ASMP

arkansas state mission project

jeff neeley

Promotional Director

The Arkansas State Mission Project is a mission ministry of the First Baptist Church in Cave City, Arkansas.

Purpose – The purpose of the Arkansas State Mission Project is to join together the Missionary Baptist Churches of the State of Arkansas to partner with each other to help financially with providing of property and buildings for missions.  This includes mission works, the planting of a local church, reaching college campuses through student fellowships, and youth/student church camps worldwide. All mission works, church plants, college student fellowships, and campgrounds are considered to be missions by First Baptist Church.

Request Guidelines – Requests must be submitted to First Baptist Church from June 1st to July 15th for the fourth and first quarters and December 1st to January 15th for the second and third quarters.  Requests for the Brotherhood Mutual dividend funds need to be submitted from June 1st to July 15th as well. All requests will be reviewed for qualification and First Baptist Church will determine who receives funds. Requests for ASMP funds for mission works, church plants, and student fellowships must come from the sponsoring or sending church stating what the funds will be used for.  Requests for ASMP funds for church campgrounds and facilities must come from a board or trustee chairman stating what the funds will be used for. 

At the time of requests for funds, projects to be funded must be approved by the sponsoring or sending church and proper authorities if located within a city or area where projects must be approved. Projects to be funded must be underway at the time of requests.

All land and buildings must be under the ownership of the sponsoring or sending church reequesting on behalf of mission works, church plants, and student fellowships. Church camp land and facilities must be under the ownership of the American Baptist Association, State Association of Missionary Baptist Churches of Arkansas, or local association(s) that fellowship within the American Baptist and/or the Arkansas State associations.

If property or buildings fall under the ownership of the mission work, church plant, or student fellowship, requests must still be made by sending church.

ASMP funds are not intended to be banked for an extended time but should be utilized immediately for the project the funds were approved for.

ASMP funds can be used for the purchase of property on which to build a house of worship or the purchase of an existing building or erection of a new building as a house of worship. Funds can also be used for furnishings for such buildings or for paying the indebtedness of such buildings. ASMP funds cannot be used for any remodeling purposes.

In the event funds are approved for an existing debt and there are excess funds after the debt is satisfied, excess funds shall be returned to First Baptist Church to be given to other projects at their discretion. If no request is made for funds by the deadlines, mentioned before, that quarters funds will be rolled over to the next quarter.

It is strongly encouraged by First Baptist Church of Cave City that churches requesting ASMP funds be supporters of the ASMP prior to requesting funding. First Baptist Church of Cave City can take this into consideration when a request is made for project funds. It is also encouraged that requesting churches and those missions who have received ASMP funds continue to support ASMP after no longer needing project funds.

First Baptist Church of Cave City, Arkansas reserves the right to renew and amend these guidelines at their discretion.

The June 1st to July 15th deadline is for the fourth and first quarters, the fourth quarter will be presented to a qualifying State Mission work.

The first quarter will be presented to a qualifying United States Mission work.

Requests for Brotherhood Mutual funds need to be received during this time too.

The December 1st to January 15th deadline is for the second and third quarters, the second quarter will be presented to a qualifying State Mission work.

The third quarter will be presented to a qualifying International Mission work.

Please note: all mission work requests are to be sent and sponsored by a Missionary Baptist Church within the state of Arkansas.

If there is more than one request for a quarter, then each request meeting the guideline will receive an equal portion of the funds.

 

If there are no qualifying requests for a United States Mission Work or an International Mission Work, funds will be distributed within the state of Arkansas.

 
(November 21, 2023)
 
OUR SPONSORING CHURCH
First Baptist Church of Cave City has sponsored ASMP since 1975.  This mission minded church associates in the Spring River Association, the State Association of Missionary Baptist Churches, and the American Baptist Association.  In addition to ASMP, First Baptist sponsors and supports several other mission works.  The pastor is Bro. Ron Canard.  The church has a missionary committee which meets regularly and makes recommendations to the church concerning ASMP and other mission works supported by the church.
 
OUR HISTORY
     In 1975, Bro. Ottie Brown, who was pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church of Cave City, Arkansas, led the church to set up and sponsor ASMP.  Over the years ASMP has helped many works in Arkansas with money being given to sponsoring churches to help buy land, build buildings, or pay off the debts of their mission works.  From the first quarterly offering in 1975, which was $1,000, the quarterly offerings have grown to where ASMP is now giving over $30,000 each quarter to the project goal.
 
OUR PROMOTIONAL DIRECTOR     
From 1985 until 2004 Bro. Edgar N. “Eddie” Sutton served as the promotional director for ASMP.  Bro. Sutton was sponsored by Winan Missionary Baptist Church of Hot Springs and co-sponsored by First Baptist Church of Cave City.  He did a wonderful job of promoting the work.  During his 18 years as promotional director, the work grew as God blessed his efforts.  Bro. Sutton resigned the work effective December 31, 2003.
 
October 12, 2003 First Baptist Church of Cave City called Bro. James Calhoun to be the new promotional director beginning January 1, 2004.  Bro. Calhoun most recently pastored Baring Cross Missionary Baptist Church in Arkadelphia from August, 1984 until October, 2003.  He is sponsored by First Baptist Church and supported by designated offerings from Missionary Baptist Churches throughout the state.  Bro. Calhoun and his wife, Linda, moved their membership to First Baptist Church of Cave City, but continued to live in Arkadelphia and travel to their weekly appointments from there.  At the end of 2019, Bro. Calhoun resigned his position due to his deteriorating health condition.
 
Bro. Jeff Neeley accepted the position of promotional director for ASMP on January 26, 2020.  Bro. Jeff, his wife, T.C., children Dillon and Sarah are members of  First Baptist Church in Cave City and live in the area.  Bro. Neeley is sponsored by First Baptist Church and supported by designated offerings from Missionary Baptist Churches throughout Arkansas.
 

Brotherhood Mutual contributes to ASMP money not paid out in claims from the premiums for insuring many of our ABA Churches and Facilities.  For more information about Brotherhood Mutual, click their icon.