Matthew: 25:19-21- Now after a long time the lord of those servants returned, and made a reckoning with them. And he that received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents, and I have gained five more talents. His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many
things: enter into the joy of your lord. Faithful Servant Ministries (FSM) started as a home bible study group, in Madison County, AR, sometime in the mid-eighties. Of course, we weren't formally named at that point, it was just the Wednesday night bible study. That bible study went on for ten years, and it was a sweet and powerful time of fellowship and instruction. But the time came when the Holy Spirit called that work to a close. Not too long after that, the current pastors of FSM, Rick and Nancy Dignan, found themselves presented with the opportunity to buy the local skating rink, a building which housed not only the 20,000 sq.ft skating rink, but also provided an additional 10,000 sq.ft of space. The idea was to run a small business and be a positive influence in the lives of the young people that came to skate. And that's how it went for five years. Then one Wednesday evening, during a church skate, a pastor was speaking with Nancy about the need for a local pregnancy center to help and minister to, especially, pregnant teens. That conversation, and the help of other local pastors, birthed Open Arms Pregnancy Center in 2001. During the next year as people came to the pregnancy center, the call for a food pantry arose. In 2003, Open Arms Food Pantry was established. At some point, during these early years, a worship ministry began and met and still meets regularly on Wednesday evenings. It was during one these times of worship that Rick heard the Holy Spirit instruct him to declare the ministry in that place. The prayer and counsel following that declaration, resulted in the establishment of Faithful Servant Ministries, also in 2003. At that point, everything going on in the building was taken out of business mode, and put on a ministry footing. Through the years we have realized that, while the intention of positive influence is for good, the ministry of the gospel brings forth new creatures, made in the image of Christ. And that is the heart of God. So, we press toward that high calling, to take hold of those things for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of us; Christ in us, Christ in you, the hope of glory.