Building a Better Arkansas
On Monday, December 12, Arkansas Baptist Children & Family Ministries hosted the Grand Opening of our new Central Office, which included a dedication and ribbon-cutting. Over 400 people joined us for the occasion.
The staff has been tirelessly working to transform Markham Street Baptist Church, our ministry’s largest non-cash gift, into our statewide hub to greater serve the families of our state.
“We’re not celebrating a building; we are celebrating a vision. Together, we’re united because of a shared vision. We have a vision of a better Arkansas. We have a vision of an Arkansas with healthy families,” stated Dr. Derek Brown, our executive director, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, “We pray that every square inch of this building is used for that vision… We pray God will do work that exceeds any one of us because we’ve come together with our resources, and we’ve shared what God gave us, and we believe together that God will build a better Arkansas.”
Arkansas First Lady, Susan Hutchinson, was in attendence, as well as representatives of local and statewide DCFS, donors, board members, and special friends of the ministry. We are so grateful to those who were able to celebrate with us and experience this conception of this vision for Arkansas Baptist Children & Family Ministries. God is at work on behalf of the families across Arkansas and we give Him the glory for how He is working through us to help carry out His mission. It is only possible because of the faithful support of our partners.
This headquarters will expand our reach of ministry across Arkansas. This location serves as a new Living Well Counseling location, the space to train advocates for Desired Haven Family Care and to train foster parents, as well as Connected Foster Care and Adoption’s Resource Center. This Resource Center houses a Birthday Party Room, for children in foster care to have memorable birthday party celebrations, along with a Toy Store for foster and bio parents to give their children new gifts for those occasions. The center also includes Family Visit Rooms can happen here providing nurturing space for biological families with children in foster care. The Resource Center has items from car seats to toiletries, for new placements or other needs that foster families have. Going forward, this location will also serve as the main campus for Explorers Academy, a trauma-informed preschool launching in June 2023.
From our staff to you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for joining us in celebration of what God is doing for the children and families across Arkansas and for our ministry. Your support makes this possible.