A Letter from the BGAV President

A Letter from the BGAV President

by Adam Tyler

As his first order of business as the 2020 BGAV president, Adam Tyler bangs the gavel to conclude the 2019 BGAV annual meeting.

Thirty-seven years--that’s how long I have been a Virginia Baptist. That may not seem that long to many Virginia Baptists, but to me that has been a lifetime!

I grew up in a BGAV church, my parents were (and remain) committed BGAV lay leaders, and I was surrounded by Virginia Baptists who cared about the local church, missions, and fellowship around our Lord Jesus Christ. I went to Eagle Eyrie for BGAV camps, I served at home and abroad through BGAV partnership missions, I was part of a BGAV Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BSU to us at the time), and I was educated in part with BGAV scholarship dollars. I was also part of the second class of the BGAV Uptick initiative. Since graduating from a BGAV partner seminary, I have served as pastor in two BGAV churches.

I guess you could say I am a Virginia Baptist through and through. This is why I am deeply humbled to serve as president of the BGAV this year. I know Virginia Baptists, I’ve been blessed by Virginia Baptists, and I’ve seen the good that Virginia Baptists do for God’s kingdom in our communities and around the world. I look forward to a year of deeper involvement and service with the BGAV as we partner together in advancing God’s kingdom.

Our annual meeting theme this year was Renew, and I see that as a providential theme for us as we move into 2020. The BGAV has been a thriving part of the kingdom of God for almost 200 years, but we are certainly not done yet. More accurately, we should say, God is not done with us.

In a changing world, we can be God’s loving hands and feet in new and exciting ways, telling the good, old story with freshness and energy. My hope is that we will not shy away from needed conversations and new beginnings that the year ahead will bring, but instead will step forward into “what’s next” with hope and unity and love that bears witness to our Lord in faithful and powerful ways.

As we move into new mission fields, embrace new opportunities, and form new partnerships, my prayer is that we will see God’s Spirit move in our midst, revitalizing our churches and renewing our commitment to the kingdom of God that we serve—together. In everything that we already do, and are about to do, the BGAV is about the movement of the Spirit of God in our midst and in our actions. God is at work with us and in us. May 2020 be the year that we take that next step in faith together as we follow our Lord.

Adam Tyler is the 2020 BGAV President.