By Mike Book, President • BMA of Arkansas
Greetings, BMA of Arkansas family. August in Arkansas is always scorching hot, but it also means we are closing in on fall — the time of year when the weather cools, and the churches of the BMA of Arkansas meet!
The 77th annual meeting of the BMA of Arkansas will be held Thursday-Friday, Nov. 5-6, at Central Baptist College in Conway. This year’s theme is “Into His Harvest,” drawn from Matt. 9:36-38. Just before those verses, Jesus had gone through the cities and villages teaching, preaching, and healing. When He looked at the multitudes, He was moved with compassion because they “fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matt. 9:36). Jesus then made two observations and a request: the harvest is plenteous, the laborers are few, and His disciples should pray for the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His harvest.
Our Lord’s words were true of the people and the world He saw, and they are still true of the people and the world we see today:
• The harvest is plentiful — there are lost souls in the shadow of all our steeples.
• The laborers are few — attendance has declined in many of our churches over the last few years, and some churches have even closed their doors.
• We need to pray — “Lord, help us be more effective laborers, and please send more laborers into Your harvest.”
These observations and this request were prompted by Jesus’ compassion for the people. Our hearts must be moved as His heart was and is. People all around us are weary and scattered and desperately need the great Shepherd of the sheep. Let’s get “Into His Harvest.”
The 77th annual meeting of the BMA of Arkansas will return to a two-day schedule. While the one-day format was efficient, it did not increase attendance as hoped. This year’s schedule will provide more time for fellowship and include one large breakout session featuring Good Soil evangelism training, with the goal of increasing both the effectiveness and number of laborers going “Into His Harvest.” Dr. Tim Brewer will bring the annual message in the Thursday evening session, with Harold Smith serving as alternate.
More information and a detailed schedule will be published in a future issue of the Baptist Trumpet, but please add the meeting to your calendar now and plan to be with us as we partner together in the work of this association. As in past years, the state WMA and Brotherhood will meet in conjunction with the association meeting. We especially encourage every BMA of Arkansas church to make plans to be represented as we gather for worship, fellowship, training, and the work of our association.
Every BMA of Arkansas church enrolled before the annual meeting is allowed three voting messengers, each of whom must be a member of that congregation. Additionally, if your church intends to present any recommendations or proposed changes to our Principles of Cooperation, please submit them in writing to the clerk and me before the First General Session.
As in past years, we encourage our churches to consider increasing their contributions to the Minute Fund. Rising costs have placed additional strain on these funds, and your consideration and generosity would be greatly appreciated. Be blessed and stay tuned to the Baptist Trumpet for more details as we draw closer to the meeting.
