The BMA of Arkansas
I was just thinking about the upcoming meeting of the Baptist Missionary Association of Arkansas that will convene on the campus of Central Baptist College next Thursday and Friday, Nov. 7-8. I urge pastors and members of BMA churches to attend. Yes, there is a lot of business, but there is also great worship, wonderful fellowship and extreme purpose.
I’m Glad to be in the BMA!
I grew up in a BMA of Arkansas church in Ashdown. I attended a BMA college, Central Baptist College in Conway. I have pastored 4 BMA churches in Arkansas over a period of 59 of my 60 years in ministry. I have served as a BMA of Arkansas leading in the planting of Chenal Valley Baptist Church in West Little Rock. I am truly glad to be a BMA Baptist.
Ministries of the BMA of Arkansas
Thursday evening and Friday morning, the BMA of Arkansas messengers will hear from the ministries supported by the association of churches. Those ministries are the Baptist Trumpet, Master’s Builders, State Brotherhood, State WMA, Central Baptist College, BMA of Arkansas State Youth Department and BMA of Arkansas Missions.
So many of our churches in the state association began as missions. The church where Karen and I remain members (Chenal Valley, Little Rock) would not exist had it not been for the combined support of the BMA of Central Arkansas and the BMA of Arkansas. What began with eight people is a thriving church needing to expand its facilities. Thank you, BMA churches, for your prayer support and giving.
Many pastors have received their education from Central Baptist College. Missionaries who have served and those who are serving around the world today were educated at Central Baptist College. However, CBC is no longer a “preachers’ school.” She has produced doctors, attorneys, coaches, business leaders and many more occupations, all the students received spiritual influence from Christian administrators, staffs and faculties.
The State Youth Department, Student Ministry Matters, provides spiritual guidance, times of fellowship and desires to pursue a path of Christan service in their future. Many of those students also attend Central Baptist College.
The Baptist Trumpet is the largest, most circulated periodical of the BMA of America. While you are reading this, thousands of others are also reading it. It is a ministry of information that our churches need to know.
The Stalwart Biblical Stance of the BMA of Arkansas
Honestly, I would never want to be a member of a church that is aligned with any other group of churches. Today, among many Baptist groups, there is a falling away from the important standards outlined in God’s Word. I am so glad to be part of the BMA of Arkansas and BMA of America. By the way, via the BMA of America, our churches have a tremendous Global Missions ministry, and Lifeword Media Ministries is one of the largest Christian broadcast ministries reaching people in hundreds of different languages.
While we hold to the teaching of God’s Word, and every church must align with our Doctrinal Statement, we hold to the biblical position that each church is autonomous and not under the oversight of any council. Our churches and the individuals in them have the privilege of designating their offerings to the various ministries, not to a board that distributes them at will.
Come, Let Us Meet Together
I urge each church to send messengers to the BMA of Arkansas meeting. Why? Because it is important that each church knows why they give support and what is being accomplished due to their support. Come, let us meet together!
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Dr. Tom Mitchell
Dr. Tom Mitchell pens a column titled, Just Thinking, in which he addresses many topics relative to the Baptist Missionary Association. His Trailblazers series provides biographies of many BMA trailblazers from the past.
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