VOL 5, ISSUE 2
SPRING 2020
Latest mission trip to Ghana celebrates 100,000 mosquito nets distributed
// pg 11
MISSION
complete?
Leaders of the Future
Uptick Launches Catalyst
Kairos Initiative hosts annual cohort of young adult leaders
A new cohort that helps pastors lead UP, IN, and OUT
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Rebuilding Hope Dover Baptist Association churches contribute to local ministry to end homelessness 18
A NEEDED REBOOT by John Upton
JOHN UPTON is the Executive Director of the BGAV.
I don’t mind eating by myself. I can do that, but it’s better— and it is only a feast—if there are other faces around me. Like food and song, our spiritual walk—both as churches and as individuals—is most often done alone, because in so many ways we find ourselves alone with God. But like food and song, our spiritual walk is most powerful and most fully at home when someone else is with us. It is better for each person when we are an “us.”
But like food and song, our spiritual walk is most powerful and most fully at home when someone else is with us. It is better for each person when we are an “us.”
I love to sing; I really love to sing. I sing all the time by myself. I sing in the office, at home, in the shower, in the car, even at the grocery store with my granddaughter—while holding a stalk of celery. You can be grateful you weren’t there, though our rendition of “Let It Go” was amazing. Even though I sing by myself, I think it’s better music, and I like it better, when I sing with others. I love the harmonies, the beauty of the blend. I love putting my little voice in the power of other voices and the feel of all of us being carried by the big wave. I like the “familiness” of it and the fun of it and the size of the sound we make together.
Why do you think that whenever Jesus sent his disciples out into the world with the gospel, he didn’t send them as individuals? He sent them two by two, paired as partners, because it’s more fun, more real, and more faithful. Who can face the world in which we live without a spiritual partner or partners to walk with? That is true of individuals and churches.
I will always sing by myself; I can’t help it. But it’s better music when I sing along with you. And I think I even notice that I sing better alone after we have sung together.
That is why I constantly celebrate the BGAV. We have found soul partners to make the harmonies, to taste the feasts, to be touched by the power of the Holy Spirit. We learn from Acts 2 that the corporate gathering of believers is not just an option; it is our Pentecost.
I also love to eat. I probably didn’t need to tell you that. I’m someone who doesn’t mind eating alone. With my travel schedule I’m often alone, so it doesn’t really bother me to be at a table by myself. I’m fortunate I don’t have to do it much, though, because the food really is better if someone else is there, isn’t it? When you surround food with faces, it brings out the flavor. Add conversation and laughter, listening and love, and it’s like spice. The bread really tastes better if somebody passes it to you.
If we have been walking it alone or in isolation, we need a reboot. Rebooting means starting fresh, getting back to the basics of what makes us healthier, saner, growing children of God. Maybe it is time I stop being just an “I” with God, you stop being just a “you” with God, and we finally become an “us” with God. I think we will notice we serve better alone after we have served together.
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Latest mission trip to Ghana celebrates 100,000 mosquito nets distributed
// pg 10
MISSION
complete?
// pg 11 4 // BGAV News & Notes 6 // A Letter from the BGAV President 7 // Developing Leaders for the Future of the Church 10 // Chaplaincy Training: Not Just for Chaplains 11 // Mission Complete?
16 // The Bandana 18 // Dover Baptist Association Invests $30,000 Towards Relieving Homelessness 20 // Fresh Expressions Brings Clarity, Confidence, and Courage 21 // Missio Alliance Shares Partner Resources 23 // Latest Ministry Jobs
BGAV Advancing the Kingdom Together
ISSN 2573-5101 (print) ISSN 2573-511X (online)
A publication of the Baptist General Association of Virginia Volume 5, Issue 2 Spring 2020 BGAV Express is published quarterly by the Baptist General Association of Virginia, 2828 Emerywood Parkway, Henrico, VA 23294.
Send subscription requests and address changes to: Jennifer Law jennifer.law@bgav.org 800.255.2428, ext. 1223 BGAV Express Baptist General Association of Virginia 2828 Emerywood Parkway Henrico, VA 23294 toll-free 800.255.2428 Or visit BGAV.org/Express.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: John V. Upton, Jr. BGAV EXPRESS EDITOR: Jennifer Law ART DIRECTOR: Meghan Wilson
Disaster Response Staff Changes and Additions The BGAV Mission Development staff has made some changes in January 2020 that will enable the team to provide ongoing missions opportunities in better ways for you and your congregation. We are excited to announce one new full-time addition along with several part-time positions that have been created or redefined in this reorganization which took effect on January 1: • Mikayla Barnes is serving as Communications and Volunteer Coordinator (full time) • Matthew Combee is the DR Operations Coordinator • Butch Meredith is the Construction Coordinator • Travis Gallahan is the National Missions Fleet Coordinator • Kristen Curtis will now serve as Training and Chaplaincy Coordinator
BGAV Scholarship Applications Due April 1 Through Cooperative Missions offerings, the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) provides scholarships and ministerial education funds for eligible Virginia Baptist students who need aid in financing their education. BGAV Scholarships and Ministerial Education Funds can help students earn an undergraduate degree, pursue undergraduate or graduate education in preparation for vocational ministry, or access training and continuing education opportunities. Scholarship applications for the 2020-2021 school year are now being accepted for the following:
Mikayla Barnes
Matthew Combee
Butch Meredith
• College scholarships • Ministerial education funds • Nontraditional ministry education scholarships • Church internship grants Visit BGAV.org/Scholarships for more information. Applications are due by April 1.
Travis Gallahan
Kristen Curtis
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NEWS + NOTES
Complete list of events at BGAV.org/Events
Event Calendar April 1 1–3 12 18
19–22 20–22 20–22 24–25 25 25–26 26 27 28 30
May 3 7 10 11–12
11–12 15–16 15–16
BGAV Scholarships Deadline (12:00 noon) Fresh Expressions National Gathering, Reston, VA Easter Sunday WMUV Standing Rock New Volunteer Training and All 2020 Participants Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Training, Henrico, VA Introduction to Interim Ministry (as part of Chaplaincy Training), Henrico, VA Empower Class 510: A Coach Approach to Leading and Managing, Henrico, VA WMUV Mom & Me I Revitalize 2: The Next Level, Hurt, VA WMUV Mom & Me II Cooperative Missions/Cooperative Program Sunday Virginia Baptist Executive Board Virginia Baptist Mission Council Church Financial Administration Seminar, Henrico, VA
17–24 25 28
Virginia Network of Interim Ministers, Lynchburg, VA AAFVA Preaching Camp, Dumfries, VA Virginia Church Library Association Spring 2020 Conference, Richmond, VA Kairos Leadership Initiative (KLI) Retreat Memorial Day Virginia Baptist Executive Board
June 1–2
Empower Class 502: Establishing a Dynamic Coaching Relationship, Henrico, VA 5–6 WMUV RA Event, Doswell, VA 9–10 Southern Baptist Convention, Orlando, FL 13–16 PASSPORTKids I, Lynchburg, VA 15–20 WMUV Summer Camp (All Girls/GAs/Acteens), Lowesville, VA 17–20 PASSPORTKids II, Lynchburg, VA 21 HopeTree Family Services 21 Father’s Day 21–26 Camp Piankatank Boys Week, Hartfield, VA 22–26 CentriKid I, Lynchburg, VA 22–27 WMUV Coed Summer Camp, Lowesville, VA 26–28 Camp Piankatank Mini-Camp, Hartfield, VA 28–7/3 Camp Piankatank Girls Week, Hartfield, VA 28–7/4 Virginia Baptist Heritage Week 29–7/3 CentriKid II, Lynchburg, VA 29–7/4 WMUV Coed Summer Camp, Lowesville, VA
LifeSpire of Virginia Day National Day of Prayer Mother’s Day Virginia Baptist Senior Adult Festival of Praise, Roanoke, VA
Seeking BGAV Leaders BGAV’s Committee on Boards and Committees needs your help identifying leaders from BGAV churches to participate in the boards of BGAV’s agencies and institutions, and on its various standing committees.
Nominations must be received no later than May 1, 2020. Visit BGAV.org/Nominations to get more information and submit nominations.
Both lay leaders and clergy are welcome to serve, with ideal nominees being: • Christ followers, • Ethnically, racially, and generationally diverse, • Passionate about Advancing the Kingdom Together and • Able to handle the responsibilities assigned.
For more BGAV news, visit BGAV.org/News 5
A LETTER FROM THE BGAV PRESIDENT by Adam Tyler In August 2013, I sat beside other Virginia Baptists gathered at Eagle Eyrie for MC2; I had been teaching the adult Bible study at the annual mission camp, and I went to worship that night with hundreds of campers, young and old. That night, I heard Dean Miller share about a new project in Ghana called More Than Nets. Right away, I felt my heart stirring. This was something I could do! Moreover, this was something I could encourage others to do. More Than Nets has been a partnership with the Ghana Baptists which aims to save lives through the distribution and use of mosquito nets in an area greatly affected by malaria, and it aims to save people through planting churches in villages with little exposure to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now, seven years later, we have completed our goal. In partnership with many local churches and individuals, and especially in partnership with the Ghana Baptist Convention, we have met the mark of 100,000 nets. In addition, a thousand churches have been planted, and over 5,000 people have come to faith in Jesus. I have had the joy of going to Ghana twice as part of this effort, and my church has joined many other BGAV churches in supporting this great work through prayer and giving. I am thrilled by the kingdom work done in the Yendi region, in part through our efforts, and I am anxious to see what comes next!
Adam Tyler (fifth from left) stands with a group of fellow mission trip participants in Yendi, Ghana.
ADAM TYLER is the 2020 BGAV President.
I am also excited to see how Virginia Baptists learn from what we’ve experienced in Ghana. The work we’ve been part of beside Emmanuel Mustapha and our Ghanaian brothers and sisters is different from much of the mission work we’ve done before, because the context is so different. The challenges of planting churches in a region where few vibrant churches have existed in the past is new ground for me and for many of us. But we have seen God’s Spirit at work, and we have seen new (to us) methods and techniques bear fruit. As we face new challenges in the future, and new opportunities, how can we learn from our More Than Nets experience? How can those lessons inform how we engage in church planting in areas where vibrant churches are few and far between, like in the Yendi region? How can we share the Gospel among people with many immediate and serious concerns, like our friends in Ghana who continue to face the dangers of malaria? How can we make inroads for the Gospel through serving others who may never darken the door of our churches? And how can we find new partners in mission and ministry to make a kingdom impact in our communities and all around the world? I rejoice in the work we’ve been privileged to be part of in Ghana. I rejoice just as much in the ways God will build on what we’ve experienced and learned as we continue to follow his Spirit in the days and years ahead.
To read more about the latest mission trip to Ghana, go to page 11.
For more information, visit BGAV.org/MoreThanNets
DEVELOPING LEADERS
FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH
BY KARIN GOUDE
January 2020 Kairos Leadership Initiative Retreat
monthly with mentors and coaches to process and apply what they are learning. Additionally, a reading curriculum is assigned throughout the year to grow spiritually in their walk with the Lord and become more effective leaders in their communities.
More and more churches are voicing the need for leaders in their congregations and workplaces. Now in its eighth program year, the Kairos Leadership Initiative (KLI) responds to this challenge by selecting a yearly cohort of exceptional young adults and inviting them to participate in a shared space of leadership development and vocational discernment. This year’s cohort met in mid-January at Sweet Briar College to kick off an exciting program year with group sessions and community building.
During this year’s application and interview process, the importance of prayer regularly rose to the top of our conversations. The KLI Action Team, comprised of ministers serving across the state, felt a pull from the Holy Spirit to emphasize prayer throughout this program year. We assigned prayer partners within the cohort to encourage an attentive ear and expectant heart as a key component of the program.
The arc of KLI begins with the foundational concept of understanding your unique identity. Through scripture and assessment tools, students begin to uncover the fascinating depth of their core being. As in years past, we continued to utilize the Enneagram assessment to enable students to better understand their inner motivations and tendencies. Jenny Hodge, Executive Director of Tidewater Youth Services Foundation, also joined us for a presentation on the Boden’s Family Systems Theory and the Genogram. These two tools brought rich conversation as participants explored new aspects of their family dynamics and personalities.
“My prayer group and I (the guys in the group) created our own prayer/accountability messaging group so we can share what we’re going through and how we can best pray for each other. Since the retreat I’ve been focusing on becoming more diligent in my spiritual walk and how best I interact with those I work/live with.” - Samuel Finley, senior at Radford University and active member of the National Guard These young adults are the future leaders of the Church. Their impact in local communities, college campuses, local churches, and global contexts will reach far beyond even our hopes for this program. The Kairos Initiative celebrates the opportunity to champion young adults and support them in becoming the leaders so many are hoping to find.
Jordann McMahan, a junior at Old Dominion University, shared how this combination influenced her weekend experience: “I learned so much about myself during discussions about the Enneagram. One of the things I am most thankful for was the opportunity to learn about genograms, as it was really interesting to see the ways my family relationships have influenced the person I am today. We also spent time in prayer and worship together on Sunday morning to end our time so beautifully. I can’t wait to see how God uses this group and time for amazing things!”
Pray for this cohort as they begin their journeys and join us as we work to make an impact on the lives of young adults across the world for the sake of the Gospel by moving missionally, developing leaders, and building community. Head to KairosInitiative.org to discover more about Kairos Initiative ministry opportunities.
The unique design of the KLI program is to challenge highpotential young adults to discover their identity in Christ, claim their God-given gifts and talents, understand their surrounding contexts, and discern their unique call to a life of mission. Between three key retreats in January, May, and October, participants meet
Karin Goude is the Program and Network Associate of BGAV’s Kairos Initiative.
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Building Bridges of Civility for Flourishing(SM) by Laura McDaniel
Catalyst Uptick Catalyst, funded by the Lilly Endowment, launched in January with three regional cohorts: the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Northern Virginia), Richmond, and the Tidewater. Each cohort consists of an Uptick alumni who serves as the convener, several pastoral mentors, and six Uptick participants. Based on the Uptick model that uses a combination of gatherings, online meetings, coaching, and mentoring to develop deep listening skills in young leaders, Uptick Catalyst helps pastors
navigate the challenges of leading in a metropolitan context through a framework based on Micah 6:8, Matthew 22:36-40, and Matthew 28:19: “UP” toward God through learning healthy rhythms of life in the face of congregational demands and a fastpaced environment; “IN” toward community by connecting to mentors and peers for relationships of trust and accountability, and learning about movemental leadership in their context; and “OUT” to the world by developing cultural intelligence and learning tools of reconciliation to navigate the polarity that exists in ethnic and racially diverse communities.
Affordable, Exciting Mission Trips to the DC Area Housing, Mission Experiences, and More! missioncenterdc.org
“I am excited about the Uptick Catalyst initiative and the potential it has for social and spiritual awakenings in participants and the churches of which they are a part. I am convinced that what our culture needs from the Church right now is a vision of unity amidst diversity and a radical commitment to “building bridges of civility for human flourishing that will result in lives changed by Jesus.” – Dr. Phillip Faig Pastoral Mentor for Catalyst and Senior Pastor at Old Town Community Church, Alexandria, VA
“I am so grateful to be a part of this movement with Uptick Catalyst. It is such an important conversation to have with the church and our communities, for we are one and the same. This opportunity for growth both spiritually and missionally will give room for greater impact, especially given the way in which Uptick will function with three regions at a time. The journey will be hard and more than likely press into areas of my own life that have been left unexamined, but I am entrusting all things to Christ.” – Artemia Tamayo Uptick alumni and convener of the DMV region, and Pastor at Greenbrier Baptist Church, Arlington, VA
The mission of Uptick Catalyst is equipping leaders to build bridges of civility for flourishing. Project Director Laura McDaniel observes that, “helping pastors to increase their capacity as bridge builders will not only help them flourish personally and professionally; it will provide a pathway for their churches and communities to thrive. Imagine the power of the church’s prophetic voice when its people model civility in their walk and witness, loving God and others in word and deed.” Josh Hayden (Uptick alum, pastoral mentor for Catalyst, and Senior Pastor at First Baptist Ashland, VA) said, “I am excited for Uptick Catalyst because it is a tangible, in the flesh, real opportunity for young leaders of high capacity coming from diverse cultural backgrounds to experience meaningful discipleship and training for their calling. The more time I spend with each leader I am overwhelmed by the kind spirit and disruptive possibilities they bring to the capital-C Church. I am not sure that churches are going to know what to do with these amazing leaders, but I do know that they will be better churches for having made room for these young people to serve and grow. I’m also excited for what I will learn from them and with them about how to depolarize our current theological, political, and cultural climate.”
“Uptick Catalyst is going to change the Church of tomorrow. Without leaders who are prepared to navigate the complexity of diversity, Churches will fail to minister to their cities. Uptick is an invaluable experience for seasoned leaders to impart wisdom to young leaders and for seasoned leaders to learn from young leaders! Being a part of Uptick inspires me to never stop learning, to never stop reaching, and to never stop longing for the Church of tomorrow to become better than the Church of today!” - Fred Michaux Pastoral Mentor in Tidewater and Pastor of City Life Church, Newport News, VA For more information, visit Uptick.org
Laura McDaniel is the Network Catalyst for Uptick. 9
Chaplaincy training attendees take notes during a presentation (far left). BGAV Coaching Network Director Ken Kessler leads a discussion on coaching with training participants (left).
Chaplaincy Training:
The training is not only for professional chaplains, however. Bobby Smith, Director of Chaplaincy Relations for Texas Baptists, explained, “The training benefits any Christian. Learning pastoral care skills and ministry tools like these will make anyone a better Christian caregiver. God calls all Christians to be in the priesthood of believers.”
Not Just for Chaplains
Training courses at this year’s event include Baptist Distinctives, Peer Support for First Responders, Coaching for Pastors and Chaplains, Introduction to Intentional Interim Ministry, Correctional Chaplaincy, The Art of Facilitating a Learning Event, and Disaster Spiritual Care.
Virginia and Texas Baptists have been in a chaplaincy partnership since 2016—a partnership which has resulted in meaningful resourcing and networking. One of the best opportunities that has arisen in this relationship is the annual Chaplain and Spiritual Care Training event that is offered in the spring in Virginia. This year’s event will be at the BGAV Richmond office from April 19-22, 2020—and it’s not just for chaplains.
Todd Combee, Pastor of New Bethesda Baptist Church in Mechanicsville, VA (a BGAV congregation), serves as BGAV’s Director of Chaplain Relations and is a critical part of the Texas/Virginia relationship. “One thing that drew me,” he commented, “is how this creates a comprehensive atmosphere of support. It makes us better at what we do.”
Leaders from Texas and Virginia will lead the training courses, which fulfill the endorsement requirements for chaplains (16 contact hours of training are required for continuing education credit for professional chaplains).
Anyone interested in honing their ministry skills in any of the areas covered in this training is welcome to attend. For more information, visit BGAV.org/Chaplain-Training-April-2020 to register or email Todd Combee at todd.combee@bgav.org.
Training attendees listen as a Disaster Response chaplain volunteer teaches about good communication with those affected by a natural disaster. 10
MISSION complete? 100,000 nets
Ann Brown stands with a group of children during her first mission trip to Ghana in February 2020.
distributed
MISSION complete? 100,000 nets
distributed By Dean Miller
Last year when I came to Yendi for the first time, I didn’t know what to expect. I wondered if i could do anything worthwhile here, or if it would be better to send the money for the trip to Muss. I had this deep ambivalence until one night I was speaking to one of the pastors here, and he said, “When you send money, we know you care; but when you come here, we know you love us.” In that moment all doubt passed away. Visiting made my love for these people and this work real. - Wyatt Shelton Miles
Monte Vista Baptist Church, Hurt, VA
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Sometime in early 2011, John Upton met with the Mission Development staff (then called Glocal Missions) and asked if we could identify a particular project or partnership that Virginia Baptists could really get behind, something that we could all rally around and make a strategic difference in a specific community. We readily accepted this challenge. The staff began researching, calling friends and partners, and really listening for where God might be leading. Over the course of several months, one particular name and location was mentioned to three of the staff members—at three different times and in three different settings. I recall sitting in the staff meeting when each of these connections were made known, and it was pretty clear where we needed to go and with whom we needed to meet. In December 2011, I was one of three staff persons from the BGAV to travel to Ghana to meet with Reverend Emmanuel Mustapha (affectionately known as Muss—pronounced ‘moose’), a missionary with the Ghana Baptist Convention. He was a church planter working in the northern region of the country. Once we arrived, he immediately wanted to
A more gracious people I have never me t. A more giving people I have never met. They share from the little that they have an d they give of themselves. They teach me how to live when I return home. And what an overw helming joy to see their response to the Gospel message and then the invitation. You can almost hear the angels in heaven rejoicing. - Thomasine Baynard
Bon Air Baptist Church, Richmond, VA
Clockwise from far left: Mission trip members pose with Emmanuel Mustapha (center) as local villagers hold up the remaining mosquito nets; Wyatt Shelton Miles and Kent Brown baptize two villagers in the local river; Ghanaian women participate in a worship service with Virginia Baptists.
Riding, Remembering, Reflecting Coming, Going, Teaching Guinea hens clucking— coffee dripping Feet moving across kitchen and dining areas Gentle breeze of a new day Colleagues in early morning meditations Happy humming of Felicia’s preparations for a new day Yendi Awakens Thanksgiving!
share with us all that he was doing—planting churches, digging wells, tilling ground for crops, starting a school, pastoring a church—the list went on and on. And it was all being done well. Muss spoke passionately about each project, especially church planting, which is his heartbeat. In fact, he had already planted over 500 churches all across the region and had a vision and strategy for 1,000 more. But then he paused, looked at us deeply, and said, “If you want to make a difference in our community, then save our lives.” Malaria had killed thousands of people across the region over the years. Muss and his wife, Felicia, suffered the loss of a child due to malaria. Muss told us that if we could provide chemically treated mosquito nets to the region, then we could save people’s lives—and then he would make sure their souls were saved as well. We learned quite a bit about malaria, mosquitoes, prevention, treatments, root causes, and other possible solutions. We came back to Virginia refreshed and renewed about this opportunity to make a difference in this one small place called Yendi.
Kathryn Burnes
After several discussions and other meetings, we determined that Virginia Baptists would indeed take on this challenge. The 13
Bon Air Baptist Church, Richmond, VA
BGAV Mission Development Coordinator Dean Miller (third from left) stands with (from left) Otis Hall, Mission Pastor of Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond, VA; Emmanuel Mustapha; and Bryan Taliaferro, member of Beale Memorial Baptist Church in Tappahannock, VA, during a BGAV mission trip in February 2020.
na, and I hate to say ha G to ip tr d ir th y m is This e into the edge of iv dr e w n he w ip tr ch Ea goodbye. many ways, Yendi n I ” e. m ho e m co el “W y, town, we sa h the people of Ghana it w ve lo in ll fe I e. m ho is and look forward ip tr t rs fi e th on ly te ia immed ople are gracious, pe he T . ar ye y er ev g in rn to retu ith beautiful w g in m co el w d an , en op , loving, kind way I can think to st be he T e. nc da d an s ng so ” Your spirit feels e. re “f is g in el fe is th be ri desc ar I mourn when ye ch Ea . nt ai tr ns co ut ho free wit from my feet. I rt di na ha G e th h us br I have to hana with me always. G of rt pa a ep ke to t an w - Sharon McCauley Bon Air Baptist Church,
Mission trip members unfold new mosquito nets to be hung in local homes (right). Members of the February 2020 mission trip pose with a group of Ghanaian families after a worship service at a local church plant created through the More Than Nets initiative (below).
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Richmond, VA
project was launched at the BGAV annual meeting in November 2012. I traveled back to Ghana in March 2013 to officially launch the project in Yendi and to meet with local chiefs and officials to determine the best way to move forward. We developed and implemented a plan which included the purchase of 100,000 chemically treated nets, costs for transportation and delivery of nets, education in how to properly use the nets, and funds to plant churches in each of the villages where nets would be distributed. Muss asked the obvious question about how Virginia Baptists would distribute these nets. I told him that almost the entirety of this plan was going to be carried out by the team that he put together.
been planted, and tens of thousands of Ghanaians have found new life in Christ. A host of other projects have supported the main work of church planting and net distribution, such as a new school, vocational training, new wells, pastor training, women’s empowerment, and ongoing church support. The tremendous success of the More Than Nets project found its way into neighboring countries and other parts of Ghana, and we have been asked if we can continue the project. So, welcome to More Than Nets: Phase Two! I’m not sure what God has in store for us yet, but if it is anything like the past seven years, we are in for a great ride together.
I told him Virginia Baptists would raise the necessary funds and that they might come and assist, but we trusted him and his team to take care of the rest. He had to sit back and absorb what had just been said. In all his previous years of working with other groups, each one had insisted that they take the lead. This was the first time that someone had shown complete trust in him to take the lead. He was somewhat astonished, and I said, “Welcome to the world of Virginia Baptists.” And the More Than Nets Project was born.
Dean Miller is the Team Coordinator for the BGAV’s Mission Development staff.
Fast forward to February 2020. Over the past seven years, Virginia Baptists have raised over $600,000 towards the More Than Nets Project. We have met our goal and purchased 100,000 chemically treated mosquito nets. In fact, the last allotment of these nets is being distributed by Virginia Baptist volunteers as I am writing this article. Documentation from local clinics and the regional medical center have demonstrated a 43% drop in malaria cases in the region that has been netted. An additional 700 churches have
I was part of a e m ti t rs fi e th et rg fo r I will neve er we were greeted ft A . na ha G in am te ng ti church plan ted singing so ar st le op pe e th , rs ai ch n warmly and give people come ed ch at w e W e. m co d an others would hear alking down the path w rs he ot m ng di clu in , in g streamin hes on their heads. nc be d an s ck ba r ei th on with babies y and a sermon, on im st te a ve ga am te r Members of ou talked with the people er ad le ch ur ch l ca lo a en and th pt Jesus. Every person ce ac to e lik ld ou w ho w d and aske there raised both hands. - Ann Brown
A local villager leads worship under the shade of a large tree in Yendi, Ghana. Because of More Than Nets, over 700 churches have been planted in Ghana since 2013.
etna, VA
First Baptist Church, Gr
For more information, visit BGAV.org/MoreThanNets 15
THE BY JUDSON PARK Our work in the Donauhof is fun most of the time, but it can also be stressful. A few months ago, we had to prepare the building for a pop-up restaurant that would be spending seven weeks using the ballroom as a dining hall. This meant the basement had to be clean in order for the air to meet a certain standard of cleanliness (the air filters were down there). Keep in mind that this is an old building. I would guess the basement hadn’t been cleaned or dusted in well over half a decade, so an ungodly amount of dust had piled up over the years—and we had to clean it.
mouths. I myself pulled my shirt up over my nose and mouth to try to stop at least some of the dust. A good friend of mine (I’ll call him Stephan, which is not his real name, to protect his identity) who is a refugee from Afghanistan, was part of the team cleaning the basement. Stephan is one of the happiest people I know. He’s short man who is always smiling and saying in a deep, announcer voice, “Ladies and gentlemen, listen to me!” because that’s pretty much most of the English he knows. During the process of cleaning, I had to take a step back and catch my breath because it was getting a little difficult to breathe. I stepped out of the room where the dust was thickest and brought down my shirt. When I re-entered the room, Stephan came up to me and offered me a bandana to cover my face more easily. He offered me the bandana he had been wearing. I didn’t realize until about a week later what I had experienced. A man who has not had the easiest life met the need of a boy who, throughout his life, hadn’t experienced anywhere near the amount of hardship as a refugee from Afghanistan. In that moment it didn’t matter who we were. It didn’t matter what we had been through in life. The only thing that mattered was what was needed at that moment. He gave me his own bandana, because he saw that I needed it. How beautiful is that?
The team cleaning the basement consisted of myself, my project:vienna coworkers, and about six men from the Farsi-speaking congregation. In total, I would say we spent about six hours all together down in the basement breathing in air thick with dust. Sweeping and moving things around only made it worse. It was only after we’d been cleaning for a good while that someone came up with the idea to wet the floor, so the dust wouldn’t fly up into the air. Sadly, we didn’t have any professional breathing masks to help us deal with the polluted air, so most of us had to use bandanas or our shirts to cover our
This is, in my opinion, what project:Gemeinde is all about. It doesn’t matter who you are, what your story is, or what you’ve done. If you have a need, they do everything in their power to meet it. The people in this community have such a pure love for others that repeatedly takes my breath away. I truly believe this is how the spirit works. It constantly gives us new perspectives on what the love of God looks like. It works in a congregation of many different nations, loving each other because they recognize they don’t belong to this world. They refuse to hold people to their past and accept them (believers or not) as children of God, and they love them accordingly. Judson Park and his Vienna coworkers clean the dusty basement of the Donahouf.
Judson Park is currently serving as a Venturer in Vienna, Austria. 16
Current Requests for Long-Term Volunteers Where are Venturers serving right now? • Judson Park is involved with refugee integration in Vienna, Austria, participating in church ministries as well as community projects. • Brittney Mumma assists with various ministries as a church intern near Panama City, Panama. • Josh Nuckols is an assistant at Cresta del Mar, the Panama Baptist camp in Santa Clara, Panama. • Julia Wallace is going soon to Lebanon for two years to work with the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development. Donate to these Venturers by visiting BGAV.org/Venturers and clicking on their individual donation buttons.
Youth and children participate in camps in Panama, where Josh Nuckols is serving as a BGAV Venturer. For more information, visit BGAV.org/Venturers
• Project Vienna needs volunteers for community engagement as well as church ministries. • The Project Ruth School provides education and vocational training especially among the Roma community around Bucharest, Romania. • Croatian Baptist Aid is headquartered in Zagreb and provides humanitarian relief to refugees at the Bosnian border. • Bruecke Berlin, a young church plant in the heart of Berlin, Germany, needs a ministry assistant. • The Door of Hope rescues abandoned babies in Johannesburg, South Africa. There is a need for volunteers in the baby house as well as at the Children’s Village. • More Than Nets has asked for a long-term volunteer to assist in church planting, mosquito net distribution, and possibly some administrative duties in Northeastern Ghana.
Dover Baptist Association Invests $30,000 Towards Relieving Homelessness by Sam Duenckel Moments of Hope Ministries first appeared on Dover’s radar in mid-2018, thanks to New Bethesda Baptist Church nominating them for a Watson Mission Offering Grant. In the first quarter of 2019, I met with Bob Hummer, Executive Director of Moments of Hope Ministries (Mo Hope), in order to create a promotional video for the 2019 Watson Mission Offering.
Volunteers from around the Dover Baptist Association gathered in October 2019 to package over 2,400 toiletry kits for the Moments of Hope (Mo Hope) Ministries.
During that encounter, God whispered to me that Dover should do something to highlight Mo Hope later in the year at Dover’s Annual Meeting in October. At that time, Dover Baptists and guests gathered at Shalom Baptist Church to pack over 2,400 toiletry kits—at least two months’ worth—to be given out to homeless persons in the metro Richmond area.
to help make this dream a reality. Mo Hope Village is still in the process of acquiring the property, but now they have enough for the down payment!
Mo Hope has an office and food pantry located just north of the Hanover Courthouse. They also set up a satellite location each Saturday in the Brookhill Azalea shopping center (5300 Chamberlayne Road). Each Saturday brings an average of 200300 people. The event begins with a devotional and prayer time followed by opportunities to receive food, clothes, medical check-ups, and bicycle repairs.
At least six Dover churches (New Bethesda, Mount Vernon, Cool Spring, Mount Olivet, Broadus Memorial, and Shalom) are currently involved with Moments of Hope in a variety of ways. Some help in the food pantry; others help on Saturdays. There are still many other ways that other churches can get involved in this local ministry.
In many patches of woods and other places scattered around Metro Richmond, homeless persons live in tents and other makeshift dwellings. Many have jobs that do not pay enough to afford even the cheapest apartments in the area. Many receive Supplemental Security Income, which often cannot cover apartments or even rooms. Others battle with mental illness, and many are veterans with nowhere else to live.
Mo Hope Village will provide opportunities to sponsor a tiny house, to build one as a group, or to adopt a new member of the community. Each of the residents must work towards employment and engage in the community through a variety of ways.
Many of their families often have no idea where their loved one is living. Mo Hope dreams of building a community (called Mo Hope Village) of tiny houses to help end the homeless nightmare of people living unsheltered in Caroline, Hanover, and Henrico counties, as well as in the city of Richmond. They recently found 45 acres in Caroline County, a perfect parcel that God led them to, including an apple orchard, two ponds, and an enclosed structure big enough to build each tiny house on site.
I hope you will join in prayer with Dover Baptists as we continue to support this vital ministry to neighbors that we may often overlook. For more information about this ministry, contact Bob Hummer at itsbob@momentsofhopeoutreach.org or 804.913.9118. Sam Duenckel is Associate for Missions at the Dover Baptist Association. He can be reached by email at sam.duenckel@ doverbaptist.org.
The Dover Association Executive Committee approved $30,000 from a designated fund for Mo Hope Village on January 14, 2020 18
Moments of Hope (Mo Hope) Ministries provides prayer, food, clothing, medical checkups, and bicycle repairs for free at its satellite location in a nearby shopping center.
Brings CLARITY, CONFIDENCE, and COURAGE Jordan and Michael at Salem Baptist in Sparta, Virginia, are stepping out to love those who share their passion for health, nutrition, and mixed martial arts. Clarity brings confidence, and confidence brings courage. This word from Pastor Jeff Hudgins in Floyd, Virginia, has informed the journey he has been on as he develops ways of being church outside the walls of his church—Floyd Baptist. He’s calling the initiative Grace at the Edge.
CLARITY
A team from Calvary Baptist in Bowling Green is spurring one another on to cultivate the presence of Christ in multiple places. A month ago, this team thought they might be starting one fresh expression of church. Now they’re feeling called to start four, as each member of their team has gotten clarity around their calling. Mel is spending more time with the clients at the local food pantry. Marty is spending time with his friends in the recovery community. Helen is experimenting with leading art classes in three different locations where she has found a person of peace. Judy, who’s been leading a fitness class for the church, is now being asked to bring this to reach other places and people in their county.
CONFIDENCE
Graceland Baptist Church in Powhatan, a church that has been on the Fresh Expressions journey since 2012, is praying about the start of their fifth dinner church in the past 18 months. The Lord has given them clarity about two specific populations on the edge: those with special needs and veterans. The photos above are from a recent combined celebration event at Graceland with two of their fresh expressions of church.
It’s simple: he and his team have gotten clarity around places they are already part of. A local neighborhood and a local arts and education center are places on the edge, and they are praying about what the needs are in these places. These places are natural points of intersection for their community. Families he knows already live in the neighborhood. His daughter is already involved at the arts center. Clarity comes when we see how to cultivate Christ’s presence right in front of us. Deuteronomy 30 says, “The word is very near you.” This brings confidence. The word is not in some distant place. It’s not a place we have to look hard for; there is often grace right there for and with people on the edges of our regular lives. The word confidence literally means with faith. Once we know where we’re called, and once we know that the word is near, we move forward with faith. And this brings courage.
COURAGE
The season of Advent brings us face to face with the angels who tell Mary and Joseph to fear not. In 1 John we read that perfect love casts out fear. When we have clarity and confidence around the places and people we’re called to, we have the grace to be courageous. It’s courageous to know and to live the love we’ve received from Christ and from others so that we can give and be in relationship—even on the edge. Around Virginia and across the nation, we’re seeing more and more everyday people step out with clarity, confidence, and courage. 20
Where are you asking for clarity, courage, and confidence? To whom is God calling you? Fear not. The word is near. If you’re interested in learning more Fresh Expressions, find us at the Revitalize Conference at Woodland Baptist Church in Arrington, VA (March 21, 2020); or better yet, join us at the Fresh Expressions National Gathering in Reston, VA (April 1–3, 2020) where you’ll receive challenging words from Lenard Sweet and Tod Bolsinger and hear from everyday people who are growing in clarity, confidence, and courage as we dream about the future church. BGAV affiliates can register with the code BGAV2020 for a big discount!
For more information, visit FreshExpressionsUS.org
SHARES PARTNER RESOURCES Missio Alliance convenes conversations vital to the future of the church. Our partnerships with churches, individual supporters, and Christian organizations create opportunities to share resources that facilitate discussions vital for engaging in God’s mission. Three of our newest and most active partners include World Impact, Herald Press, and InterVarsity Press. InterVarsity Press One of Missio’s first partnerships is also one of its most active: an ever-expanding line of co-branded books with InterVarsity Press that reflects a shared commitment to our values of Comprehensive Mutuality, Hopeful Witness, and Church in Mission. The newest in this line of books is Rediscipling the White Church by David W. Swanson, pastor of New Community Covenant Church in Chicago and a member of the Missio Alliance writing team. Author and speaker Skye Jethani says, “If there is one book every Christian leader in America should read, it’s this one.”
World Impact World Impact empowers urban leaders and connects with local churches to reach their cities with the Gospel. CEO Alvin Sanders believes that churches are the key to sharing hope in urban settings. “I’m often asked, ‘What’s the biggest need for the hood?’” says Sanders. “My answer is healthy local churches.” He was glad to partner with Missio Alliance because “we spend our time looking to join forces with those who show concern for urban spaces, and [Missio Alliance] cares.” Herald Press Herald Press, Missio Alliance’s newest partner, recognized a need for resources that provide concise, practical theology to help readers encounter big questions about God’s work in the world.
BGAV members get a 40% discount on this and any other of the IVP/Missio Alliance books by using the code MISSIO20 at the IVP website (ivpress.com). Other titles include: • A Sojourner’s Truth by Natasha S. Robinson • The Church as Movement by JR Woodward and Dan White Jr. • Emboldened by Tara Beth Leach
Their series The Jesus Way: Small Books of Radical Faith addresses this need through a series of accessible, insightful books written by a diverse community of internationally-renowned pastors, scholars, and practitioners committed to the way of Jesus. Initial titles include What Is the Bible and How Do We Understand It? by Dennis R. Edwards, Why Did Jesus Die and What Difference Does It Make? by Michele Hershberger.
...and many more, which you can access at MissioAlliance.org/IVP. These partners offer a window into how Missio Alliance continues to empower meaningful conversations that help the church engage in God’s mission. To learn more and meet all of our partners, visit MissioAlliance.org/Partners or become an individual supporter at MissioAlliance.org/Friends.
Herald Press chose to partner with Missio Alliance given our audience of church leaders and practitioners who resonate with the values of this series.
For more information, visit MissioAlliance.org 21
THE BGAV’S SEMINARY PARTNER FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION Northern Seminary delivers accessible, affordable theological education to students in Virginia via interactive live-streaming classes and local cohort gatherings. • Learn how to exegete your local context and lead your church wherever you live • Complete your degree entirely from home • Scholarships for students from BGAV churches • Access to veterans benefits at home or deployed
seminary.edu/virginia
LATEST MINISTRY JOBS • Associate Pastor, Christian Formation @ Richmond’s First Baptist Church, Richmond, VA • PT Adult Choir Director @ Moffett Memorial Baptist Church, Danville, VA • Pastor @ First Southern Baptist Church, Pomeroy, OH • Youth Pastor @ Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, Fayetteville, NC • PT Worship Ministry Coordinator @ West Side Baptist Church, Harrisonburg, VA • PT Minister of Adults/Director of Adult Ministries @ First Baptist Church of Hopewell, Hopewell, VA • PT Director of Music Ministries @ Jackson Memorial Baptist Church, Chesapeake, VA
• PT Summer Missionary @ Petersburg Baptist Association, Petersburg, VA
• PT Music Minister (leader) @ Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Roanoke, VA
• Youth Minister @ Northstar Church, Blacksburg, VA
• PT Minister to Families @ Walnut Grove Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, VA
• Ministry Associate @ Ministering to Ministers Foundation, Richmond, VA
• PT Interim Worship Leader @ Berea Baptist Church, Rockville, VA
• Interim Senior Pastor @ Chester Baptist Church, Chester, VA
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