Hundreds of worship leaders, musicians and technical volunteers from across the state gathered Saturday at First Baptist Church Cabot for the 2026 Arkansas Baptist Worship Conference.
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While the one-day event featured practical training in music, technology and leadership, the central focus of the day came during the opening general session, when keynote speaker John Bolin, an instructor at California Baptist University and leader of John Bolin Ministries, offered a candid word to leaders carrying the weight of ministry.
“Maybe what you need to hear more than anything today is this: you are not alone,” Bolin said.
Faithfulness
Drawing from personal experience, Bolin acknowledged the joy of worship ministry while also naming the pressures many leaders quietly bear — stress, discouragement, family strain and burnout.
Citing research showing high levels of fatigue and depression among ministers, he said the cultural climate of recent years has only intensified the load.
“If you take ownership of the battle, you take on responsibility for the victory,” Bolin said. “That’s a weight you were never designed to carry.”
Instead, he reminded attendees that both the battle and the ministry belong to the Lord. Their role, he said, is faithfulness.
“Life is not about balance. Scripture calls us to priorities,” Bolin said, urging leaders to guard their personal walk with Christ and their families before pursuing ministry success.
Before serving as worship leaders, he said, they are called to be worshipers — sons and daughters of God. Ministry should flow from a personal walk with Christ rather than replace it.
“Don’t build a ministry, build a testimony, and out of your testimony will come your ministry,” Bolin said.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Mary Alford and originally published by Arkansas Baptist News.
