Arkansas Baptists gather to ‘Follow’
By Mary Alford, Arkansas Baptist News
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas Baptists gathered in Russellville Oct. 20-21 for the 172nd annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) at First Baptist Church.
The theme for this year’s annual meeting, “Follow,” captures the challenge of Ephesians 5:1, “Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children.” As of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, there were 510 registered messengers representing more than 200 churches in attendance at the meeting.
Several items of business were conducted such as the election of convention officers and ABSC team, agency and institution reports. The convention sermon was delivered by Ryan Johnson, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Elkins, Ark. Attendees also heard messages shared by ABSC Executive Director Mark Dance and Ed Newton, lead pastor of Community Bible Church in San Antonio.
Election of officers
Messengers elected Laramie LeQuieu, pastor of Harvest Baptist Church in Paragould, Ark., as president of the ABSC; Kelly Jones, senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Monticello, Ark., as first vice president; and Reid Terry, lead pastor at Lonoke Baptist Church, as second vice president.
Additionally, Bill Panneck, senior executive pastor at Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Ark., was elected chair of the Executive Board of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.
Approval of new budget formula, 2026 budget and goals
Upon recommendation from the Executive Board, messengers on Tuesday approved the ABSC 2026-2028 budget formula, which allocates 59% of Cooperative Program (CP) funds to state causes, 40% to Southern Baptist Convention causes, and 1% to the International Mission Board.
This is a change from last year’s allocation of 46.06 to national CP, with the remainder staying in Arkansas.
“We want to steward those dollars well and do the best we can here in Arkansas,” ABSC Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Patrick Henry said Tuesday morning during the treasurer’s report.
Additionally, messengers approved the 2026 ABSC Cooperative Program (CP) budget of $20 million (down from last year’s $21 million) as well as the 2026 goals of the ABSC Executive Board teams.
To view all Executive Board recommendations, including the budget formula and 2026 budget, in full, click here.
Messengers pass two motions
Jimmie Sheffield made a motion to dedicate the 2025 annual in memory of Dr. Don Moore, a former ABSC executive director who died Oct. 14. Moore served as the executive director of the ABSC from 1982 to 1995.
Sheffield reflected on the life and ministry of Moore, stating that “only eternity will tell the number of people impacted by the life of Bro. Don Moore.”
The second motion, made by Ryan Scantling, pastor at East Side Baptist Church in Fort Smith, Ark., was for the convention to establish a task force, to be appointed by the next elected president of the ABSC, “to make recommendations to this body on ways to strengthen and increase support of Baptist Collegiate Ministries in our state, with a report to be presented at the next annual meeting. In accordance with ABSC bylaws, any expenditure of funds from the Executive Board budget related either to the work of the task force or to any recommendations in the report must first be approved by the Executive Board.”
Recordings of the ABSC 2025 annual meeting can be found on the Arkansas Baptist State Convention YouTube Channel.
Nevada churches link arms to quench lostness
By Karen L. Willoughby, Baptist Press
LAS VEGAS — The growing sense of unity among Nevada’s Southern Baptist churches is no accident.
Ever since Damian Cirincione was called as executive director of the Nevada Baptist Convention in September 2021, he has been developing ways to draw Nevada pastors together, providing spaces where they can gather as a community while learning from and encouraging each other. This has allowed deeper friendships to be built.
“We’ve been talking for years about the importance of unity,” Cirincione told Baptist Press. “I felt at this annual meeting that partnerships were truly displayed and that comes out of the unity that has taken place through linking arms together for the sake of the Gospel.”
The Nevada Baptist Convention (NBC) gathered for its 46th annual meeting Oct. 13-14 at Southern Hills Church in Las Vegas with a theme of “Stronger Together” and a scriptural basis of Romans 12:6.
Events started with a Monday afternoon prayer summit led by Paul Meldrum, Mountain West regional director for the 6:4 Fellowship, a multi-denominational network of praying pastors.
Interspersed with worship and messages were reports from several Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) entities and Nevada state convention staff.
Business consisted of passage of a $921,676 in-state budget for 2026, up $74,119 from last year’s $847,557.
Nevada Southern Baptists voted for the second year for 25% ($179,780) of its Cooperative Program (CP) income from churches — $719,121 — to be forwarded for global Cooperative Program missions and ministries. Last year’s CP income from churches was budgeted at $775,468; its allocation for global CP giving was $193,867.
Through August, CP gifts from churches were up 13%. A vision team is being formed to draft a five-to-10-year strategic vision for the future of the Nevada Baptist Convention.
Two new officers were elected for one-year terms: President Jim Disbro, pastor of First Baptist Church of Battle Mountain, and Vice President Adam Mallette, pastor of Kings Church in Las Vegas.
“There is such beauty in partnership,” Cirincione told messengers in his executive director’s report. “It’s the heartbeat of who we are. These moments [at the annual meeting] remind us that partnership works and something powerful happens: the kingdom of God advances!”
Cirincione said he was including in his words the partnerships that have blessed Nevada — SBC entities like the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board, Send Relief, seminaries and Nevada directors of mission, plus a partnership with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and more.
Personal renewal — of the pastor as well as the congregation — fuels church awakening, Cirincione continued. Healthy churches share resources, wisdom and encouragement with other congregations in need.
Cirincione spoke words of gratitude and honor for two women on his office staff. Staff accountant Janice Trotter announced her retirement after 13 years with NBC. Administrative assistant (and pastor’s wife) Jess Schmidt resigned after seven years to homeschool her youngsters and serve in her church.
“Janice was a steady hand, faithful servant,” the executive director said. “Jess served with heart and joy. Both women served well, loved well and left a lasting mark on the Nevada Baptist Convention.”
The executive director recognized new pastors and the addition of two churches: Grace Bible Fellowship in Las Vegas, where Allen Stansberry is pastor, and Favor City Church in Henderson, where Joseph Gibbons is pastor.
“We had two church plants launch this year,” Send Nevada Director Josh Carter told messengers. “There are 11 active church plants across the state, and more in the pipeline.”
The annual meeting drew 109 messengers from 39 of Nevada’s 176 churches, and many guests.
Four ministry workshops followed the close of the annual meeting Tuesday afternoon. The workshops focused on prayer, faithfulness, trusting God and Newfoundland ministry.
“Our greatest problem is lostness,” Cirincione concluded. “It boils down to mobilization. We thank God for what He has done this past year, but we look ahead to greater collaboration, deeper discipleship and new churches being planted that will shine for Christ in the darkest of places.”
The 45th annual meeting of the Nevada Baptist Convention is set for Oct. 13-14, 2026, at South Reno Baptist Church, where Joe Taylor is pastor.
