Uptick Artists lead the congregation during worship.
VIRGINIA BAPTISTS
RENEW ROMANS 12:2
COMMITMENT TO GOD AND THE BGAV AT 2019 ANNUAL MEETING
The Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) held its 196th Annual Meeting from Monday, November 11, through Wednesday, November 13, at Bonsack Baptist Church in Roanoke, VA. Richard Martin presided throughout the meeting. Five hundred fifty-two messengers attended along with 265 guests and exhibitors for a total of 817 meeting participants. Events began on Monday afternoon with the annual Pastor’s Conference and Korean fellowship and focused on missions. This year’s theme, “Renew,” is based on Romans 12: 1-2 and challenges attendees to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
other boomers in their communities rather than churches solely focusing on reaching younger generations. Thornhill challenged participants to be better about being inclusive, and to realize that God loves all people. We must build a big tent where everyone can belong, he argued, saying, “I don’t think Jesus was in the pushing-away business; he was in the bringing-people-together business.”
The day continued with an afternoon filled with breakout sessions spotlighting the work of a wide array of BGAVaffiliated ministries and missions partners. Leaders from Fresh Expressions and the V3 Church Planting Movement shared engaging ways for participants to creatively think about church in their communities. Elijah Brown, General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, gave a report on the growth of the global church. BGAV missions partnership focus:refugees partners from as close as Richmond to as far as Lebanon told stories and shared ways Virginia Baptists can get involved in refugee work. After a shared community meal, Todd Combee honored veterans with a prayer and opened the evening session focused on the future of the Church.
BGAV Executive Director, John Upton, closed the evening reflecting on the two speakers, praying that participants will be renewed this week. He welcomed the BGAV family and asked that God may do something unique and powerful in the BGAV in these next days. On a snowy Tuesday morning, Chris Cadenhead, pastor of Bonsack Baptist Church, brought warm greetings before the Uptick Artists led a spirit-filled acoustic set of worship.
Alia Abboud, Director of Development and Partner Relations at the Lebanese Society for Education and Social Development (LSESD), spoke about her ministry with and among Syrian refugees, who are historically enemies of Lebanon. BGAV is partnering with LSESD as a part of the missions partnership focus:refugees.
Several reports were offered, including those from the clerk and program committee. Nominations were made for boards and committees. Kristen White, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Red Oak, VA, challenged the notion of convenience in church, preaching from the story of Lydia in Acts 16. She encouraged messengers to “be found faithful, especially when it is inconvenient.”
“God is transforming our churches,” she concluded. Matt Thornhill, a founder of SIR’s Institute for Tomorrow think tank in Richmond, VA, was the keynote speaker Monday evening. He utilizes his organization’s focus on understanding trends that matter and the people who are shaping them to think critically about the future church.
In his treasurer’s report, David Washburn, BGAV Treasurer, reviewed the current BGAV budget and expenditures. He thanked the messengers gathered for their faithful giving to BGAV in 2019, noting that as of the time of the Annual Meeting, the BGAV was in “a favorable position” for meeting the expected 2019 budget.
“The most important shift that we are seeing is that we are growing older,” he noted, citing statistics showcasing how by 2030 there will be as many young people as old people in Virginia. Thornhill sees this as an opportunity, not necessarily a death sentence, encouraging churches to “activate the boomers” to reach out to
Under Dr. Kevin Meadows’ leadership, reports were offered from the Executive Board regarding actions, observances, and special offerings. 8
