 The Tennessee Baptist Appalachian Regional Ministry is an intentional missions response to the spiritual and physical needs of persons in the Appalachian region.
We need your help! Appalachian Regional Ministry is not about mountains; it’s about people. East Tennessee is home to almost 16 million people. The ARM is trying to expand their mission response through enlisting hundreds of volunteers for intentional ministry.
“But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: A land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.”
Deuteronomy 11:11-12 KJV
Introduction:
 Tennessee Baptists will lift up their eyes unto the hills and play a continued major role in the Appalachian Regional Ministry as together we expand our mission response through enlisting hundreds of volunteers for intentional ministry.
The people of Appalachia, our close neighbors, need to hear and see the gospel through the hearts, voices, and hands of Tennessee Baptists.
In addition, this mission venture will provide Tennessee Baptists unique opportunities to covenant together with Baptists through the eastern section of the United Sates to work, to pray together, and bear witness together to the love and grace of the living Lord Jesus Christ.
Please join us as we covenant together to seek and follow God’s leadership and respond in compassion and through acts of love to present Christ to the people of Appalachia.
What are the overall regional statistics?
 The statistical makeup of the overall Appalachian Regional Ministry region is:
- 10 states
- 262 counties
- 11 state conventions
- 119 associations
- 4,258 churches with 931,470 resident members
- 1997 estimated total population of 15,675,597
- 8 million estimated unreached people
What are the statistics for Tennessee?
- 33 counties
- 28 associations
- 75% of the people in Appalachia never move from their home county.
- The Appalachian region is the most thickly- populated of the three divisions of Tennessee.
- Twenty-three of the 33 counties have poverty rates greater than the state average.
- Appalachia is both urban and rural, big city and small town, educated and uneducated.
- The Appalachian region includes Ethnics, Blacks, Anglos, and other ethnic groups.
- Almost all of the Appalachian counties are in the Eastern Time zone.
- Seven of the 33 counties have a high school dropout rate of greater than 50%.
- Twenty-six of the 33 counties have unemployment rates greater than the state average.
- Hancock County is the poorest county in Tennessee.
- Two of the counties are among the ten with the highest infant mortality rates in Tennessee.
- Doctors hesitate to move to many parts of Appalachia. Seventy percent of east Tennessee counties have healthcare shortages in at least one major area of care.
- Approximately two million people live in the Appalachian region of Tennessee.
- 511,994 people gather to serve in 1,442 churches in Tennessee’s Appalachian region. That’s only 28% of the 1,916,985 people. Even with other churches represented, there are many people to reach for Jesus!
- No single one-size-fits-all solution will work for every person in Appalachia.
The Needs of Appalachia
- New Church Starts
- Support for Existing Churches
- Construction Ministry
- Tutoring and Literacy Ministry
- Job Skills Training
- Development of Resort Ministry
- Health Care Ministry
- Benevolent Ministry
- Volunteers Willing to Go!
How are ARM projects done?
There are two ways to be involved in Appalachian Regional Ministry. If your church is not located in the Appalachian Regional Ministry region, consider becoming an ARM volunteer. Here are some steps you can take to be involved.
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Organize a mission team that works on a project for one or two weeks. An ARM 10-State Regional Projects Directory is published annually. A copy is available by visiting www.arministry.org.
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Become a short-term volunteer missionary for three months, six months, or a year helping with a project or ministry.
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Volunteer with a church or association in the region for several hours a week.
If your church is in the ARM region, you may want to sponsor an ARM project. Church are being asked to:
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Identify community needs and ministry opportunities.
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Develop missions projects to meet needs and perform ministry.
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Develop prayer support and resources for missions strategies and projects.
Contact:
Sean Wentley, Appalachian Regional Ministry Coordinator
Tennessee Baptist Convention/ The Chilhowee Baptist Association
341 East Lincoln Rd., Alcoa, TN 37701
865-982-0499
Click here for a list of ARM Projects in Tennessee!
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