Despite robbery, food pantry thrives
BENTON, Ark. (BP)–Although thieves cleaned out a church’s food pantry, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. “God has a way sometimes of opening a window if a door is closed,” said Bob Ray, a member of Congo Road Church in Benton, Ark., who manages the pantry with his wife. “The Lord has […]
Disaster relief at their doorstep
CORNING, Ark. (BP)–The Current-Gaines Baptist Association in Arkansas unveiled a new disaster relief feeding unit last year to help those affected by Mother Nature’s fury. They never dreamed they would be the first victims. “We sure didn’t expect this,” association missionary Don Settles said of his community that was hard hit by a massive ice […]
Ministry helps collegians continue in faith
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Alana Blackwell was a junior in high school when a friend at church invited her to hang out with a group of Baptist college students at Louisiana State University. Blackwell, a future LSU Tiger herself, jumped at the opportunity to build relationships with the collegians. For the next two years, Blackwell frequently met […]
Home, vehicles gone but pastor thanks God
CLINTON, Ark. (BP)--A concrete slab is all that remains of Arkansas pastor Kyle Blanton's home after an EF-4 tornado leveled the parsonage as he and his family huddled together inside.
Ouachita grad, on ‘American Idol,’ stirs talk about his faith
BRYANT, Ark. (BP)--What started out as a joke of sorts has landed an Arkansas Baptist on television’s hit show “American Idol.”
Ark. governor, 6,400 others take stand for covenant marriages
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| Taking a stand Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and First Lady Janet Huckabee take part in a marriage covenant ceremony Feb. 14. Some 6,000 people attended the Little Rock event, which spotlighted covenant marriages. Dennis Rainey of FamilyLife performed the Huckabees' ceremony. Photo by Brett Prather |
“There is a crisis in America and we face it here in Arkansas,” the governor told the Valentine’s Day crowd of 6,400 at Alltel Arena. “That crisis is divorce. It is now getting to the point that it [divorce] almost equals the number of marriages.... When it is easier to get out of a marriage than get out of a contract to buy a used car, clearly something is wrong.”
Ark. Baptist soldier killed by enemy fire near Fallujah
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| 'Loving, compassionate & dedicated' 'Loving, compassionate & dedicated' Marine Cpl. Jason Clairday was killed by enemy fire in Iraq Dec. 12. His pastor at First Baptist Church in Salem, Ark., described him as loving, compassionate and dedicated. Clairday and his wife, Sarah, had been married since July 30. Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Baptist |
Marine Cpl. Jason S. Clairday, 21, was killed by enemy fire Dec. 12 in the Anbar province near Fallujah during what military officials called a "security and stabilization operation," according to a report in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Clairday and his wife, Sarah, members of First Baptist, were married July 30, just weeks before he left for Iraq.
"Jason was a loving, compassionate and dedicated young man," said John Hodges, pastor of First Baptist. "He was the type of boy that any parent would be glad to call their child."
Prior to enlisting in the Marines, Clairday had been very active in church life, Hodges said. He made a profession of faith while a member of the church youth group, sang in a traveling quartet and was involved in many youth ministries and activities.
Marriage amendment in Ark. moves toward Nov. ballot
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (BP)--It appears Arkansas citizens will vote on a state constitutional marriage amendment in November, thanks in part to the efforts of pro-family supporters opposing same-sex “marriage.”
Baptist among 5 soldiers from Ark. killed in Iraq
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (BP)--An Arkansas Baptist was among five Arkansas soldiers killed in Iraq April 24.
2 killed, 8 injured in church van accident
HAYS, Kan. (BP)--Arkansas Baptists Ann Cripps and Bridgette Millsap, members of First Baptist Church of Gentry, were killed in a church van accident early March 15 near Hays, Kan.
