A.R.M.

Southern Baptists on Mission in Appalachia

Building Bridges of Hope and Change Through Volunteer Missions

A.R.M. is a Cooperative Program ministry of the eleven Southern Baptist State Conventions of the A.R.M. region in partnership with the North American Mission Board and the Woman’s Missionary Union. A.R.M. is supported through CP Missions and the AAEO.

A.R.M. . . .
Works through the local Southern Baptist Associations.
Works to bring together mission volunteers, local churches, and events.
Helps bring needs and resources together.

Contact Us By Phone: 606-316-4298

By E-Mail: arm@arministry.org

By Mail:
Appalachian Regional Ministry

28 White Rock Road

Hurricane, WV 25526

Call for Shipping Address or ship to

28 White Rock Road

Hurricane, WV 25526

Appalachian Regional Ministry

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." - Jesus 1
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the gospel to the mountains." - Bible 2

1 - Matthew 9:37-38;

2 - Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15

Appalachian Regional Ministry is a Cooperative Program ministry of eleven Southern Baptist State Conventions in the ARM region in partnership with the North American Mission Board and the Woman's Missionary Union.

Purpose
Appalachian Regional Ministry is an intentional missions response to the spiritual and physical needs of persons living in the Appalachian region to mobilize Southern Baptists and their resources to provide ministries, to evangelize the lost, to assist existing churches and to start new churches in the multi-state region of Appalachia.

Vision
To accelerate missions and to strengthen and establish Southern Baptist work in Appalachia. Appalachian Regional Ministry will come along side existing state convention and associational strategies and processes to resource and accelerate missions development, church growth, and the coordinated mobilization of missions volunteers. The ministry's action plan is to cooperate with associations and churches in identifying mission needs and opportunities, and to solicit volunteer requests for local and national promotion.

Objective
The objectives of the ministry are to meet needs, share Christ, and start new churches among all people of the ten state region.

Regional Make-Up
The Appalachian Regional Ministry region includes parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia which are tied together by certain economic, political, and sociological factors, and missions strategies.

12 - States
13 - Conventions

APPALACHIAN REGIONAL

MINISTRY AREA

(Click map to enlarge)

"The Fields are white, ready to harvest" - Jesus

Mission Needs
Mission leaders of the ARM region have identified compelling needs that exist among the people of the region and for the future development of Southern Baptist work. ARM is a timely and relevant multi-state response to these needs and missions opportunities.

Need for new work starts

Large unchurched population

Struggling churches

Sense of hopelessness

Non-biblical world view

Generational poverty

Pervasive secularism

Diverse population

Development of resort and leisure ministry

Literacy ministry

Medical needs

These needs have led denominational leaders and strategists to be alert to the need for more aggressive relational evangelism, local church-based ministries, innovation in worship and outreach strategies, and maximum commitment to planting new multiplying churches relevant to the emerging needs of unchurched people. Now is the time for an evangelistic harvest in Appalachia.

Ministry Projects Include:

Church Construction and Repair

Church Planter

Church Planting Teams

Church Strengthener

Collegiate Minister/Ministry

Home Repair/Rehab

Evangelism/Witnessing

Prayer/Prayer Walks

Partnerships

Survey Teams

Medical Missions

Literacy Missions

Baptist Centers

Revival

Pastors/Church Planters

Backyard Bible Club/VBS

Youth and Children's Activities

Creative Worship

Creative Evangelism Teams

Drama

Music

Clowning

Sports Events

Xtreme Events

Festivals, Fairs, Flea Markets

Resort-Leisure Ministries

Requests include service opportunities for individuals, groups, and churches.
Requests for volunteers include opportunities for adults and youth.
Some churches and associations may choose to adopt multiple-year projects to plant a new church in an unreached community.
Volunteer projects and service opportunities must be negotiated with sponsor church, association or mission organization.
Advance planning, frequent communications and fervent prayer between volunteers and sponsor group are essential to a successful missions experience.

Organizational Strategy
The organizational strategy anticipates cooperative relationships between Southern Baptist churches, associations, state conventions, and national organizations for the purposes of achieving goals and maximizing impact. Existing ministries and volunteer projects as well as newcomers will be targeted for promotion and volunteer response. Promotion of volunteer requests will be coordinated with the respective convention to which the church and/or association relate and will be shared with NAMB and WMU mobilization coordinators.

Action Plan
Associational missions directors and state convention staff in the region will be asked to assist in the development and effectiveness of Appalachian Regional Ministry by:

Making churches and mission organizations aware of Appalachian Regional Ministry.
Targeting specific churches, communities, or people groups where missions work is needed.
Working with pastors and missions leaders to identify and profile volunteer projections and resource needs.

Volunteer project requests will be passed on to the state and national ARM offices for promotion and coordination of volunteer responses. Management of projects is the responsibility of the sponsoring groups, church and /or association, in cooperation with the project volunteers.

The Appalachian Regional Ministry is managed and coordinated by the several state conventions through a Steering Committee made up of representatives from each member convention. The Steering Committee and Director provide leadership and guidance for planning, organizational networking, resources development, and promotion and coordination of volunteers.

Summary
1. ARM works through the local Southern Baptist Associations.
2. ARM works to bring together mission volunteers, local churches, and events.
3. ARM helps bring needs and resources together.

National Staff
A national office is staffed by the director and is maintained to provide direction, communications, promotion, and the coordinating services.

Appalachian Regional Ministry

28 White Rock Road

Hurricane, WV 25526

Phone: 606-316-4298

Director: Bill Barker - email: bbarker@arministry.org

HOW CAN YOU BE INVOLVED?
SENDING: If you want to DO missions in Appalachia contact the National ARM Office or your State Office. Contact information is on the back of this pamphlet.

RECEIVING: If you live in the Appalachia region and want to use volunteers, contact the National ARM Office or your State Office for a Project Request Form. Contact information is on the back of this pamphlet.

PRAYING: You can pray for those involved in ministry in Appalachia and for the on going projects and project request. Contact the National Office for prayer needs in Appalachia.

God is doing something

new and wonderful in Appalachia

and wants us to participate in it.

A.R.M. is supported through the financial gifts of Southern Baptists to the AAEO. Because Southern Baptists care and give to support the work of A.R.M. an estimated 65,000 short-term mission volunteers responded to over 400 mission opportunities in 2008 with an estimated 5,000 plus salvation decisions. Click here for more information about the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO) and the Week of Prayer.