The SBC of Virginia is a fellowship of Southern Baptist Convention churches cooperating to assist local congregations in their task of fulfilling the Great Commission as commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
The Proclaimer tells of the amazing things God is doing through His Church in Virginia and around the world. It is provided free of charge due to your generous contributions made through the Cooperative Program.
ADVERTISING
Advertising is accepted on an individual basis and does not imply editorial endorsement. For more information, contact Brandon Pickett at bpickett@sbcv.org or 804-270-1848.
CREATIVE DESIGN
The Proclaimer is created exclusively for the SBC of Virginia by Innovative Faith Resources. innovativefaith.org
Your prayers and gifts through the Cooperative Program and Vision Virginia State Missions Offering enable and empower ministries around Virginia and beyond.
sbcv.org/visionvirginia
ABOUT THE COVER
Crosslink Community Church's willingness to serve other churches, through church planting and replanting, has led to growth and increased baptisms.
INSIDE ISSUE
Summer 2025
COVER STORIES
8 | Choose Life
Women are given hope to realize they can choose life and that they don't have to face their pregnancy journey alone.
22 | Unity In Action
Hispanic churches are transforming coastal Virginia. It's a movement that is changing lives and inspiring future generations to carry the mission forward.
30 | Church Grows Through Planting
A church's willingness to serve other churches has brought countless blessings.
IN EVERY ISSUE
FEATURES
6 | Rebuilding Homes, Restoring Hope
A team of SBC of Virginia Rebuild volunteers recently returned from Mountain City, Tennessee, where they spent a week helping a family rebuild. 10 | Believers Centered on Jesus
When a spiritually unhealthy church heard a visiting pastor remind them that God was their Shepherd and that He wasn't done with them, a renewed community of believers centered on Jesus began to build.
12 | Danville D-Now
Students experienced a weekend where they were encouraged to live on mission in their everyday lives.
14 | Teamwork: Reaching the Nations Here
The mission field in Virginia has expanded as the world increasingly comes to our doorstep.
17 | Better Together
The power of cooperation became evident when churches in the same city embraced church planters and sent them out with a blessing for the Kingdom of God.
18 | Hope On Every Corner
Serve Tour Virginia Beach provided opportunities for local churches to serve the community and share the Gospel.
20 | Equipping the Church for Excellence
This year's Worship & Technology Conference featured more than 45 breakout sessions led by nationally recognized experts.
24 | Residency Retreat
By equipping pastors for greater impact, more people are reached with the Gospel.
26 | Raising Youth to Lead Children
Teenagers who have grown up in SBC of Virginia children’s ministries, now feel called to serve in the very ministries that taught them to love Christ.
32 | When Roles Are Reversed
When pastors find themselves on the receiving side of ministry Christ’s church shows itself as a beautiful family exemplifying who He is.
34 | Vitalized Deacon Ministry
Developing a strategy to revitalize the Deacon Family Ministry Program, Wayne Hills Baptist create a revised training manual for the elders and deacons.
36 | Living Out God's Word
A Leadership Roundtable with over 60 women’s ministry leaders from across Virginia gathered to discuss and focus on creating an atmosphere of discipleship.
A Message from the SBCV Executive Director
bautry@sbcv.org
brianautry.com
facebook.com/brian.autry.70
Seven Encouragements for Investing in the NEXT GENERATION NOW
The next generation matters now!
I can look back and see how the Lord worked in my own life as a student (and I am from the 20th Century). One thing has not changed through the years: our Lord is at work in the lives of the next generation. While on summer mission trips, the Lord worked in my life and called me to serve Him in vocational ministry. I am thankful for my family and for church families investing in my life. I am thankful for the investment our loving church family made in my own children; and I can say, it has made a difference!
Thank you to all the pastors, youth ministry leaders, children’s ministry leaders, the countless volunteers who are at summer camps, on mission trips, and working with Vacation Bible Schools (one of my first church memories is Vacation Bible School). I am thankful that churches make substantial investments of time, money, and energy in the younger generation. SBC of Virginia
1. GOD IS AT WORK in the next generation, now.
2. God loves our families and wants them to EXPERIENCE HIM more than we can imagine.
3. God calls us to INVEST in reaching and discipling our children and youth.
4. God is raising up our FUTURE LEADERS as we build up our current younger generation in the faith.
5. God is pleased you are SERVING HIM by giving your time and energy investing in the next generation.
6. God gets the attention of those around us as they see our heart for their FAMILIES
7. God BLESSES us by inviting us to be a part of seeing Him work in this next generation now.
Thank you for investing in the next generation
Rebuilding Homes Restoring Hope
When Hurricane Helene swept through western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and southwestern Virginia, thousands of families were displaced. The Davis family is now living in three small campers scattered across their property, just steps from where their home once stood.
A team of SBC of Virginia Rebuild volunteers recently returned from Mountain City, Tennessee, where they spent a week helping the Davis family rebuild. Mike Davis shares the property with his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and two teenage grandsons. While the team worked, family members occasionally peeked in—quietly watching their new house being framed and insulated—their hope slowly restored.
Volunteers made significant progress: insulating walls, installing ceiling and wall panels, constructing porches and decks, and running electrical and plumbing lines. Rainy conditions and tight spaces didn’t slow them down. By the end of the week, multiple rooms were finished, front and back steps completed, and electrical systems were ready for final hookup, once the interior work was complete.
Not only were families affected by Hurricane Helene, but church ministries were, too. In an earlier deployment to Damascus, Virginia, another SBCV Rebuild team provided essential services by hanging 300 sheets of drywall in a church basement that had been fully submerged during the flood. While the church remained open, its basement, kitchen, and fellowship space had to be completely gutted and sanitized. The drywall installation and finishing work moved the church a step closer to regaining its use.
Each board lifted and every screw driven was an act of obedience to,
Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Mark 12:31
These volunteer teams didn’t serve for recognition but because the love of Christ compelled them to act.
SBCV’s Rebuild ministry is funded through Vision Virginia and sends teams every month to help people recover from disasters. Upcoming ministry trips are planned July 13–19 and August 3–9.
RESOURCE:
For current opportunities to serve or to learn more about SBCV Relief Ministries, visit: sbcv.org/dr
Choose life
Don't face the journey alone.
The city of Bristol is well known and loved by many for various reasons. It is a city located in two states: Virginia and Tennessee. In the heart of downtown lies State Street, and in the center of State Street is the dividing line—not only for the street but also for the two states. No matter which side you are on, the motto is the same: “Bristol, a Good Place to Live.” For many, it's also a good place to visit, whether it’s for the Bristol Motor Speedway events or the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion music festival, Bristol has become a destination for entertainment and recreation.
make an impact in Bristol. Under Kerns’ leadership, the ministry relocated to be closer to the abortion clinic, hoping to reach those searching for help. The center also rebranded to improve its online presence and better connect with individuals seeking information about abortion.
Court decision is overturned
Dobbs Court Case
Over the past few years, Bristol has also become known and visited for other reasons, such as the Bristol Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. And since the court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the city has also become a somber destination. That case ended the federal right to abortion and returned that authority to individual states (decided June 2022).
Although it may not make headlines or appear in the highlights on the evening news, there are women—looking to or at least considering abortion—being directed to the abortion clinic in Bristol, Virginia, from surrounding states. This is what has made Bristol an abortion destination.
Making an impact in Bristol
Life in this border city presents its own challenges for those who live and minister there. One city, divided into two states, creates an ever-challenging political landscape. Pathways Pregnancy Resource Center (formerly known as Abortion Alternatives and Crisis Pregnancy Center), led by Executive Director Joe Kerns for the past 13 years, seeks to
Shortly after relocating, the Dobbs decision was overturned, and abortion was soon banned in Tennessee and other surrounding states. The Bristol Women’s Health and Abortion Clinic then moved across the state line into Virginia. Since then, it has seen women arriving with license plates from numerous states. On one recent Saturday, at least 47 women visited the abortion clinic.
Pathways offers resources and support through pregnancy and after birth, providing clothing, diapers, and other necessities for babies. The center also offers pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, a caring community, and training and coaching for expecting moms and dads. Still, they only see an average of six abortion-minded clients in the office each month.
Kerns is exploring options to reach more people, help offset the numbers, and save more unborn lives—and the hearts of mothers burdened by regret and sorrow. “I want to be able to offer more testing and more counseling. I want to see more women find hope, help, and courage to realize they can do this and that they are not alone,” Kerns said.
It's personal
For Kerns, this is more than a ministry—it’s personal. Long before becoming Executive Director of Pathways, his wife of three years, Heather, was
Hope, help, and courage to realize they can do this.
diagnosed with stage three of a rare head and neck cancer. The prognosis was dire, and treatment was serious. Facing a traumatic surgery with a slim chance of survival, she chose instead to undergo radiation and chemotherapy. Two days before her treatments were set to begin, they discovered she was pregnant.
An expectant mother could not undergo the radiation and chemotherapy needed to fight the cancer. Heather’s doctor advised her to terminate the pregnancy. But Heather, a Christian woman, could follow only one voice—the voice of her Heavenly Father who loved her and her unborn baby. The Lord strengthened and sustained her through delivery. The very hormones that nourished her baby also fed the cancer attacking her body. She gave birth to her son, Heath, and ten months later, Heather went to be with the Lord.
Called to ministry
After her passing, Kerns found a diary entry titled “My Cancer Battle.” It read:
Dear God, I know that You can get me through this, you will give me the testimony I never had and through Your teaching I might be able to tell my story and a baby’s life could be saved. I know you say a baby but why just one why not thousands or millions. While I hope to save a large amount of babies and their parents, but if, yes, I said if I could only reach one mother and convince her to keep her baby when a doctor tells her to terminate her pregnancy when you only have 2 to 3 months to live. That’s not your only option—trust God, listen to Him in your heart, there probably won’t be a vision come to you in the sky and no burning bush or His
face for you to see. But He gave us a soul and I firmly believe that He speaks to us through our heart and our soul. Anyway, that’s not all.”
Now a single dad raising his son on his own, Kerns knew he would have to leave his career in the corporate world. What he didn’t know was that God would use this deeply personal experience not only as a testimony—but also as a calling.
Kerns said his call is to seek the one who has gone astray, the one who is on a path in life that is so uncertain, without hope, and in need of help. That through the leading of the Spirit of God guiding the way and giving him the words to speak, we can make a difference for one baby, one mother at a time ... on to hundreds, thousands and, Lord willing, millions.
Pathways' future
What is the future of Pathways Pregnancy Resource Center? What are the next steps to get closer to the front lines? Could it be a mobile ultrasound unit? A potential move from Bristol, Tennessee, to Virginia? One thing is clear: we serve a God who tears down walls.
Will you pray for Bristol and for Pathways Pregnancy Resource Center as they seek to reach those in need of rescue and help on behalf of the unborn?
PRAY that through this ministry, more women will find the hope, help, and courage to choose life.
CENTERED ON Jesus BELIEVERS
Three years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, on December 11, 1773, Jeffersonton Baptist Church (JBC) was constituted and today stands as the second-oldest church in Culpeper County, Virginia. The same God who planted this church amid religious persecution over 250 years ago is not done with it yet.
In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, JBC entered a season of turmoil. The church had no lead pastor. Yet God was not done with His church. In November 2022, Jon Morton came as a guest speaker and was eventually called to be the senior pastor in April 2023. As the new pastor, Morton reminded the congregation that “the church had never been without a pastor, but that Jesus had been their Pastor Shepherd since He birthed the church in 1773.” The church began to refocus its attention on Christ, and God began building a renewed community of believers centered on Jesus.
As JBC celebrated its 250th anniversary, Pastor Morton exhorted the church to “love God, love people, teach the Word, and reach the world.”
God has shown that He is not done with JBC. Over the past few years:
• Worship attendance has tripled from 30 to over 90 in average attendance.
• Discipleship through small groups has been brought back to life among children, students, and adults, sparking growth throughout the church.
• 24 people have followed Jesus in believers’ baptism, with additional candidates currently awaiting baptism.
• More than 15 percent of JBC’s growing budget is designated for missions.
• A culture of personal evangelism and missions partnership has taken root, prioritizing the sharing of the Gospel with neighbors and the local community.
• Weekly and special prayer gatherings have become a driving force behind the church’s revitalization.
Pastor Morton has shared stories of spiritual transformation as God brought new life and new families to Jeffersonton. Recently, nearly an entire family was baptized through the faithful outreach of God's people during a Gospel event. Through consistent preaching and teaching of God's Word, a couple who had been living together followed Jesus in believers' baptism, and then united in covenant marriage. The husband is now being discipled into a leadership role within the church.
Thanks be to God that He is not done with Jeffersonton Baptist Church!
• Pray for this body of believers as God continues His work of revitalization among them.
• Pray that they will remain focused on making disciples and raising up new leaders to meet the challenges of a growing church.
• Pray that they will stay faithful in reaching their neighbors and as they seek new opportunities to advance the Gospel among the nations.
We pray that DNow is a catalyst that encourages students to live on mission in their everyday lives.
Danville Disciple Now
A Citywide Effort to Reach the Next Generation
For many student ministries, Disciple Now (DNow) weekends are a key part of reaching and discipling students. These events require significant time, energy, and prayerful planning. Over the years, several SBC of Virginia churches have joined together to host DNow weekends in their regions, combining resources and unity for a powerful impact.
One such weekend is the Danville DNow that took place this spring with the theme “Battle for the Heart: Love God—Hate Sin!” Pastor Rob Turner from The Fellowship Church in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, was the speaker, and Liberty Worship Collective led worship.
This year, main sessions were held at Dan River Church to accommodate the growing number of participants. The Tabernacle Church hosted Saturday afternoon activities, while North Main Baptist Church served dinner. The Danville DNow welcomed around 380 students and 120 leaders. Twenty-one different churches were represented, and organizers are already in contact with two new churches hoping to join in 2026.
Pastor Roger Jones of North Main Baptist Church, a lead organizer of the Danville DNow, shared insights about what it takes to plan and lead a weekend like this for churches.
Q:How many years have you been doing the Danville DNow Weekend?
Our 2025 Disciple Now Weekend marks our 13th year. The first couple of years were just our student ministry at North Main. In our third year, Shermont Baptist Church in Danville joined us, and every year since, we’ve added new churches.
Q:
Why do you think it is important for churches to partner and do this together across a city or region?
Partnering with other churches is vital to reaching the next generation. We want to live out the SBC of Virginia’s theme, “Churches are not alone.” God didn’t create us to do ministry in isolation. Collaboration with other churches is a tremendous resource.
We genuinely care for one another and create space for vulnerability and transparency. Youth
ministry can feel isolating, and loneliness can easily creep in. But through partnership, we support and encourage each other. We share wisdom, speak life, and remind ourselves it’s not about one church—it’s about the Kingdom.
Q: What is the personal benefit, from a student’s perspective, of taking a weekend to participate in DNow with their peers? And for YOU as a leader, what is the benefit of investing in a DNow weekend?
Students across our city and region get to join together and stand united in worship and the study of God’s Word. We pray that DNow is a catalyst that encourages students to live on mission in their everyday lives—whether at school, in sports, or at work—and to share the Gospel with their lost friends.
One of the highlights of my year is planning this weekend with fellow youth pastors. I’m grateful for our team's creativity and passion. We are also blessed by churches that generously open their facilities to host students and make them feel welcome. At the end of the day, our one goal is to point students to Christ.
Q: What is the reason you love doing this year after year?
The friendships and bonds we’ve built through this network of churches are priceless. Seeing churches return, new ones join, and lives transformed by the Gospel—both students and leaders alike—fuels our excitement for the next year.
Q: What advice would you give to a student pastor who feels inspired to start a DNow for their students or to collaborate with other churches?
Be proactive. Seek God’s guidance through prayer. If you don’t already have a network, start connecting with local student pastors. Grab coffee or lunch—make it intentional by putting it on the calendar.
Build a core team and give them ownership. True community happens when it’s not about individual churches but about a shared mission. Ministry is always better when it’s done together.
The mission field in Virginia has expanded as the world increasingly comes to our doorstep. Our communities include people from nations with limited or no access to the Gospel.
On February 8, 2025, nearly 100 church members from over 20 SBC of Virginia churches
Nansemond River Baptist Church in Suffolk to hear a vision and a challenge surrounding the Reaching the Nations Here initiative. Local pastors, first- and second-generation immigrants, and mission leaders from the SBCV and the International Mission Board (IMB) shared how the missional landscape has shifted. The nations of the world are now our immediate neighbors. Missions is no longer just across the sea—it’s also right next door or across the street.
John Barnett, IMB Director of Diaspora Mobilization, reminded participants that there is no doubt about God’s sovereign purpose in the dispersion of the nations. God uses even the evils of persecution and economic hardship to bring every nation into contact with His Gospel (Habakkuk 2:14). Pastor Bon Wong shared a powerful testimony of how an American Sunday school teacher was the first person to ever share the Gospel with him. God used his family’s move from China to bring him face to face with the truth of the Gospel.
You don’t have to wonder—
commanded to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
There are certainly challenges as churches begin to explore diaspora missions. Many local congregations may need to take a fresh look at their communities and prayerfully consider whether there are people groups they’ve unintentionally overlooked. Language and cultural barriers exist, and many American, English-speaking churches are not currently equipped to navigate them.
Yet, there are also unprecedented opportunities. God is sending not only the mission field here, but also the mission force. Experienced Christian leaders from the nations are already present. Unengaged and unreached people groups (UPGs and UUPGs) are closer than ever. God has removed many geographic obstacles to our witness, and in many cases, these people groups can now speak English.
Understanding these realities must lead us to action. Within one month of the Reaching the Nations Here event, six churches from the southeast region sent representatives to the first meeting of the Southeast Diaspora Cohort. This cohort is an ongoing, actiondriven team formed to ensure accountability and intentionality
in diaspora missions across the region.
At the first cohort gathering, four local people groups were identified and prayed over. Representatives were commissioned with specific engagement tasks and charged to report back to the group. The cohort also plans to offer future training sessions open to area churches.
Jadrian Haywood, a Southeast Diaspora Cohort member and key contributor to the Reaching the Nations Here event, described the planning effort as one of the most collaborative projects he’s ever been a part of. He encourages anyone feeling God’s call to diaspora ministry to join the cohort and find community among fellow co-laborers. You are not alone as you carry out the mission.
Contact Matt Gregory, SBCV people groups strategist, at: INTERESTED IN FUTURE COHORT GATHERINGS? mgregory@sbcv.org
BETTER TOGETHER
I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
PHILIPPIANS 1:3-5, NIV
Evergrace Church launched public services on Easter Sunday at Crestwood Elementary School in Bon Air, Virginia. Adam Nuckols, one of the pastors shared, “The Metro Richmond area is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country and needs a Gospel-centered church.”
Nuckols was sent to Bon Air by Staples Mill Road Baptist Church in Glen Allen. While working in the city, he connected with another church planter, Jonathan Bowell. The two quickly became friends and after much prayer and guidance, decided to plant a church together. Both are now serving as pastors at Evergrace.
Before planting the new church, Pastors Nuckols and Bowell recognized the need for local support. Cliff Jordan, pastor of Movement Church,
a church plant now 15 years old, welcomed the two church planters and walked alongside them during a one-year residency.
According to Jordan, “The dream has always been to plant churches. It is something that was implanted in us as a church from the beginning.
"Movement Church has been through many different seasons and has taken on a variety of forms throughout the years. We have met in homes, city parks, other church buildings, and rented spaces. We have been through good times and very difficult times. I have seen the church shaped throughout the years by both difficult days and growing days.
"I believe we are at an opportune time in the life of our church to turn around and to help
others along the journey we have been on. We have learned from successes and failures and are poised to pour into others.
"I believe our best is yet to come, and I believe it will be through those we invest in to send out.”
Before Evergrace Church launched at Crestwood Elementary, the team met in Movement Church’s chapel to prepare for what was ahead. On March 23, Bowell, Nuckols, and their core team were officially sent out to plant in Bon Air. They were joined by 20 members of Movement Church.
The power of cooperation becomes evident when churches in the same city embrace church planters, resource them, and send them out with a blessing for the Kingdom of God.
on Every CORNER Hope
God
moves through
Serve Tour Virginia Beach
What
happens when the Church moves beyond the walls and into the community?
In Virginia Beach, the answer is powerful transformation. Through Serve Tour Virginia Beach (a partnership between the SBC of Virginia, Send Relief, and local churches) God brought hope to neighborhoods, schools, parks, and even hotel lobbies.
In just one weekend, 865 volunteers from 58 churches across 13 states took part in 40 projects. These included block parties, school makeovers, food pantry expansions, community gardens, and outreach to the unhoused. More than 5,375 people were served, and most importantly, there were over 1,175 Gospel conversations and 28 salvations.
One volunteer-led grill walk in a Hispanic neighborhood saw 13 people come to Christ. In another, a 74-year-old volunteer
led someone to Jesus for the first time, through tears of joy.
A block party hosted by a soon-to-launch church plant opened the door to minister to an unchurched pastor’s son. Volunteers also cared for the homeless, built a deck for a church planter, tripled the capacity of a Chinese church’s food pantry, and flipped teachers’ lounges to bless educators.
Bus driver "survival kits" were delivered by volunteers in partnership with a bivocational pastor sparking conversations filled with compassion and Gospel hope.
At every turn, the love of Jesus was visible. Galatians 6:10 reminds us, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.”
This wasn't just a local effort. Staff members from the Internatinal Mission Board drove in
from Richmond and another church brought nearly half its congregation.
A truck driver volunteering for Serve Tour led a hotel clerk to Christ. “God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, HCSB).
Truth echoed in conversations, prayers, and tears.
Serve Tour Virginia Beach wasn’t just about what the Church did—it was about what God did. He stirred hearts, opened doors, and changed lives. And through every ministry project, every conversation, and every act of kindness, one message rang clear: Jesus is alive, and He is at work.
Let’s continue to be the hands and feet of Christ. Because when the Church goes out, the Gospel goes forth—and lives are never the same.
“How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things!”
Romans 10:15b, HCSB
for Equipping the Churchexcellence WTC
Nearly 300 ministry leaders from more than 50 churches across Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and West Virginia gathered for the 2025 Worship & Technology Conference. This dynamic one-day event was sponsored by Innovative Faith Resources in partnership with Liberty University. Designed to equip worship, production, and communications teams, the conference delivered a day packed with encouragement, education, insight, and innovation.
This year’s event featured more than 45 breakout sessions led by nationally recognized experts. These sessions covered everything from ProPresenter
and AI tools to video editing, live sound mixing, worship leading, stage design, lighting, graphic creation, and project management. With such a diverse offering, attendees from churches of all sizes and contexts found something tailored to their ministry needs.
“This was my team’s first time here,” said Greg Etheridge. “We learned that we’re doing a lot right— but also picked up tips on how to take things to the next level.” Karen Baker agreed, noting, “We’ve had several ‘aha’ moments. We realized we weren’t using what we already had to its full potential to reach more people.”
Beyond the technical training, attendees found deep value in the sense of shared purpose. “It’s really awesome to be around likeminded Christians,” said Kayce May. “To see others facing the same challenges and pursuing the same goals was refreshing and energizing.”
“It’s always great to connect with others in the same ministry field and share insights,” added Jerry Schroeder. “There’s usually someone who’s been through what you’re going through—and can help you through it.”
Sessions were described as “super informative,” “practical,” and “game-changing.” “I learned a ton in the video editing class,”
said Eric Altizer. “This will help me grow my church’s reach.” Others praised the variety of topics. “It was hard to choose,” said Anna Ceruto. “Every session I attended was informative and helpful.”
Even returning attendees walked away encouraged. “This is my third time,” said Jordan Rogers. “Every year, I come back with tools we can implement the very next week.”
The Worship & Technology Conference continues to provide equipping, connection, and renewal for ministry leaders. Plans are already underway for May 30, 2026—don’t miss it!
Unity IN ACTION Hispanic Churches Transform
Coastal Virginia
The unity and collaboration among Hispanic churches along the state’s coast have borne extraordinary fruit in the mission of sharing the Gospel.
Just a few years ago, this region was home to only two Hispanic SBC of Virginia congregations. Today, that number has grown, with eight pastors and church planters working together to reach the 150,000 Spanish-speaking individuals in the area.
This unity is no accident—it’s the result of an intentional effort led by Jeff Mingee, Regional Strategist in the Southeast Region, and Juan Daniel González, Hispanic Regional Leader. Together, they have cultivated a strong network of Hispanic pastors and planters within the SBCV family, powerfully demonstrating the strength that comes from unity in Christ.
One project at the Serve Tour in Virginia Beach was designed to support a new Hispanic church plant in Norfolk, Iglesia Bíblica a las Naciones, led by Pastor Héctor Nolasco. His sending church, Primera Iglesia Bautista de Virginia Beach , provided volunteers for evangelism, while Iglesia
A volunteer-led walk in a Hispanic neighborhood saw 13 people come to Christ.
Several Hispanic churches brought neighbors together with a block party and made a significant community impact.
The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. From then on Jesus began to preach, “
Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near."
MATTHEW 4:16-17
Bautista del Camino printed and distributed flyers. Other church planters joined forces to organize a community block party, which brought neighbors together and made a significant impact.
Through two days of service and outreach, nearly 350 people were reached, and six individuals gave their lives to Christ. Pastor Héctor is following up to disciple them.
The event infused energy and momentum into the young church, strengthening its mission and presence in the community.
The collaboration among Hispanic pastors and church planters has not only sparked growth—it has inspired other Hispanic believers across the state to get involved.
The Serve Tour showcased the power of teamwork and lived out the core SBCV principle: we are not alone in church planting. This spirit of unity reflects Jesus’ call to make disciples and demonstrates how working
together can help overcome challenges and expand God’s Kingdom.
The success of these initiatives is a powerful reminder that when churches unite, the results are transformational. The fellowship of Hispanic pastors is building a lasting legacy of evangelism and community service. And the most exciting part? This is only the beginning.
The vision to reach more Hispanic communities and plant more churches continues to grow, fueled by the Gospel and sustained by unity. This movement is not only changing lives but inspiring future generations to carry the mission forward.
It’s a story of hope and action, where the light of the Gospel shines in communities once shrouded in darkness.
How might this spirit of unity inspire your own community? The answer lies in the power of working together for one purpose: to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples—for the glory of God.
Iglesia Bautista del Camino printed and distributed flyers.
Residency Retreat Equips Pastors for Greater Impact
Church multiplication means more people are reached with the Gospel.
Recently, the SBC of Virginia hosted a retreat for pastors who are using church residency programs to train future church planters and pastoral leaders. The Send Network Virginia team organized the retreat in Fairfax, Virginia, just before the Send Virginia Summit. Pastors from about 25 churches gathered to share their expertise, exchange ideas, and strengthen one another in their mission to develop leaders.
In its second year, the retreat fostered a strong spirit of camaraderie and mutual encouragement. Its aim was to showcase proven residency training models, particularly from churches with more developed programs. Three key presentations highlighted diverse approaches:
1. Crosslink Community Church
Mark Simpson and Rob Spencer of Crosslink Community Church in Harrisonburg walked attendees through their three-year development plan. The plan prepares members to be sent out on church planting and revitalization teams.
2. Bonhoeffer Haus
Jesse Fury, Executive Director of Bonhoeffer Haus in Roanoke, shared how a partnership between four local churches has formed a residential internship focused on holistic discipleship and leadership development among young adults.
3. Impact Church
Brandon Hembree, Church Planting Pastor at Impact Church in Fredericksburg, presented how their church planting environment serves as a real-world lab for developing leaders through hands-on experience.
These presentations offered practical insights and transferable tools. Churches of all sizes benefited from shared content, processes, and lessons that would otherwise take years to develop independently.
The retreat concluded with a powerful message from Travis Ogle, Executive Vice President of Send Network. Drawing from the book of Acts, he emphasized that godliness and sacrifice are essential for a genuine Gospel movement. His challenge reminded everyone that developing leaders is not just strategic, it’s sacrificial, and that our ultimate dependence is on the Lord.
While participants left with valuable content, the most meaningful takeaway was the realization that we are stronger together.
The informal conversations, shared meals, and mutual support reinforced A KEY TRUTH: multiplication happens best when we break out of isolation and collaborate as a family on mission.
Katelyn Reynolds lives out the Great Commission by pouring herself into the children's ministry.
Lead ChildrenRAISING YOUTH to
Josiah Brown serves in children’s ministry with a deep passion to share Jesus.
One of the blessings of the Kids Ministry Conference is seeing the next generation of children’s ministry leaders. Among first-time participants, two young people beautifully fit this description. Both are older teenagers who have grown up in SBC of Virginia churches through children’s ministry and now feel called to serve in the very ministries that first taught them to love Christ.
Josiah Brown, a member of Monumental Baptist Church in Petersburg, and Katelyn Reynolds, a member of Living Word Baptist Church in Lynchburg, are shining examples of dedicated older youth eager to pour into children’s ministry. Witnessing the transformation from student to teacher is a powerful blessing—these teens are living out the Great Commission.
Katelyn began leading children under the mentorship of Niky Brooks, Children’s Ministry Director at Living Word Baptist Church.
“I have always tried to be intentional about nurturing a child’s desire to serve,” Niky shared. “Serving starts with handing out goldfish, then leading songs and games, and eventually teaching the lesson. A couple of years ago, during our VBS worship rally, I realized that all of my worship rally leaders, and many of my VBS coordinators, started in our kids’ ministry. It is humbling to see,
firsthand, how God uses those who used to sit in my kids’ church rows.”
Katelyn recalls feeling called to serve from a young age.
“One year during VBS, someone said something that stuck with me: ‘You don’t have to travel across the world to share the love of Jesus. You can do it right here in Lynchburg.’ I thought that was incredible!” she said.
“Serving in children’s ministry hasn’t just helped the students grow in their faith, it’s strengthened mine too. I love working with kids, watching them grow up, and building relationships as they discover who they are and who God is—the One who loves them more than they can imagine.”
Josiah serves in children’s ministry with a deep passion to share Jesus.
“Josiah has the kind of personality that naturally draws children in. He is an inspiration to watch in action at Monumental Baptist Church,” said Pastor Duane Guridy.
“I grew up in the Monumental Baptist Church Gospel Project for most of my life,” Josiah shared. “The pastor’s wife was my teacher for as long as I can remember. She made the lessons interactive and made every child feel included. Now, I love helping the kids at church because I enjoy building connections with them, whether it’s dancing with them or talking about the lesson together.”
You don’t have to travel across the world to share the love of Jesus. You can do it right here...
Inspire
A word of hope, support, and encouragement
For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ." 2 CORINTHIANS 11:2-3, NASB
In The Security of Simplicity
AND PURITY TO CHRIST
these verses, the apostle Paul gives us excellent divine insight into “making disciples” (Matthew 28:19) and recognizing our goal, charge, methodology, and results.
Our goal is to glorify God by preaching and teaching the Word of God, making “pure virgin disciples” of Christ (Philippians 2:13).
We live in a time of apostasy, so being steadfast in proclaiming truth is essential. Jesus underscores how we become true disciples: continue in His Word (John 8:31-32).
The charge as shepherds and sheep is not to fear the enemy but to discern how he operates.
The Gospel is not about the complexity of God but the supernatural simplicity of God’s expectation. The “singleness and sincerity” of thought made up solely of Godly truth must sustain the mental honesty and discipline needed to stay in step with God.
Paul turns our attention to the Garden of Eden to see Satan’s most effective methodology, craftiness and deception, as he offers another “voice.” Please note that the devil cannot force you to listen or accept; he only makes “doubt” available.
The results will become evident once Satan penetrates our minds with alternative thoughts. We will no longer supplant them with the power of God’s Word (Matthew
6:24), and the “rebellion” process begins! Once we accept temptation in our thinking, it leads to the growth of disobedience against God (James 1:14-16).
The Apostle Paul expresses his concern that “…our minds will be led astray.” In this context, the word "mind" refers to the content and substance of our thoughts (Philippians 4:8), rather than just our capacity to think. Our minds become targets for fiery darts of impure thoughts, such as envy, greed, or lust, and may divert us from obedience and our complete devotion to God.
Brothers and sisters, I pray we will willingly let the Holy Spirit examine our hearts and see if we have strayed from the course of “simplicity and purity” before God. Our total commitment to God is not measured by our words alone but by intentional deeds of obedience to Him!
Love you all!
Milton Harding Prayer and Care Minister
mharding@sbcv.org
El Faro Connection Center | Roanoke, VA
CHURCH GROWS Through Planting
Crosslink Community Church and Fishersville Community Church
The idea of sending good people to plant another church, especially key leaders and vital resources, can be a fearful thing. A church plant (or replant) typically reaches new people and experiences growth in the early stages. What’s surprising to many is that church planting often leads to growth for the sponsoring church as well. Gaining by losing seems illogical, yet that has been the experience of Crosslink Community Church near Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Fishersville Community Church is a replant of an old, historic church in a prime location in Fishersville. A few years ago, the long-established church lost its pastor, just as it had lost much of its vitality over the years. With the help of the SBC of Virginia, a coaching process began to guide the church toward revitalization. This effort led to a connection with Crosslink Community Church, their neighboring church. Crosslink stepped in by providing guest speakers, musicians, volunteers, and resources. Eventually, these efforts led to the replanting of Fishersville Community Church.
Crosslink is no stranger to replanting—that’s
their own story from more than 15 years ago. Today, Crosslink is a vibrant, healthy church with hundreds in attendance each weekend. It has become a hub in the lower Shenandoah Valley for assisting struggling churches, crossing both denominational and cultural lines. Their willingness to serve other churches has brought countless blessings. Though their goal was never numerical growth, that’s exactly what happened in the process of helping Fishersville.
Crosslink’s lead pastor, Matthew Kirkland, shared, “Over the past several years, we have annually baptized around 50 people. This past year was our first full year of ministry with the replant at Fishersville. During that 12-month period, Fishersville baptized 30 people, and Crosslink baptized 72 people. When you add those numbers together, we baptized 102 people—literally twice our normal yearly average. Praise the Lord! He is good!”
Fishersville Community Church’s lead pastor, Chris Smith, added, “God’s plans are far greater than ours. God had put a burden for church
What's surprising to many is that church planting often leads to growth for the sponsoring church as well.
planting on my heart for years. I thought it was someone else’s calling, but I had to be obedient to the opportunity God sent. Since we started, all the metrics are overwhelming and so unexpected.”
Pastor Kirkland rejoiced saying, “The SBC of Virginia proved that ‘You Are Not Alone’ is not just a slogan. SBCV came alongside
a hurting church searching for what to do. They also came alongside a growing church with a growing desire to plant churches, but needed advice on its next steps. The SBCV serves as a strategic tool in God’s hand, helping both the strong and the struggling.”
This is a powerful example of the need for and the blessing of church planting.
WHEN ROLES ARE Reversed
Ministry to a pastor’s family in their time of need.
God’ s call upon the pastor and his family is to minister to the congregation entrusted to their care. But what happens when the roles are reversed? Two pastor’s families recently found themselves in this scenario.
Jo Anny Russell was diagnosed with breast cancer that would lead to chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Her husband, Brad Russell , serves as lead pastor, Old Powhatan Baptist Church in Powhatan, where she serves in the children’s ministry.
Jessica Smith has a long history of health challenges, including 23 years of living with a blood disorder, and more recently went through extensive cancer surgery. Her husband is Marco Smith , pastor at Matoaca Baptist Church in southwestern Chesterfield County where she is involved in the music and worship ministry.
Being on the receiving side of ministry
JoAnny Russell shared, “Being a pastor’s daughter and now pastor’s wife, people treat you differently. Not necessarily in a bad way, but as a strong and invincible caretaker. So, getting cancer shook our world. Now it is our family needing care. Cancer gave people a reason to care for us.”
Jessica Smith expressed, “I am a nurturer and ‘fixer’ by default. God has allowed me to journey through this life with a rare blood disorder that can never be ‘fixed.’ Its implications are disastrous and far-reaching. Throughout the past 23 years of living with a plethora of medical issues, I have longed for the Lord to ‘fix’ my health. I begged and pleaded with Him to take it away, citing that I could be so much more useful for His Kingdom if He would simply heal me. The Lord has shown
me that He allows these things for His glory so that “in my weakness He is made strong.” He continually works miracles so that no medical professional can steal the glory that belongs to Him!”
When asked about the difficulty of being on the receiving end of ministry, Russell shared, “Being diagnosed with cancer has brought me so much more love and encouragement than I could fathom; blessings that would not have happened otherwise. Through most of my hardest days, I always had fresh flowers in my home and encouraging words from someone in the form of a card, text, phone call, app message, email, meals, gift cards, care packages, or thoughtful gifts.”
Smith reflected similarly, “The church has interceded for us. They have made us meals, sent cards, filled in for us when we could not be present at church,
driven me to appointments, spent time with me so Marco could continue to do the ministry, and provided a listening ear.
Through the storm with God
When asked what the Lord has shown them through this journey, Russell replied with a list: “First, the prayer of the saints. Cancer helped me see the power of prayer and the gift of God to us in the form of the bride of Christ. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God answered the prayers of His people and I am extremely grateful. Secondly, I am closer to my husband. Cancer deepened our love and gave us the opportunity to live the “for better or worse” part of our marriage vows. While Brad cares for the masses so well, He has walked with me every step of the way. Thirdly, I am better equipped to minister because I have a clearer understanding of being a Christian during a challenging season. I hope having walked this cancer journey will make me a more empathetic, compassionate, understanding,
Pastor Brad Russell and his wife, JoAnny, and their family.
Old Powatan Baptist Church
and encouraging pastor’s wife. Finally, cancer has given me the gift of reflection and gratitude. God has brought me more goodness and blessings than pain, and I know that He will continue to bring good from this.”
Smith described it this way, “The Lord has shown me that He allows these things for His glory so that ‘in my weakness He is made strong.’ He continually works miracles so that no medical professional can steal the glory that belongs to Him! He has gifted me with a superb support system of people who care deeply for me, who continue to step up in our times of need. They pray, encourage us, and challenge us to share the Gospel. They love us unconditionally, and walk through the fiery storms with us. I have learned that prayer is essential to thriving. My prayer life has grown by leaps and bounds. The Lord has shown me how
Pastor Marco Smith with his wife, Jessica Smith, and their family.
Matoaca Baptist Church
He can move mountains when His church intercedes for one another!
For both pastors’ wives, God’s Word has ministered understanding to their minds, comfort for their souls, and healing to their bodies. Russell recalls reading Deuteronomy 23:5b, “…but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the Lord your God loves you.” Also, the Psalmist writes in 28:7, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.”
The Church steps up
When the roles are reversed, the church steps up and ministers to their pastor and family.
Smith closed by saying, “Christ’s church is a beautiful family that has exemplified who He is. They have walked this journey with us, and we are so very thankful!”
Vitalized DEACON MINISTRY
Jamie McClanahan, pastor of Wayne Hills Baptist Church, did not initially think of a biblical office or some theological aspect of church leadership when thinking of deacon ministry. Instead, Pastor Jamie sees faces and names and recalls warm memories from childhood to the present. Pastor Jamie grew up living next to a church as a pastor's son in western Pennsylvania, and deacons were always
nearby and helpful. Today, more than ever, Pastor Jamie is convinced that the deacon ministry in the local church is vital to the care and support of church membership and the longevity of the pastors who lead them.
Church Revitalization Cohort
Over the past year and a half, Pastor Jamie has spent time in the Church Revitalization Cohort of
For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy. 3:13
the SBC of Virginia. Under the guidance of Rusty Small, Jamie was challenged to evaluate Wayne Hills Baptist Church to see if any areas needed major or minor revitalization. One of the areas he leaned into was the deacon ministry. Wayne Hills has made significant progress in developing a deacon ministry that is biblically aligned and practically administered, but work still needed to be done to better serve the church members and support the work of the elders and pastors. The result was developing a strategy to revitalize the ministry and to create a revised training manual for the elders and deacons.
Deacon Family Ministry Program
In the revised Deacon Family Ministry Program, every deacon was assigned several active members within the body. They were responsible for a personal touch and care of these members. Additionally, they serve on a rotation basis as a Deacon of the Week, which focuses on serving
members, caring for the church building, and aiding leaders on Sunday mornings.
Deacons, by nature, are doers and love to be active in caring for others and for supporting the ministry of church pastors. This was one reason the change took place. After all, no deacon wants to fail in their role. Making this change gave guidance to those who may not have a clear picture or direction of how to serve and would likely have become frustrated.
A Clearer Role
Overall, the revitalization gave deacons a clearer understanding of their Biblical role and the unique way it is to be carried out. It also clarified the distinction between a deacon and an elder. Deacons understood that they are not competing with elders but are to cooperate with them for better member care and Gospel growth.
For Pastor Jamie, revitalizing the Deacon Ministry felt like adding another layer to an ancient city. I am thankful for the work that was done before me, but I also acknowledge the importance of improving it to better sustain and care for existing and future members and for the vitality and longevity of our elders.
Today, more than ever, Pastor Jamie is convinced that the deacon ministry in the local church is vital to the care and support of church membership and the longevity of the pastors who lead them.
Living Out God's Word
One of the largest challenges women’s ministry leaders face stems from one of Scripture’s simplest mandates:
“In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered.” TITUS 2:3-5, CSB
With this challenge in mind, the SBC of Virginia Women’s Ministry Team included “Creating an Atmosphere of Discipleship” in its Leadership Roundtable.
At this informal roundtable discussion, over 60 women’s ministry leaders from across Virginia gathered at Staples Mill Road Baptist Church in Glen Allen to hear from Kelly King, formerly with Lifeway Women. The discussion focused on three key topics: conflict resolution, creating and maintaining small groups, and mentoring and discipleship that lasts. For the final topic, mentoring and discipleship that lasts, Laura Steele from The Heights Baptist Church in Colonial Heights led the conversation.
Steele, women’s ministry director at The Heights, along with Karen Hahn, wife of senior pastor Randall Hahn, talked about a wildly successful Titus 2 (T2) program they lead. In this program, women are connected in ways that are authentic and natural while keeping the atmosphere fun and energetic. T2 gatherings are held at the church on a quarterly basis and provide an opportunity for paired women to share with others how they live out the Titus 2 mandate.
As Steele shared about the T2 program, Joni Orme from Nansemond River Baptist Church in Suffolk was
listening intently. Orme had been sensing the Holy Spirit prompting her to step into a larger role in women’s ministry. In fact, she and a team from Nansemond River had recently contacted Dolly Mink, Women’s Ministry Coordinator for the SBC of Virginia, to seek guidance on re-booting their ministry. One key area Orme wanted to develop was a mentoring and discipleship program for their women.
Joni Orme met with Laura Steele, and the two connected immediately. Steele invited a group from Nansemond River to visit The Heights and attend a T2 gathering in person. Inspired by what they saw, the Nansemond River team returned home and implemented many of the same strategies. Today, both ministries are thriving in their respective churches. Women’s attendance at Nansemond River has tripled, and several girls have even expressed interest in joining the T2 program—leading to an exciting new expansion that now includes girls as well.
This is a powerful example of what the SBCV slogan “Not Alone” really means.
“This kind of success is exactly what we pray for,” said Dolly Mink. “It is so rewarding to see churches come together to expand the Kingdom by living out the instructions found in God’s Word.”
The next Leadership Roundtable is currently in the planning stages and is slated to take place in the summer of 2026.
For more information, contact Dolly Mink at:
dmink@sbcv.org
BRANDON PICKETT
bpickett@sbcv.org facebook.com/brandon.pickett
How Desperate Are You?
Have you ever had this happen to you? One minute you are walking side by side with your young child in a store or mall, and the next, you look, and they are gone. I remember that happened to me. My heart dropped. My heart started racing. I called their name, scanned the aisles, rushed past strangers—nothing else mattered. I didn’t care if I looked ridiculous or if people stared. I was desperate to find my child. Praise the Lord, we found each other pretty quickly. But there are times when I think about that kind of desperation—deep, raw, urgent … and think, do I have the kind of desperation for Jesus? That is exactly what we see in Scripture when people go after Jesus.
In Mark 10 and Luke 18, a blind man named Bartimaeus sits by the road (where he probably sits every day begging for his life). There’s a huge crowd all around Jesus. But when Bartimaeus hears that Jesus is coming by, he immediately cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd tries to shush him, to keep him quiet, but rather than listen to them or shrink back … he yells all the louder! Why? Because when you’re desperate, you don’t worry about what others think. You know Jesus is your only hope—and you cry out with all you’ve got.
When Jesus called for him, Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. Can you sense his desperation? When Jesus asked him what he wanted him to do, Bartimaeus didn’t hesitate, “I want to see!” When Jesus told him his faith had healed him, the Bible tells us, instantly, he could see!
Jesus hears your cry. He knows your heart. That same desperation is in the woman with the issue of blood. She’s tried everything for twelve years, and nothing has worked. Think of the doctors and the medicine and money and the time and the incredible disappointment that she’s been through. But when she hears that Jesus is passing through, she knows this is her only shot at healing. Is she passive?
No way! She pushes through the crowd just to touch the edge of His robe. Jesus stops, turns, and she is healed—not because she followed a formula, but because she reached out in absolute faith.
Think about the friends who carried a paralyzed man to Jesus. When they couldn’t get through the front door because of the crowds, they climbed the roof, tore it open, and lowered him down right in front of Jesus. That’s bold. That’s persistent. That’s desperation.
In every case, desperation leads to a breakthrough. Not the kind of desperation that’s hopeless or panicked—but the kind that refuses to give up. The kind that says, “Jesus, I need You. I can’t do this without You. I won’t be silent, and I won’t stop until You move.”
This is why church planters leave the comfort of a job or their hometown or a ministry and start a work in a new place where people are desperate.
This is why churches send men and women from the place they’ve grown up and lived their whole lives to live and minister somewhere they’ve never been, to share the Gospel with people who are desperate.
This is why we as churches join together to pray, give, send, and go—to make sure those who are desperate know that they are not alone. That the creator of the universe is so concerned with their situation that out of His great love, He sent His one and only Son.
And on a more personal note … just like I searched with everything in me to find my child, God responds to those who desperately search for Him. He’s not annoyed by our cries. He’s not too busy or too distant. He hears, He stops, He turns, and He meets us right where we are.
So go ahead—cry out. Reach for Him. Tear the roof off, because Jesus honors the heart that’s desperate for Him..
MINISTRY & EVENTS
2025
AUGUST
1
Church Planter Family Day, Busch Gardens, Williamsburg
1-2
Not Ashamed - Women's Conference, Liberty BC, Appomattox 12
Small Town/Rural Church Pastors and Leaders Workshop, Liberty BC, Appomattox 14-15
DR Chaplain Training - Emotional and Spiritual Care in Disasters, Ministry Support Center, Glen Allen 16
ICS/IMT Incident Commander, Ministry Support Center, Glen Allen
22
E2 Kids, Franklin Heights Church, Rocky Mount
23
E2 Kids, Euclid Avenue BC, Bristol 24
Global Hunger Sunday
SEPTEMBER
5
E2 Kids, Spotswood BC, Fredericksburg
6
E2 Kids, First Baptist Church, Norfolk 6
Sunday School and Small Group Workshop, Mount Vernon BC, Glen Allen 9-10
Send Network Virginia Residency Builder, Ministry Support Center, Glen Allen 19-21
Young Adults Retreat, Watermarks Camp, Scottsville
20
Conferencia Renovados, Swift Creek BC, Midlothian 23
