired, and involved.

      We recognize that the landscape of communication is changing — but our mission has not. That’s why we are committed to stewarding both the proven impact of print and the opportunities of digital connection. Even as we manage resources wisely, our commitment to innovation and mission remains unwavering.

      The challenges are real, but so are the opportunities. And opportunities are where faith meets action.

A Vision for the Future

      While print will remain the cornerstone of our ministry, the future of communication is increasingly digital. To reach new generations and expand our audience, we are developing a digital expansion strategy that will complement — not replace — our printed ministry.

         • Phase 1: Strengthen partnerships and visibility. Collaborate with ministries that excel in digital communication to strengthen our online presence and broaden our reach.

         • Phase 2: Maximize impact through repurposed digital content. Using AI tools to repurpose Trumpet content into short-form videos, graphics, and posts, allowing us to multiply impact with limited manpower.

         • Phase 3: Collaborate with Central Baptist College. Partnering with CBC students in communications and ministry through internships that help expand our digital footprint and engage younger audiences.

         • Phase 4: Offer premium digital content. By developing digital-only features, videos, and special series for subscribers, expanding our reach, and connecting new readers to the heart of our mission.

      This approach allows us to stay rooted in our heritage while preparing to engage the next generation of BMA members — those who might never hold a printed paper but still need to be connected to the mission. This strategy positions the Trumpet not merely to adapt, but to advance — connecting both long-time readers and the next generation to God’s mission. Each digital connection is another opportunity to share what God is doing and invite new generations into the mission. Every digital effort will still point back to the same message — the gospel work God is doing through our churches.

      We’re not abandoning what’s worked — we’re expanding what’s possible. The next chapter depends on whether we maintain or multiply — and that will require innovation for the future and faithfulness to the past.

A Legacy Worth Continuing

      The cooperative spirit that birthed this association still drives us today. They didn’t just want to print a paper — they wanted to unite a people. The same cooperative spirit that has sustained the Trumpet for more than 70 years now depends on pastors who still believe we’re stronger when we work together. When the Publications Committee was first formed in 1954, their vision was clear: “That the pastors of each local association select a man to promote the Baptist Trumpet in his association under the slogan, ‘The Baptist Trumpet in Every Home Represented in the Membership.’” Their vision was bigger than paper and ink — it was about unity and shared purpose.

      Now, over 70 years later, that same vision still drives us. Their vision built the foundation — ours must carry it forward. The tools have changed — ink and paper now share the stage with screens and social media — but the mission remains the same: to connect every home, every heart, and every church in our association to the work God is doing through the BMA.

      We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. They built the foundation, and we are called to build the future.

We Are Better Together

      Our future will depend on how we unite around that same cooperative spirit today. One of the great strengths of the BMA has always been our cooperative work — autonomous churches choosing to labor together for the sake of the gospel. Yet in recent years, many pastors and churches have become less engaged in associational work at every level — local, state, and national.

      The Baptist Trumpet exists to bridge that gap by strengthening the bonds between our churches and keeping our shared mission front and center. Each week, readers are reminded that they are not alone in the work of the gospel. Every article, report, and testimony connects pastors, missionaries, and members who may never meet in person but are united in purpose. When we stay informed, pray for one another, and celebrate what God is doing across our association, our fellowship grows stronger, our faith deepens, and our collective witness shines brighter.

      When a family in a small rural church reads about a missionary serving on the other side of the world, they don’t just read — they pray, give, and stay connected. A bivocational pastor finds encouragement in an article written by another leader, and it lifts his spirit. A young person reads about Central Baptist College or a missionary who once sat in those same chapel seats, and a seed of calling is planted that could grow into a lifetime of service. A senior adult sits at her kitchen table and prays through each name and ministry she reads about, knowing her small church is still making a global impact.

      When your members read about what God is doing across the BMA, they’re reminded that their prayers, giving, and service have eternal impact. Every issue of the Baptist Trumpet reminds us that the story God is writing through our churches is one story — His story — and we all have a part in it.

      For pastors who are weighing every ministry investment, I would encourage this perspective: connecting your people to the larger mission always pays off in ministry health. The investment you make in connecting your people will return lasting dividends in unity, understanding, and spiritual growth. An informed member is an involved member. When our people are connected, our churches and our association are stronger.

      That’s the mission of the Baptist Trumpet — to connect, to encourage, and to remind us that we truly are better together. Together, we make sure no church, no pastor, and no missionary ever feels alone in this work.

Recommendation: Rate Adjustment

      To continue providing the Baptist Trumpet’s current level of service and maintain a balanced budget, we are recommending a subscription rate adjustment:

         • Church Plan Rate: $67.50 annually ($1.50 per issue per member, billed monthly)

         • Individual Rate: $72 annually ($1.60 per issue — $6 per month)

       For less than the cost of a cup of coffee each week, readers receive 45 issues of the Baptist Trumpet every year — connecting them to news, encouragement, and ministry updates from across the BMA.

      This recommendation isn’t about increasing revenue; it’s about protecting a vital ministry. This adjustment ensures continued print quality, expanded digital development, and financial stability for years to come. The Baptist Trumpet is not a luxury — it’s an investment in the unity, communication, and long-term health of our associational family. The cost of continuing the Trumpet is far less than the cost of losing it. If the Trumpet ever went silent, we wouldn’t just lose a paper — we’d lose the rhythm of shared encouragement that reminds us we’re not alone in this work.

A Call to Action

      This is your ministry. To continue connecting our people to the mission, we need everyone to take ownership of this ministry. The Baptist Trumpet doesn’t belong to an office, a committee, or a staff — it belongs to every church and every believer who makes up the Baptist Missionary Association of Arkansas and beyond.

      This is where vision meets participation. The future of the Baptist Trumpet will not be secured by one person or one office, but by many churches standing together. Your partnership ensures the Trumpet remains the voice that connects, encourages, and unites our fellowship. When your church participates through a Church Plan, your members don’t just receive news. They gain a steady flow of encouragement and ideas that help them live out their faith in your church’s ministries.

      This isn’t about keeping a publication alive — it’s about keeping a mission connected. We’re not asking churches to take on another program; we’re inviting pastors to join in a partnership that strengthens every other ministry we share — because when our people are connected, every ministry grows stronger. This is about sustaining a ministry that will outlast us — one that will keep informing, inspiring, and involving believers long after our generation. When your church stays connected through the Trumpet, your members grow in awareness, prayer, and generosity toward what God is doing through the BMA.

         • Pastors and Leaders — Lead your church to stay connected through a Church Plan and keep your subscriber list current.

         • Churches — Include the Trumpet in your regular budget as a ministry investment, not just an expense.

         • Individuals — Pray for this ministry, promote it in your church, and consider giving special or regular offerings to help sustain the work.

         • Advocates — Every congregation needs at least one Trumpet Ambassador — someone who recruits subscribers and champions the importance of staying informed.

      If every pastor simply kept their church connected, this ministry would never struggle — and every church would stay stronger.

      Again, this isn’t about maintaining a newspaper. We don’t just publish a paper — we connect a people. This is about sustaining the ministry that keeps our churches informed, inspired, and involved — a ministry that strengthens our association and connects us to one another.

Dependence on God’s Providence

      And that brings me to our most important reality — our dependence on God’s providence. While this report acknowledges challenges, it also testifies to God’s faithfulness. The future of the Baptist Trumpet does not rest solely on our shoulders — it rests in His hands. He has sustained this ministry since 1939 through the faithfulness of His people, and we trust He will continue to do so as we remain obedient to His calling.

      We are not just looking for subscribers and support, but partners in the mission — people who see the Baptist Trumpet as more than a paper, but as a platform for what God is doing through our churches. Just as pastors trust God to provide for their churches, we trust Him to sustain this ministry that serves and supports those very same churches.

      As we move forward, we will continue to do what we’ve always done — inform, inspire, and involve our readers in the mission of the gospel. But we can only do that together — by prayer, by partnership, and by faith.

      May we each do our part to ensure 10 years from now, when someone asks, “Where do BMA churches get their news?” By God’s grace, the Baptist Trumpet will remain the heartbeat of our association — guiding, connecting, and celebrating His work among us.We believe the best days of the Baptist Trumpet are ahead — not because of what we can do, but because of what God will do through His people when we stay united on mission.

      Our churches, our missionaries, and our ministries are stronger when we stay connected — and the Trumpet exists to make that connection possible. To God be the glory, for what He has done, and what He will do through us together.

      May the Lord find us faithful, not just in what we print, but in how we partner. Every generation of the BMA has faced its own challenges, but when we’ve stayed united around the gospel, God has used that unity to do more than any one church could do alone. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and faithful support. Together, let’s keep telling His story — faithfully, boldly, and for His glory.

State Missions Annual Report — By Paul White, Executive Director

       We do not have any men being considered at this time, but we are preparing and praying for more soon. For this to happen, we need your help. Churches are born from churches, not the office. We only come alongside to help facilitate their success.

      I am currently working on a new approach to planting that we have not yet tried and will be presenting it to our Advisory Committee, hopefully by the end of the year. Once completed, we will share it with the Missionary Committee. Should they accept this new approach, it will be brought to the whole body. This plan will involve sending two- or three-man teams to a location to help meet the needs of a new, developing ministry. Yes, while it will mean we may not have as many started at the same time, the odds of its success will be tremendously increased through a team environment, as well as being able to accomplish this in a much faster time period. Two are better than one. More details are coming.

      Financially, we are holding our own, maintaining healthy balances in both the general and Revolving Loan Fund Inc. accounts. This is made possible through your generous offerings and your love for souls, as well as the establishment of new churches.

      On a sad note, we are having some of our churches disband and shut their doors. And while this is heartbreaking, I am truly humbled by their desire that any remaining funds and proceeds from the sale of their property be reinvested in the Lord’s work through the ministry of State Missions. May we be mindful to pass on what is God’s to His ministries.

      I remember the late I.V. Hight sharing with me how he prayed that one day he would receive a larger-than-life donation to further the work. I, like him, can only imagine the souls that might be reached through such an offering. Just thought I would ask you to join me in prayer, after all, you have not for you asked not.

      For the Sake of Souls.

Central Baptist College Annual Report — By Dr. Jeremy Langley, President

Fall Enrollment

      The most exciting news I have to share with you this year concerns our enrollment. After more than a decade of steady enrollment decline, it brings me great pleasure to report that our 2025 Fall enrollment reflects an increase in total enrollment and a few new records. Total enrollment has increased to 570, a 4.2% increase over last fall. Within that number, we have 509 traditional students, representing an increase of 8.5% from last fall. Our concurrent high school enrollment numbers have increased substantially to 72, representing an 18% growth. Our PACE and online studies program remains a weak spot in our enrollment. PACE (Professional Adult College Education) is a program designed to allow working adults to complete a college degree. This fall, we have 61 PACE and online students, representing a 21.8% decrease from last fall.

      Our strong enrollment numbers are a direct reflection of the excellent work of the CBC Office of Admissions and the entire Enrollment Management Division. God blessed their efforts, allowing us to see 177 new students this fall, 130 of whom are first-time freshmen. The 2025 freshman class is 21.9% larger than the the 2024 class.

Campus Housing

      As a result of our strong enrollment numbers, campus housing is stretched beyond capacity. The number of students living on campus grew by 26% this fall, with 205 students living in Dickson Hall and our upperclassmen houses. This breaks the previous record of 186 students living on campus. One week before move-in day, we were scrambling to purchase more beds! We even rented two houses from private homeowners to meet the demand for housing.

Accreditation

      I am pleased to report that the Higher Learning Commission has reaffirmed and continued CBC’s accreditation following a lengthy review process this spring. CBC has held regional accreditation since 1993, and this designation is crucial to our ability to offer a high-quality higher education.

Upcoming Events for Your Youth

      With such exciting enrollment news, I hope you will help us keep the momentum going. We would love to host high school students from your churches at one of three Stampede Preview Days scheduled for this academic year (October 8, November 12 and March 4). Our preview days allow students to learn about CBC, sit in on classes, eat in our dining hall and attend a chapel service. We also invite your youth groups to participate in Youth Group Day on Saturday, February 21, 2026. This will be a fun-filled day, featuring games, information about CBC and a Mustang basketball game. Preview days and Youth Group Day are free to attend.

      We are also excited to continue our WOW (Worship on Wednesday) events. WOW brings church youth groups together on the CBC campus for a Wednesday night worship service. It is a great opportunity for the youth of our association to fellowship, worship Christ in song and hear powerful preaching. Our team also loves to hold WOW events off-campus. If you are interested in hosting a regional WOW event at your church, please let us know.

Campus Life

      With so many students on campus, we have placed a renewed emphasis on campus life. Our greatest desire is to see our students grow spiritually while at CBC, and we all know an idle mind does not contribute to spiritual growth. Through wholesome campus activities, social gatherings, and Bible studies, we hope to see a greater sense of community and spiritual growth on campus.

      Campus life is centered around the Word of God through our weekly chapel services. Held each Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Burgess Auditorium, these corporate worship services are my favorite part of the week. This semester’s theme is “Press On: How the Gospel Shapes Our Future.” Students are hearing from phenomenal BMA pastors and missionaries about how living a life anchored in the gospel propels us to God’s best for us. Please pray for our students each Wednesday at 1 p.m. that their hearts may be open and receptive to the Gospel, and that they may be drawn closer to Christ.

CBC Finances

      Over the summer, I met with pastors across the state in meetings we called “Together for the Future.” The idea behind the theme remains true. The future of CBC depends on CBC and the churches of the BMA of Arkansas working together towards a common mission.

      During our summer meetings, I shared about the critical state of the college’s finances. While CBC’s financial struggles may have been the “worst-kept secret in the BMA,” it was evident that few understood the severity of what we were facing. Today, I bring you a different report. Although we have a long way to go, CBC’s finances are stabilizing, and we are in a better position than we have been in several years.

      Over the summer, God provided for our needs on a day-by-day basis. He used churches and individuals to accomplish this feat. Additionally, the Board of Trustees allowed me to sell land the college owned outside our main target area. These funds were used to pay past-due invoices we could not previously afford to pay. We started the semester, caught up on all bills, and had a little bit of money in the bank! To God be the glory!

      CBC is not out of the woods by any means. We will continue to steward the resources with which we have been entrusted very conservatively. Several churches have committed to increasing their monthly support of CBC. Some churches that had lapsed in their giving have renewed their support, and others have taken special offerings for the college during this time. If your church has the ability to increase its support to CBC or renew its support if it is not currently giving, I humbly ask that you consider doing so. I give you my word that we will be good stewards of the resources with which you entrust us, and I will always provide complete transparency any time you desire it.

      CBC began in 1952 as an associational project, and we desperately need the renewed support of the association to continue our mission of “transforming lives through education that integrates Christian faith and academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment.”

CBC Day — September 28, 2025

      Thank you to the churches that agreed to host a CBC Day this year! We were thrilled to have 112 churches participate this year. While CBC Day was officially recognized as September 28, many churches choose to hold CBC Day on other Sundays throughout the year. CBC Day gives churches of the BMA a dedicated time to pray for CBC and promote the College to their congregations. Vice President for Advancement Duffy Guyton or I would be happy to visit your church to share about the great things happening at CBC. For more information about CBC Day, please visit cbc.edu/churchrelations.

Scholarship Gala

      Please make plans to join us for the Seventh Annual Scholarship Gala on Friday, March 6, 2026. The event will be held at Antioch Baptist Church in Conway. It will feature a keynote address from Dr. Jonathan Falwell, senior pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va., and chancellor of Liberty University. Dr. Falwell is the son of the late Jerry Falwell. This annual event raises funds to support student scholarships. With the cost of higher education rising each year, we work diligently to ensure that the students of the BMA have access to a Christ-centered, conservative, and affordable college degree.

Thank You

      An outstanding Board of Trustees serves CBC. As 2025 comes to a close, Ali Chambers, Jim Fink and Kellie Harper will reach the end of their terms. We are thankful for the way these individuals have selflessly served CBC over the last five years.

      I also want to thank the churches of the BMA. Your support makes what we do possible. I invite you to visit campus at your convenience. Join me for lunch in the Dining Hall, or let me take you for a cup of coffee at Cafe 52. Spending time on campus will allow you to see first-hand that we are who we say we are — Christian, Conservative and Affordable.

      CBC is your college, and as president, I want to be accessible to you. If we can help you or your church at any time, please do not hesitate to reach out.