EWS
Telling the story of Arkansas Baptists since 1901
Inside:
37 saved at ‘Day in Delta’
– Eureka Springs affirms LGBT ordinance – Rodgers ‘born to be Mother of Year’ – Huckabee starts run from Hope Centennial Association, local churches make a difference – NWA missionary jailed, shares Christ – Three generations baptized together page 8
May 21, 2015
Volume 114, Number 10
IMB opens door to new pathways for service
A Centennial Baptist Association volunteer makes balloon art for a girl during a block party, which was part of the association’s “Day in the Delta” mission day April 11. Centennial Baptist Association partnered with Second Baptist Church (Park Avenue), Helena-West Helena, to put on the event. See related story, Page 8. Photo by Tammy Albrecht
DR responds in Arkansas and Oklahoma ARKANSAS Baptist disaster relief (DR) teams were deployed to southwest Arkansas and parts of Oklahoma in the aftermath of storms that swept through the state on May 10. Two people were killed in a mobile home park in Nashville when a possible tornado passed through the region. Two other residents of the park were critically injured during the storm, according to media reports. Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) missions team member Michelle Hendrix said disaster relief teams were sent May 11 to aid areas affected by the storms. “We have deployed assessors, a chaplain, Arkansas Valley Baptist Association skid steer and Nashville and Southwest Arkansas Baptist Association recovery teams,” Hendrix
said in an email to ABSC staff. Much of the state remained under a flash flood watch for several days following the storms. Entergy Arkansas reported that 8,000 Arkansans were without power, with most of the outages being in Columbia, Clay, Conway, Nevada, Pope and Saline counties, according to the Arkansas DemocratGazette. Bob Brown, a member of Hot Springs Baptist Church, reported that his home on Treasure Isle in Lake Hamilton received more than 3 inches of rain during the storm, which caused the lake to rise nearly 3 feet. Brown said Treasure Isle, and other areas of the lake were impassable until the lake receded. Brown also reported that Little Mazarn Creek, south-
POSTAL INFORMATION
west of Hot Springs, was flooded and impassible. The ABSC deployed five DR teams (Little River Baptist Association, Southwest Baptist Association, Arkansas Valley Baptist Association, Bartholomew Baptist Association and Centennial Baptist Association) to Nashville May
See DR page 2
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Citing missionary serving through urgency for reaching a lost any pathway created by IMB world and unity with the Bap- to mobilize Southern Baptists tist Faith and Message, Inter- to share the gospel with unnational Mission Board (IMB) reached people. trustees streamlined guidelines “When you hear ‘pathway,’ for appointing new personnel think ‘possibilities’ – all the to fulfill their missionary call- possible ways that people in ing at its May 12-13 trustee the pews of Southern Baptist meeting in Louisville, Ky. churches might serve overseas: God is worthy of the wor- as doctors, teachers, accounship of all people, yet billions tants, lawyers, fitness instruchave yet to hear the good news tors, rickshaw drivers, stuof the gospel, IMB dents, retirees,” Platt President David Platt told trustees. has reiterated to South“We’re t alking ern Baptists since being about limitless poselected in 2014. In sibilities that God February 2015, trusthas providentially arees approved a simpliranged for His people fied structure with the to go around the world goal of empowering with the gospel. And Platt limitless teams of misas the IMB, we want sionaries to make disciples to send Southern Baptists and multiply churches among through as many pathways as unreached people, explained possible, which necessitates Platt. that we open up the pipeline Toward this end, the IMB for people to come through aims to provide multiple path- those pathways.” ways in which missionaries Prior to the May board of may serve on these teams, and trustees meeting, miscellaeach will involve specific quali- neous policies existed for cafications, said Platt. The newly reer, apprentice, Journeyman, revised policy creates a unified ISC and Masters program statement of qualifications that will characterize every See IMB page 2
Horne leaves Ouachita for AICU post ARKADELPHIA – Rex M. by the work performed by our Horne Jr., 61, president of faculty and staff. The sense of Ouachita Baptist University calling and commitment to since 2006, has announced duty has been evident on the his resignation as campus. Our students president effective are difference-makers. this summer to serve I will treasure the time as president of Arthe Lord allowed me kansas’ Independent to serve here. Our Colleges and Uniprayers, continued versities (AICU). He interest and desire to succeeds Ouachita help remain strong.” alumnus Rex NelDuring his tenure Horne son, who has been as Ouachita’s 15th named director of corporate president, Horne led efforts communications for Sim- to strengthen the university’s mons First National Corp. financial standing, including “My nine-plus years at launching the Defining the Ouachita have been very Difference capital campaign. rewarding,” Horne said. “I Other achievements include have been most impressed providing leadership for sever-
al significant improvements to the physical campus, including such major projects as the Student Village residence halls dedicated in 2009 and Cliff Harris Stadium dedicated in 2014. Horne holds degrees from Lyon College, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Becky, are the parents of four adult children and have 11 grandchildren. Prior to serving as president of Ouachita, Horne served 16 years as senior pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock.