What's that?

Below you will find a list of terms that are often heard around the Arapaho Road campus.

• ARK
  “The ARK” (short for Actively Reaching Kids) is our preschool and is an extension of the church created to teach children the intellectual skills and spiritual precepts needed to lead successful lives. The ARK is known throughout the community for its excellence in teaching and programming. The ARK operates 3 days per week during the school year and is made up of children of church members and non-church members alike. Find out more about the ARK.
   

• Awana
  Awana is an international youth program offered by Arapaho Road Baptist Church as a positive influence in the development of young people. The Awana name is derived from an idea in the Bible found in II Timothy 2:15 which reads, "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed." Our Awana program meets on Sunday nights during the school year with the goal of reaching boys and girls (2years old- 12th grade) with the gospel of Christ. Find out more about Awana.
   

• Bible Fellowships
  Bible Fellowships are small group Bible studies that meet each Sunday morning before or after the morning worship services for Bible study, fellowship, and mutual encouragement through the ups and downs of life. Bible Fellowships are made up of your peers and are available for all ages (ABFs or Adult Bible Fellowships for adults; SBFs or Student Bible Fellowships for teens; and CBFs or Children’s Bible Fellowships for children). Bible Fellowships are similar to what traditional Baptist Churches refer to as “Sunday School” but are designed to foster a sense of community and fellowship with other people just like you that are seeking to grow spiritually. Look for a Bible Fellowship to attend this Sunday.
   

• BGCT
  The mission of the BGCT (or Baptist General Convention of Texas) is to encourage, facilitate, and connect churches in their work to fulfill God’s mission of reconciling the world to Himself. The BGCT is a fellowship of 5800+ churches and missions throughout the state of Texas that fellowship together and are committed to continuing Jesus' ministry of teaching, sharing the Good News, and meeting human needs through churches, institutions, and organizations.  Arapaho Road is dually aligned with the BGCT and the SBC.
   

• Church-wide Fellowship Time 10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. every Sunday
  We have a number of fellowship opportunities for our guests and members between worship hours on Sunday mornings. Come and meet other members or visit one of our centers:

  • Coffee Bar – Free coffee for guests. Snacks and other drinks available for purchase.(Fellowship Hall)

  • Petra Café – Student Ministry snacks and fellowship (Student Building)

  • Children’s Worship Time – For both Children’s Bible Fellowship hours (Children’s Building)

  • Church Library – Titles, videos and studies available for children through adults (Worship Center Room 12-13) Find out more about the church library.

  • Prayer Room – Drop by and pray for our morning services and others in need (Worship Center Room 6)

  • Information Center – Learn more information about our ministries and events (Worship Center across from Room 6)
     

• Connection Point
  The “Connection Point” is our monthly church newsletter and is always available to read on the church website. Inside each issue you will find the latest information and announcements about upcoming events, ministries and other happenings within the life of Arapaho Road. Read the latest Connection Point newsletter.
   

• Craft Fair
  Each Fall our church opens its doors to the community to sponsor a craft fair with 60+ vendors from across the state. The vendors in attendance offer a wide array of homemade crafts and always attract a big crowd. Proceeds from this event go to support our children’s ministry.  Find out about the next craft fair.
   

• DBA
  The "DBA" is short for the "Dallas Baptist Association."  Arapaho Road is a member of the DBA, which consists of 450 churches that fellowship together and work together to reach Dallas County for Christ.
   

• Discover Your S.H.A.P.E.
  SHAPE stands for Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences. The Discover Your S.H.A.P.E. class is designed to lead church members to discover their spiritual gifts, abilities, and ministry passions while examining how each of us are created uniquely by God. The Discover Your S.H.A.P.E. class is offered periodically as the need arises. Watch for announcements in the Sunday bulletin and monthly Connection Point for future class offerings.
   

• D-Now
  D-Now (or DiscipleNow) is an in-town retreat for middle and high school aged students held at the beginning of the Fall each year. Throughout the weekend our students stay in church member homes (grouped by grade) and participate in various small and large group activities, fellowships, Bible studies and worship. Find out more about D-Now.
   

• ESL
  ESL (or English as a Second Language) is a ministry that reaches out to our international community. During the school year, Arapaho Road offers ESL classes at our church building as well as The ROC to teach English conversation, grammar, and pronunciation. Find out more about ESL classes offered by Arapaho Road.
   

• Fall Festival
  Each fall on the last Sunday night of October our church and community members are invited to enjoy an evening of fellowship including inflatables, candy prizes, pony rides, kettle corn, fun games, tasty food, and so much more . This much anticipated event is a family favorite and is sponsored by our children’s ministry, with lots of fun games for the children.  Find out about the next Fall Festival.
   

• Fellowship Hall
  The Fellowship Hall is a large meeting room located on the back side of the Worship Center (side facing the Children’s Building). This room is equipped with a kitchen and is often used for large meetings, classes, fellowships and other functions at various times during the week.
   

• FLC
  The FLC (short for the Family Life Center) is one of the four buildings on our campus. The FLC houses our church offices, gymnasium, main church kitchen, and a large number of rooms that are used for Adult Bible Fellowships on Sunday mornings and for other Bible studies throughout the week.
   

• Growth Groups
  Growth Groups are small group Bible studies, growth classes, or other church programs designed to help you move forward on your spiritual journey. These groups are available for all ages and meet on the church campus on various days/nights of the week outside of Sunday mornings. Growth Groups focus on a wide variety of topics and typically have two semesters (September- December, and January- May). See our current Growth Group opportunities.
   

• PETRA
  PETRA is the name of our Student Ministry (6th-12th grade). The name is based on a Bible story in the book of Matthew in which Jesus told Peter that it would be people like him that He would use to build the kingdom of God. When talking to Peter the word that Jesus used was Petra. Following the example in that story our student ministry strives to glorify God through obedience to His great commission and by making our students Petra. A petra is a solid foundation on which a builder can build anything. Christ is looking for students who are solid so He can use them to do WONDERFUL things. Everything the PETRA Student Ministry does is for the purpose of turning students into this solid rock, this PETRA. Find out more about the PETRA Student Ministry.
   

• Precept
  Precept is a ministry of our church that teaches inductive Bible study that is dedicated to teaching people how to study God’s Word for themselves and apply its truth to their daily lives. This ministry is designed to teach highly effective methods of seeking out answers and understanding from scripture. Precepts has a class that meets each Tuesday night or a class that meets each Wednesday morning and follows our Growth Groups semesters, beginning a new class during September and then again in January. Learn more about our Precept ministry.
   

• SBC
  The SBC (short for the Southern Baptist Convention) consists of more than 42,000 churches that cooperate together in a world-wide effort of missions.  Arapaho Road is dually aligned with the SBC and the BGCT.
   

• Starting Points church membership class
  Starting Points is designed to help educate those who are new church members, those considering church membership, or long-time members who would like a refresher course on who we are as a church, and what we believe. This three- week class will outline all you ever wanted to know about our history, purpose, structure, beliefs, membership, baptism, communion and missions affiliations. Most importantly, you will learn where and how you can become involved to help us fulfill our vision to reach our community for Christ. Participants will also receive a comprehensive membership handbook that will be a helpful tool for use in integrating your family into this dynamic fellowship. Designed for you to participate during your Bible Fellowship hour for three weeks. Offered twice each Fall and twice each spring during both Bible Fellowship hours. Sign up through the church office (972) 495-2223.
   

• The Big Room
  The Big Room is a large multipurpose room located in the center of the Children’s Building. This room is used for Children’s Worship, Children’s Bible Fellowships, Awana, large meetings, and other various functions.
   

• The Dominican
  Our mission at Arapaho Road is to make disciples through ministry, worship, discipleship, outreach and community. One of the ways we are trying to accomplish this mission is to provide mission trip opportunities to our church family. For almost every summer since 1999 our church had made an annual mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Throughout those years we have worked closely with American born missionaries as well as two local Dominican congregations to help build a church building, offer medical and sports clinics, offer various discipleship classes, and to evangelize the communities of Santo Domingo and Barahona. Find out more about Arapaho Road’s work in the Dominican.
   

• The ROC
  The ROC stands for the Re-Creation Outreach Center. The ROC is located in Garland and serves the needs of many within the community throughout the year. Our church supports several missions of the ROC each year including collecting school supplies/toiletry items for needy families each fall, providing turkey dinners at Thanksgiving, and providing gifts and food to needy children during the Christmas holidays.
   

• Upward
  Upward is a sports ministry for children that emphasizes organized and detailed sports programming in basketball and cheerleading. Children practice during the week and compete against other teams within the church on Saturday. Participation is open to church members as well as non-church community members. The Upward ministry provides all children an equal opportunity to participate and compete regardless of skill level. Emphasis on character and integrity of sportsmanship are paramount, along with providing an avenue through which to share the gospel with children, parents, and family friends. Find out how to sign up for Upward.
   

• VBS
  Vacation Bible School (or VBS) is a big event for one week each summer that is sponsored by our children’s ministry. Our VBS is open to all children within the church and surrounding community and utilizes various annual themes to share the gospel and emphasize discipleship in daily life. VBS week is a fun time for the entire family with games, Bible lessons, crafts, and worship.