A Church at the Corner of Highway 285 and Burkett Flat
Bono Baptist Church sits at the corner of Highway 285 North and Burkett Flat Road, just north of Wooster and due west of the center of Greenbrier, Arkansas. From that location the church reaches out across Faulkner County with a simple rhythm it calls gathering, growing, and going. The motto shows up everywhere - on the church's own materials, in the description of its mission, and in the way its weekly calendar is built.
Bono Baptist is an evangelical congregation affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (also referred to by the church as Great Commission Baptists). Its doctrinal statement is the Baptist Faith & Message, 2000 edition. The aim, in the church's own words, is to gather together for worship, grow together as disciples, and go serve the Lord together.
Sunday Mornings: Sunday School at 9 and Worship at 10
Sunday school starts at 9:00 AM and runs about an hour, with classes arranged by age and stage of life. Greeters help newcomers find the right room. There are classes for preschoolers, younger children, older children, teenagers, a young adult and college class, women's classes, mixed adult classes, and a senior saints class.
Worship begins at 10:00 AM. The music is a blended style, mixing traditional and contemporary songs. After the music the pastor preaches, working through books of the Bible section by section in a style the church describes as biblical preaching. Members dress across the spectrum, from t-shirts and jeans to suits, in what the church calls an inviting atmosphere. Nursery and children's care for babies through Kindergarten is offered during the service, staffed by volunteers who have completed background checks. A security team monitors the entrances during Sunday school and the main service, and the nursery areas are watched by the same team.
Wednesday Evenings: Something for Every Age
Wednesday is built around four overlapping groups. A pre-school and children's program for Pre-K through sixth grade runs from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The youth group, covering seventh through eighth grade students in seventh through twelfth grade, also meets from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. An adult Bible study and prayer time meets in the sanctuary from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. A college and career group for young adults generally between eighteen and twenty-five meets from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, drawing seniors in high school, college students, recent graduates, and those entering the workforce.
Sunday Evenings: Women's and Men's Bible Studies
On Sunday evenings the church offers two Bible study groups. The women's group meets from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, working through studies that use videos, media, and student handbooks, rotating through books of the Bible and sometimes bringing in guest speakers to address a specific topic. There is a one-hour gap, and the men's group meets from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. The men work through a book of the Bible section by section, share in fellowship, and have a time of directed prayer. Both groups are described as casual environments.
The Three Pillars: Gather, Grow, Go
The mission statement is built on Hebrews 10:19-25, and the church organizes everything it does around the three pillars named in that passage. Gathering means committing to meet in a community of shared faith for support, encouragement, and corporate worship, and for the exercise of the spiritual gifts God has distributed. The church frames itself as an embassy of Christ's kingdom and its members as His ambassadors. Going is as a priority, with believers commissioned to be soul winners who use their everyday work to bring others to know Jesus Christ.
The Pastoral Team
Will Russell is the senior pastor and has served Bono Baptist since then, bringing more than twenty years in ministry. He and his wife Christi have three children, Fisher, Maggie, and Tate, and his passions are teaching biblical truth, discipleship, and pastoral care.
Dustin Burdin serves as student pastor. He has been in ministry for twelve years and holds a Master's degree in Theological Studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Ashley have two sons, Joshua and Josiah. His focus is teaching the Bible and apologetics. He also works full-time outside the church in commercial sales.
Kyle Cotton is the worship pastor, a role the church recently formalized to recognize his calling. He and his wife Haley have two children, Hattie and Karter. He leads the congregation in praise and worship and also works outside the church full-time as an orthopedic physician's assistant.
Online Ministry, Podcasts, and Giving
The Sunday morning service at 10:00 AM and the Wednesday evening adult Bible study at 6:30 PM are livestreamed on Facebook Live. The church also maintains a YouTube channel with playlists covering various areas of Christian education. Three podcasts are available: BBC Sunday Sermons, which carries the weekly Sunday sermons; Along the Narrow Way, which helps listeners understand the Bible better; and Truth in Faith, which teaches believers how to defend their faith.
Tithes and offerings can be given in person or through an online giving portal.
Community and Outreach
Bono Baptist partners with other area churches for Community Christian Outreach, known as C2O, a one-day effort to support the Greenbrier and Wooster communities by meeting needs, providing family fun, and sharing the love of Jesus Christ. The church also runs a Vacation Bible School for children in the summer.
Visiting Bono Baptist
Anyone planning a first visit can expect a friendly greeting, help finding the right Sunday school class, and a blended worship service that lasts through the morning. Casual to semi-formal dress is the norm. The church is located at 414 Highway 285 North and Burkett Flat Road, Greenbrier, Arkansas 72058. The office can be reached at 501-679-0509 or by email at connect@bonobaptist.com.