BGAV Express - Summer 2017

VOL 2, ISSUE 3

SUMMER 2017

page 14

Shepherd of the Past, Steward of the Future Educational Opportunities

Red Truck Season

New, no-pressure courses offered by BGAV programs 10

How one association is driving away hunger in their community 20

Rural Church, Modern Ministry See what rural churches are doing to stay relevant in their ministries 26

SUMMER AND YOUTH: A MISSIONARY MOVEMENT OF CHURCHES

by John Upton

JOHN UPTON is the Executive Director of the BGAV.

4 // BGAV News & Notes 8 // Because of You

He comes for our vitalities too. He comes to our best dreams, moves in our strengths, lives in the good in us, joins our hands to those we love and leads in the great creativity dance. I am glad he comes in our failures, fears, and sorrows; but I am also very happy he is in every glad prospect of our work, our loves, and our being truly alive.

10 // Educational Opportunities Abound at the BGAV

We need summers and youth because these vitalities run short in us. Joys fade. The sense of purpose we once had becomes blurry, our strength fails, love weakens, and faith becomes shallow. Like that reception Jesus attended, the juice just runs out.

14 // Fred Anderson: Shepherd of the Past, Steward of the Future

We need summers and youth because these vitalities run short in us.

Recently I had a good laugh with a group of energetic young people who were gathering to go on a mission trip leaving from the Baptist building. It was an energizing time. Those young people reminded me of why we need summers and why we need our youth. Our youth remind us that Christian movements always begin as youth-led movements. It is always that way. It was true of the BGAV when a 21- and 22-year-old rode off together on horseback. They became known as the Bedford Plowboys. It has always been true of Christian movements all over the world.

Even Jesus began his ministry at the very early age of 30 and changed the course of spiritual history. He started his ministry, according to the Gospel of John, in a most surprising way. He started it by attending a youth event: a wedding. As a young man, he saved the wedding event from embarrassment. Everyone present celebrated what Jesus did by laughing, eating, making music, dancing those great whirling Jewish dances, holding lifted hands, moving in and out and round and round. That event went on for six days as was the custom. What an image, to see Jesus dancing like that. He would be very much at home at many of our youth events this summer.

Look at him celebrating life. Why do we make him so pale and so grim about what is wrong with us? We seem to ignore all the times he is engaged with human joy, creativity, and vitality.

I am very grateful that Jesus did not come just for what is sick and sad about us. His concern is far greater than our pathologies.

Jesus, being the young man he was, understood new beginnings in a way old leaders often forget. Much of that early fire in us fades, both in mind and heart. Over the years we have learned to grasp what is needed, or wrong, but we are seldom stirred with freshness anymore. Jesus had everyone at the wedding dip their cups into the vats, not to save a wedding, but to lavish on them a sense of God’s joy among them. God’s presence in Christ is just like that. It is potent, rousing, strong, antiseptic, and dangerous; it requires discipline, stirs passion, imparts courage, lowers barriers, makes friends, and infuses us to go to infuse the world with joy.

It is important to remember life is not always a celebration. There was a night when Jesus told his disciples that the wine they drank was his blood poured out for them for the forgiveness of sin, because the gift was never about easiness. It was about joy.

Who would have thought that people like us would be so afraid of God’s joy? Have our lives been so long, so dull, so disappointing?

Thank goodness God has placed the youth among us. Thank goodness Christ is among them. Let us pause in the work long enough this summer that through them God can give us a few wonderful surprises. Surprises like the fresh vision of our young people who really do believe God’s will can be done on earth as it is in heaven.

12 // Non-traditional Churches Reach People in Unexpected Places, Unexpected Ways

20 // Red Truck Season 22 // Two Concord Baptist Churches, One Mission Together 23 // Summer Venturers 25 // Graduating from Sunday School 26 // Rural Churches Are on the Cutting Edge of Ministry 27 // Latest Ministry Jobs

Shepherd of the Past, Steward of the Future page 14

BGAV Advancing the Kingdom Together

ISSN 2573-5101 (print) ISSN 2573-511X (online)

A publication of the Baptist General Association of Virginia Volume 2, Issue 3 Summer 2017 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: Linda Peay linda.peay@bgav.org 800.255.2428, ext. 1204 BGAV Express Baptist General Association of Virginia 2828 Emerywood Parkway Henrico, VA 23294 toll-free 800.255.2428 Or visit BGAV.org/Express.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: John V. Upton, Jr. CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER & BGAV EXPRESS EDITOR: Nathan White ART DIRECTOR: Meghan Wilson ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Linda Peay ASSISTANT EDITOR: Jennifer Law

NEWS + NOTES

Complete list of events at BGAV.org/Events

Event Calendar Mission Council Meets with Executive Board at Eagle Eyrie

Upton highlighted the work that field strategists are doing in partnership with Mission Council members in each region, pioneering new events and initiatives across Virginia that are contextualized for each part of the state. He concluded by focusing on the missions work Virginia Baptists do together, specifically sharing a powerful story from the work done in partnership with Ghana Baptists through More Than Nets.

The Virginia Baptist Mission Council gathered together in April at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center for its annual meeting.

Chair Stu Crow opened the meeting by saying, “I’m hopeful this will be a great time of sharing, getting to know your fellow Virginia Baptists, and hearing about the great things happening across the BGAV.”

2017 in April by the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance. Eagle Eyrie received a commemorative plaque and free production of a promo video for its use as part of the honor. The video is posted on their website at EagleEyrie.org. Kudos to Rod Miller and staff for this recognition.

July 9-15 16-22 17-21 23-29 24-28

Before lunch, Mission Council members named 15 nominees for the Executive Board, including re-nominating five Executive Board members who are eligible for another term.

In an opening devotion, First Vice President George Fletcher reflected on the recent Easter holiday and the new things that God is doing among us. “We enter into this time together to talk, to share, to listen, and to dream in this new day,” he told Mission Council members.

August

During afternoon sessions, Mission Council members had opportunities to dialogue with BGAV staff members as well as Executive Board members. One of the topics of discussion was about the role of mission council members as advocates for the BGAV. “What reason would you give to be a part of the BGAV?” Crow asked.

Crow then reminded Mission Council members of how they support the overall purpose of the BGAV, touching on various ways members can provide input not just at that meeting but throughout the entire year.

Some of the answers shared were: • “It’s an opportunity to be involved in hands-on missions. We can do more together than we can alone.”

• “There’s so much passion and so many roads of ministry.”

• “Most exciting movement going.”

• “Opportunities are already set up and can be quickly implemented [such as] Disaster Relief, pastoral assistance, etc. with little red tape.”

Treasurer David Washburn commented, “Thank you for your continued faithfulness,” as he gave an upbeat financial report, focusing on the 2016 Cooperative Missions giving and the early report for 2017.

Executive Director John Upton asked Mission Council members, “What’s the why?” of the BGAV. He introduced a draft mission statement, which members were able to wrestle with later during their dialogue session with the Executive Board. Upton shared highlights from across the ministries of the BGAV, including the fact that in the last 12 months the BGAV has planted 14 new churches with 40 more in the pipeline. “As you can see,” he said, “we’re pretty heavy into church planting.”

The meeting concluded with music and prayer.

BGAV Staff Updates

The BGAV welcomes Roger Roller as Minister in Residence for Evangelism.

Roller will help BGAV churches who need assistance in evangelism. He is the founder of the Roger Roller Evangelistic Association and has pastored at Calvary Baptist Church (Floyd) and Rustburg Baptist Church. Roller earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bluefield College, and he was awarded his Master of Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He can be reached at roger.roller@bgav.org.

Congratulations, Eagle Eyrie!

Congratulations to the staff at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center, which was named Best Non-Profit Small Business of

Mission Council members participate in group discussion.

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Impact Mission Camps: Fluvanna Impact Mission Camps: Appomattox Music and Worship Arts Camp, Lynchburg, VA Impact Mission Camps: Averett MC2 - Missions Connection Celebration, Lynchburg, VA

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Nathan Wittkamp (third from left) poses with Eagle Eyrie’s award.

LifeSpire Breaks Ground for New Facility

Ministry Equipping Network: Best Practices of Teaching Youth (webinar) Church Weekday Education Conference, Richmond, VA Preaching Camp XIII, Lowesville, VA Empower Class 501: Building Blocks for Powerful Coaching, Richmond, VA

September

LifeSpire of Virginia, formerly Virginia Baptist Homes, held a groundbreaking in May on their new home, The Culpeper.

This new facility will replace the current Culpeper, originally dedicated in 1950. It will include availability for independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing and memory care.

Residents will enjoy larger living space, modern dining facilities, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

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The themed event, “Building for Tomorrow,” celebrated The Culpeper’s history, its present, and its future. Jonathan Cook, current president and CEO of LifeSpire of Virginia, recalled a letter written in the 1980s from former Board Chair Hunter Riggins. The Culpeper was in need of a new building then, but the resources were not available to move ahead. “This letter was written in 1980, meaning we’ve been talking about a new building for quite a long time within Virginia Baptist Homes,” Cook said. “Today we are excited to say that we are making that a reality. While we honor our past, it is now time to look toward the future.”

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Randall Robinson, former president and CEO, shared The Culpeper’s history when Dr. J.T. Edwards, then pastor of Culpeper Baptist Church, had the passion to build the very first Virginia Baptist Home following World War II. Robinson

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25 26 29-30 29-30 30

continued...

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Compensation Planning Seminar, Richmond, VA Compensation Planning Seminar, Roanoke, VA Compensation Planning Seminar, Halifax, VA Compensation Planning Seminar, Chesapeake, VA Compensation Planning Seminar, Charlottesville, VA transform - Teaching That Changes Lives (LifeWay conference), Midlothian, VA Compensation Planning Seminar, Annandale, VA Compensation Planning Seminar, Manassas, VA Baptist Ministry Assistants of Virginia (BMAV) Fall Retreat, Stafford, VA Southwest Virginia Evangelism Conference, Galax, VA Church Weekday Education Conference, Annandale, VA Refugees, Immigrants, and the Church: How Your Church Can Be Involved, Richmond, VA

NEWS + NOTES

said, “(Edwards) took it upon himself to travel down to Richmond to meet with the executive committee of the Baptist Board.” He added, “You have to remember this was during World War II, during a time when people knew nothing but cutbacks. This was a time not to spend but to save.”

Edwards and his crew raised the funding through a state-wide capital campaign to pay for the building costs in full. “That’s an essential part of our past,” Robinson said.

“This building has been our ancestral home for almost 70 years,” Cook continued. “This building has provided care for tens of thousands of Virginia Baptists; this building has provided a living for thousands of staff in the area, and this building has been closely tied to the identity of Virginia Baptist Homes.”

“Today we are starting a new beginning for the Culpeper,” Cook concluded. “I just want to thank you all for being a part of it and

For more BGAV news, visit BGAV.org/News

challenge us all to make sure we carry that long and rich history and tradition of care into our new building.”

Ancient Greek and New Testament Interpretation at BTSR from 1991 to 2001. She begins her post July 1.

More than 225 residents, staff, and guests of the current facility of the same name attended the event.

Additionally, BTSR has made several other appointments, including: • Dr. Tracy Hartman as Acting Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean • Dr. Art Wright as Acting Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program • Susan Blanchard as Acting Director of the Supervised Ministry Program

BTSR Elects New President

The BGAV extends a hearty congratulations to Rev. Dr. Linda McKinnish Bridges as new president of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (BTSR). Dr. Bridges succeeds Dr. Ron Crawford, who is retiring after 10 years of service. Bridges will serve as the third president of BTSR. Originally from Henderson County, NC, Bridges earned her bachelor’s degree in religion and education at Meredith College, a master of divinity and doctorate in New Testament Studies and Greek from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a master of business administration from Wake Forest University School of Business. Bridges has both academic and church backgrounds, as she was ordained to the ministry in 1990 by Northminster Baptist Church in Richmond.

She also served as the founding professor of Biblical Interpretation,

New Executive Director for Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies Elected

The Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies elected Nathan Taylor to succeed Fred Anderson as its executive director, following Anderson’s retirement this summer.

A graduate of Asbury College and Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Taylor most recently served as associate pastor at Central Baptist Church in Richmond. In addition, he plans to receive a Doctor of Ministry degree from Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology at the end of this year.

Taylor’s work experience includes teaching U.S. History at Woodford County High School in Versailles, KY; writing for Smyth & Helwys Publishers; and serving as a member of the Baptist World Alliance’s Commission on Mission, where he participated in the 2015 Baptist World Congress in Durban, South Africa. He has served as a member of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society’s Executive Committee since 2010, and the Board of Directors of the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies.

Frank Schwall, president of the Historical Society, remarked, “Rev. Taylor comes to the Society and the Center equipped with the expertise and gifts to project their ministry into the future with creativity and strength. He has a passion for Virginia Baptists’ significant contribution to establishing religious liberty in our nation and a commitment to safeguard that heritage.”

Taylor began his post May 1. The Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies are located at the University of Richmond.

SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA

Evangelism Conference September 29-30, 2017 BGAV.org/SWVAConference

First Baptist Church Galax, VA

Because of

You...

…students and young adults participating in the Kairos Leadership Initiative held a retreat at the beach this year to continue their year-long process of helping them to grasp their identity in Christ, their personal strengths and gifts, and discern where God is calling them to serve their communities as leaders.

….a large number of volunteers attended Mission Matters in Lynchburg—many of them participating in the disaster-response track.

While there, they provided food for conference attendees as part of their training. Want to volunteer? Learn more at BGAVDR.org.

…youth ministers, workers, and volunteers met at the Virginia Baptist Resource Center for Forum, a youth ministry training event. They participated in plenaries and workshops about how to be effective leaders as they work with youth and students.

…several groups of college students from Baptist Collegiate Ministries across Virginia went on mission after their spring semester finished. This group from the William & Mary BCM traveled to Nagaland in eastern India, where among many activities, they met with the Chief Minister of Nagaland.

…another group of students participated in the Kairos Missions Initiative in May. They traveled to Vienna, Austria, where they served in a multi-ethnic congregation in the heart of Vienna, participated in community outreach, language lessons, and were a tangible representation of the Gospel for natives and refugees.

…across Virginia and beyond, Fresh Expressions US are hosting Vision Days to help church members discover what fresh expressions of church are and how they can get involved in starting one. Recently, a number of central Virginia church leaders gathered at Second Baptist Church of Richmond for a Vision Day. Learn more at FreshExpressionsUS.org.

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And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

courses in specialized areas: children’s ministry, youth ministry, and family ministry.

The network formed in March and is an expansion of what was previously offered in Children’s Ministry Certification and Youth Ministry Certification. Under the former education model, students would attend a two- to three day-course at a designated location, which required time away from work and an overnight stay in the area. In order to reach more people by making options affordable and convenient, the BGAV Ministry Equipping Network was developed to allow participants the convenience of achieving quality training from the comfort of their own homes.

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus issued the Great Commission, telling the disciples to go to the ends of the earth, make disciples of all nations, baptize new believers, and teach all that he exemplified during his life on earth. As followers of Christ, we are called to serve others. Do you feel equipped to follow through with his command? You say “yes” to the call, but what do you do next?

Interested people can choose a single course, several courses, or a pathway to certification. All three certification programs require the same four core courses: Developmental Stages and Ages; Teaching Techniques/Approaches; Bible Study Basics; and The Family of God.

Thanks to the contributions of BGAV churches, two initiatives were launched this year to help equip people who do not have the time or means to commit to a seminary education study for ministries to which they feel called. The Ministry Equipping Network and Grassroots Seminary are new ways for people to develop ministry skills and knowledge with high-quality training opportunities at an affordable cost.

In addition to the core courses, students may choose a concentration: children’s ministry, which has three required children’s ministry courses and one additional elective course; youth ministry, which has three required youth ministry courses and one elective; and family ministry, which has four required courses and two electives in either youth and or children’s ministry.

Ministry Equipping Network The BGAV Ministry Equipping Network is designed for pastors, ministers, and lay leaders to be able to enroll in single courses in a specific ministry area or to be able to complete a comprehensive program that yields a Ministry Certification.

This program provides interactive, online courses to give participants the benefit of logging in from remote locations to interact with the instructor and fellow participants. Instructors can also be available for in-person training for churches or associations that want to schedule a training day in their areas. The network offers

This new way of training development allows students flexibility depending on interest and available time. The courses can be completed in any order and are not restricted to those students pursuing certification. Core courses are valuable to anyone serving in the local church, working with any age. The instructors currently serve in ministry and can offer relevant and practical instruction “from the field.”

Educational Opportunities

Abound at the BGAV

by Linda Peay

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“HB” Birckhead has nearly completed his youth ministry certification. He started the process under the former program and now has one more course to finish. He plans to retire from the insurance industry within five years and wants to prepare for other options in the future. Birckhead is a father of four and works full-time. He said, “I like the new program.

Convenience and affordability are big factors for me, and this is a great opportunity for people like me who can’t take the time to attend or have the ability to pay for the costs of seminary or community college.” Following his completion of the youth ministry certification, he also plans to take the courses in family ministry. He added, “After this, I will feel equipped for what comes my way in ministry.”

Students of Grassroots Seminary attend one of the courses in the Hampton, VA, area. Seminary courses are open to all ages and backgrounds.

Grassroots Seminary is not a brick-and-mortar institution. It is a mobile cohort that can be organized in any location and is designed to provide training to Christian leaders that includes classroom and hands-on ministry experience. The coursework requires a two-year commitment, and it provides instruction of basic core texts that are used in university and seminary courses. In the first year, the cohorts will gather once a week for a total of 30 class sessions. There are two semesters, with 15 90-minute sessions in each. The first semester covers Biblical Interpretation and the Story of God’s Mission in the World.

The second semester continues with the Story of the Church and Christian Theology. In the second year, learners will be connected with mentors and coaches who are experienced in their particular field of interest. These connections will provide hands-on opportunities in the ministry. At the end of the two-year course, each graduate will receive a certificate of completion from the BGAV.

The BGAV offers nontraditional ministry education scholarships for those who qualify and enroll in these courses. For more information, contact Karen Rackett at karen.rackett@bgav.org.

Grassroots Seminary There are many Bible stories where God uses dreams to communicate with people.

In the Old Testament we see this with Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, and Pharaoh to name a few; in the New Testament, we read about Peter, Paul, Ananias, Zacharias, Pilate’s wife, and more. Dr. Brian Williams, BGAV field strategist and pastor of Ivy Memorial Baptist Church in Hampton, has dreamed for a long time of finding a way to equip church associates and laypeople with affordable seminary training.

When Grassroots Seminary kicked off on a Thursday night in January 2017, modest promotion had been done, and Williams expected ideally to see 8-10 people. Williams was very surprised, but encouraged, to be greeted by a diverse group of 36 interested disciples! The class was not just made up of people from Ivy Memorial but also of residents from other localities. Williams split the large group into two smaller ones.

Now he has a group on Mondays and another on Tuesdays.

The learners represent association staff, Bible study teachers, deacons, and other people interested in delving more into biblical interpretation.

In a recent interview, Williams said, “The landscape is rapidly changing. Pastor and staff are key, but God is reaching laypeople to show them what God is doing in our world. He is calling us to be in neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and more.”

He further explained, “The vision of Grassroots Seminary is to provide basic theological education to people who are responding to the call of God but cannot go to seminary.”

This education model can be implemented in any area. A minimum of 10 people is required to start a cohort. Tuition is $1,500, and scholarship funds are available for BGAV church members. For more information, contact Dr. Brian Williams at brian.williams@bgav.org.

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For more information, visit BGAV.org/EquippingNetwork BGAV.org/Grassroots

V3 and Fresh Expressions

A naval ship similar to the one Doug Grap ministered aboard during deployment.

Non-traditional Churches Reach People in Unexpected Places, Unexpected Ways Michael Pumphrey, pastor of Awaken Church, performs a baptism on a church member.

“Nine years ago, we’d been praying God would let us go somewhere to see revitalization,” explained Michael Pumphrey, BGAV’s V3 development coordinator and Virginia regional church planting coordinator. “Our family moved to the Hampton Roads/Virginia Beach area, where a third of the population is transient because of the military. We saw an opportunity to reach the world.”

he was at Awaken, Grap felt called to serve during his upcoming deployment. So he went to one his pastors at Awaken and told him about his calling, which he felt was to start a church on the ship for sailors who were deployed. “Deployments are often hard for to sailors to accept,” Grap explained, “but I had this calling from God. At Awaken, we talk about rhythms: to heal in, raise up, and send out. I had to accept that I was being sent out.”

Awaken Church and V3 Awaken Church in Virginia Beach was one of the first churches planted through V3, BGAV’s national church planting movement. Pumphrey has been there for the past seven years.

“We were learning to be a church there,” he said, “and V3 gave us permission to be a little bit different in our approach to church planting.”

When he was on the ship, Grap met a Marine chaplain named Joe Robbins who was serving there, and he told Robbins that God had given him a gift to serve in his deployment. Grap recalled a time in his past when God had prepared him for this future calling. “For a while when I was in Georgia, I had filled in for our worship leader who was out of town. God used that to prepare me for what I was going to do on the ship.” Grap and Robbins worked together to begin a small gathering of sailors for worship.

“It started with six people including myself and the chaplain. It wasn’t too organized or scheduled yet, and it was just me and my guitar,” he remembered.

In those seven years, many of the people Awaken Church has ministered to have gone out around the world. “We’ve connected and networked with other area churches,” he said, “and our vision is to work together to plant 10 churches in the next 10 years, plus 30 fresh expressions.” A “fresh expression” is a new form of church aimed at reaching people who are not yet part of any kind of church. They often look very different from what most people think of when they consider the word “church.”

The worship gatherings grew from around six people to twelve and began developing a routine; then they secured a regular meeting location on the ship. “Toward the end of deployment, we’d grown to 200-250 people with a full worship team and music equipment,” Grap commented. He said there were several notable, memorable experiences there including a Jewish sailor who converted to Christianity and a woman who gave her life to Jesus Christ for the first time. “We saw salvation happening right before our eyes,” Grap recalled. “Jeff (Chaplain Robbins) had never started a church on a ship, but God brought us together to do this.”

A Fresh Expression One such fresh expression came about when Doug Grap, who serves in the US Navy, was stationed in Virginia. He started attending Awaken Church because he knew of its reputation. “I’d been saved in Georgia before moving here. I knew about Awaken and wanted to be a part of a church like that,” Grap recalled. While 12

Since their experiences on the ship, many sailors’ lives have taken a new direction. Several of the Marines who had been in worship together on the ship have joined a church where they are now serving together in North Carolina. For Grap, his life and work has significantly changed. When he was nearing his time to reenlist, he distinctly felt God calling him to change the type of work he was doing for the Navy: he believed God wanted him to become a religious program specialist (RP). His change of position, though, was not simple at all; it involved taking a big risk because of how the situation unfolded. At one point, Grap had to be released from his prior position with no promise of being picked up as an RP, and in doing so he risked losing his Navy career altogether. Grap had a wife and three children, and he feared losing his career. “God increased my faith,” he said, “when I learned that even though there was only one specific way all this could have worked out, it did work out. God used that to show me that I didn’t need to worry.”

An existing BGAV church can plug in through V3 by connecting with church planters in its area or perhaps looking at whether they might be able to plant a church. V3 offers a model that doesn’t cost a fortune and doesn’t take a lot of people to get started. “We offer coaching and support systems to come alongside the existing church in order to help plant a church,” explains Pumphrey. “Our goal is to see 15 church planters connected to existing churches in Virginia in the next two years.”

Pumphrey believes strongly in the need to plant churches.

“I’ve seen a church plant reach people that an existing church isn’t going to reach,” he said. “In planting, you see God raise up people who might not otherwise have moved into positions of leadership, and you see a new demographic of people impacted with the Gospel. It also brings life into existing churches.”

To learn more about V3, visit TheV3Movement.org, or contact J.R. Woodward at jr@thev3movement.org or 202.731.7468.

Grap said that to anyone who is struggling with God’s call, he would say, “It won’t be easy, but God is not going to measure you by your success. He’ll instead measure you by your faith and how it grows.”

To learn more about Fresh Expressions, visit FreshExpressionsUS.org, or contact Chris Backert at chris.backert@freshexpressionsus.org or 540.818.3945.

Church Plants, Fresh Expressions, and Virginia Baptists Without churches like Awaken—a church plant—stories like Doug Grap’s aren’t as likely to happen. His involvement in a church plant led him to discover his unique call to begin a fresh expression in starting a church on a ship. Church can happen anywhere when God calls and equips those who are willing to serve. So how can Virginia Baptists become involved in these lifechanging ministries?

For more information, visit TheV3Movement.org FreshExpressionsUS.org

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Fred Anderson stands in front of the doors of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, an organization that he has overseen for the past 38 years.

Reflections on a Ministry Through History

Fred Anderson, executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, was referring to an influential figure in Baptist history: Luther Rice. The same might be said of Anderson himself, as he approaches his upcoming retirement after 38 years of service with Virginia Baptists.

From left to right: Fred Anderson showcases a restored portrait of Daniel Witt, one of the first Virginia Baptist state missionaries (1983); Anderson speaks at the BGAV annual meeting (2015); Anderson portrays Rev. William E. Hatcher, Baptist minister and Fork Union Military Academy founder (2014); Anderson assists BGAV First Vice-President Stuart Crow during the BGAV annual meeting (2016).

As the Society’s first-ever full-time executive director, Anderson faced many challenges and saw the organization grow in its size, function, and influence. During his tenure, he served in many positions—historian, researcher, teacher, writer, bookkeeper, and secretary—and the list goes on. He summarizes his primary role, however, simply as “storyteller.”

formal education. In high school, he could choose classes in the “commercial course” or the “academic course,” the former being geared toward preparing students for the work force and the latter toward getting students ready for college.

“It’s a powerful thing to think about—what one person can do.”

“My grandfather said I should take the commercial course, but he said I should also take the basics for college admissions just in case.” Already, God was preparing him in ways he didn’t realize for the future that lay ahead.

Fred’s Early Years

“I recently was going through some things and found my old grade-school report cards,” Anderson recalled. “My fourth-grade teacher commented, ‘Freddy talks too much,’ but my fifth-grade teacher was more kind and wrote, ‘Freddy is a storyteller.’ I guess it started way back then, when I was a child.”

Shepherd of the Past, Steward of the Future

by Jennifer Law

The commercial course included classes in typing, bookkeeping, and shorthand; and while Anderson was the only boy in those classes sometimes, he found them to be perhaps the most valuable courses he took during high school.

He told of how he liked entertaining his brother, sister, and the neighborhood kids by doing circuses, carnivals, and puppet shows. He often played preacher, making them his congregation.

Anderson’s talents showed themselves at an early age, yet it would be many years before he practiced some of them in his profession.

“At the historical society, I started out as the bookkeeper. As clerk for the BGAV, shorthand was how I took most of my notes; and it was incredibly useful in doing my research notes over the years.

And typing, of course, became the key to using computers, which didn’t even exist when I was in college.”

Raised mostly by his grandparents in the southern part of Georgia, Anderson never dreamed he’d go to college for a 15

Clockwise from top: A common practice during his time as BGAV Clerk, Anderson listens intently and records the happenings of the annual meeting (2011); Anderson skims a copy of Heritage Seekers, a children’s magazine published by the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies, with an onlooker (2014); SBC WMU President Marjorie McCullough and Virginia WMU President Margaret Wayland present Anderson with the WMU Founding panel for the Virginia Baptist History mural (1988).

Admiring a newly-revealed portrait of himself by the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, Anderson and his wife, Nancy, give thanks for all the opportunities and experiences over the last three decades. (2017)

When Anderson’s grandfather died in February of his senior year of high school, his elementary school principal came to offer her condolences. She told him about a college where he could work his way through.

Baptist heritage aside, Anderson believes he would have been a Baptist anyway. “I joined First Baptist Church of Albany, Georgia, my hometown, when I was 12. I went on Sunday nights to Baptist Training Union (BTU) and attended sessions on what it means to be a Baptist, and religious liberty, and things like that.”

“She did more than just tell me,” he remembered. “She wrote off for the catalog and application, and then sat at our dining room table and we filled it out. If she hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” His teacher had “seen some worth in the boy,” he said, though at 17 he had never had the ambition to further his education.

After college, Anderson attended library school at Peabody College (now a part of Vanderbilt University) in Nashville. When he completed his library degree, the couple sought employment in Nancy’s home state of Virginia, where Anderson accepted a position as administrative assistant for the Henrico County Public Library system. The Andersons lived in the Ginter Park neighborhood of Richmond and became active members of the former Northminster Baptist Church.

That summer, he learned of an opening on one of the work crews at Berry College in Rome, Georgia, where he was accepted and became a student. He worked his way through college there, majoring in history to become a teacher. He also met his wife, Nancy, at Berry, and the two of them spent their first seven years of marriage team-teaching 11th grade English and history. “I started doing a lot of storytelling then,” Anderson reminisced. “I portrayed some of the historical characters we studied.”

In 1978 Northminster asked Anderson to write the history of their church, which he did using the strength of his own Baptist heritage and formal training as both historian and teacher. The following year, his wife saw an advertisement in the Religious Herald for a new position at the Virginia Baptist Historical Society (VBHS). They were looking for someone in Virginia who was Baptist and had both a history background and a library background, so she encouraged him to apply.

The Making of a Virginia Baptist

“My family has been Baptist for as far back as we know anything about them,” explained Anderson. “One of my immigrant ancestors was a Baptist minister before the Revolution, and all the way down there were Baptist ministers.”

“I wasn’t a part of the inner circle of Virginia Baptists at that time,” recalled Anderson. “In the process of applying, I talked with Dr. Theodore Adams, former pastor of Richmond’s First Baptist Church and also the Baptist World Alliance, and he encouraged me. I then met with Dr. Richard Stephenson, who was then 16

the executive director of the BGAV. He told me, ‘I don’t know whether or not it will work out, but if it can work anywhere, it would work in Virginia, because Virginians appreciate history.’”

“It was a real step of faith then,” said Anderson, who became the first executive director the Society had ever hired. Previously they only hired part-time, retired history professors. They’d never had anyone who would go into the field and promote in the churches.

Anderson. “We coined the tagline ‘A Ministry Through History,’ and I think we’ve proven that it is a ministry to help people understand what Baptists are all about.” Besides the VBHS, there are very few resources that focus on doing that. Baptist Training Union doesn’t exist anymore, so there are not many opportunities or media for what used to be known as Church Training. “So we try to stress the need for people of each generation to know what it means to be a Baptist,” Anderson said.

“I looked back and found the financial page from that year,” Anderson said, “and our total income and expenses that first year was $27,000. We had four people working there, and we ended up with $43 to the good at the end of that year.”

What It Means to Be a Baptist

Anderson recalled the story of Dr. J. B. Jeter, a great figure in Virginia Baptist history, regarding what it means to be a Baptist: “Dr. Jeter said that if there were no more Baptists, if they all went away, he would still be a Baptist. I think he meant it’s more of a mindset and a philosophy you adopt.”

The BGAV “stepped up to the plate” according to Anderson and began increasing their allocation through the Cooperative Program. As more members joined and began to contribute beyond membership dues, the Society gained a stronger financial foundation.

Anderson believes that this mindset goes back to Baptist beginnings—not just in Virginia, but in England and around Europe. “The Baptists came out of a period of suppression where there was a state religion,” he said, “and they were dissenters to that. At the very core of them, there is a great affinity for freedom in all of its dimensions.”

When Anderson arrived at the VBHS, it was the oldest and largest organization of its kind. It has since garnered a fine collection of materials and helped churches preserve records and tell their stories. Anderson has personally traveled to congregations across the Commonwealth and supplied resources to churches.

Anderson continued, “Baptists are a little ornery about that.

We even see it in the local churches. They’ve learned how to be cooperative with other folk but are very cautious about personal freedoms for all people, which I think is a remarkable

“I felt that the VBHS needed to get out beyond the walls and be out there with the people, or else it would have the danger of being perceived as a club, and I saw it more as a ministry,” explained 17

Fred Anderson, we as Virginia Baptists express our gratitude to you for Thank you for being such an integral part of our secret Growth of the VBHS

characteristic.” Anderson explained, “They were a minority, and even when they became the majority, they did not want to become the next established church. They thought that freedom of conscience was so sacred that every individual should possess soul freedom, however they felt led to express that.”

Over almost four decades, Anderson has guided the VBHS in telling stories of Virginia Baptists with the overarching, recurring themes of religious liberty and missions. In his tenure there, he has seen much growth and change in how the VBHS accomplishes its goals. In the 1980s, the VBHS commissioned a mural by renowned artist, Sidney King, which grew to become a 36-panel mural covering the breadth of Virginia Baptist history.

“We had no room to display them,” remembered Anderson, “but we kept dreaming and hoping that one day we would have space for them.”

Anderson praised Virginia Baptists for their open-mindedness, stating, “They have a Christian temperament about them; while they can think for themselves and debate issues, they are not given to be closed-minded. They don’t say ‘we’re in, and you’re out.’ Even among their own people, the Virginia Baptists have been a very open-minded, progressive group of people.”

Anderson said “two miracles” happened in the 1990s: a strategic planning committee of the BGAV made it possible for the VBHS to be included in the BGAV budget so they could undergo renovations to their space, and the University of Richmond gave them another floor of the building. For the first time, they were able to protect their collection, keep it secure, and offer public space for viewing and research.

Anderson added there are two main themes to Virginia Baptist history: religious liberty and the missions movement. “They had been divided and they struggled to secure it [religious freedom]; they endured persecution, they influenced upper-class Founding Fathers like Jefferson and Madison, and they won that,” he said.

“Then along came the missions movement, and they really adopted that, mainly because of the influence of one man: Luther Rice. They are still items of current concern, interest, and support.”

Also during Anderson’s first decade, he began portraying historical characters, which became a hallmark of his ministry among Virginia Baptists. “Jack Patterson, then pastor of Hatcher Memorial Baptist in Richmond, asked if I would come for their 75th anniversary and portray the man for whom the church was named,” recalled Anderson. “I began reading Dr. William

Anderson explains the symbolism of the lock and key used to imprison the first Virginia Baptist pastors in colonial America during his retirement ceremony from VBHS. He then transferred ownership of the key to his successor, Nathan Taylor. (2017)

preserving and protecting our past and for being a steward of our future. wealth as a man rich in character and a true servant of God. Words of Wisdom

Hatcher’s autobiography and biography, and I got captivated.

The man had a lot of humor, and he went everywhere to speak.

He was the platform master of the 19th century and became known as the Great Baptist Commoner. I got obsessed with him and took him on the road because he was the perfect character to tell our story; his time period and what he did made him the perfect choice.”

Looking to future decades, Anderson used the lessons of the past to hint at what might be in store for Virginia Baptists. He warned against Baptists becoming “generic” and losing their sense of identity. “In the last several decades, we almost have abandoned even the family name, but it is still a worthy name.”

He encouraged Baptists to engage in meaningful conversations over issues and concerns in order to retain the fine art of discernment. “Being a Baptist does not mean complete uniformity and conformity, and it does not mean checking one’s mind at the door,” said Anderson. “There should be opportunities for dialogue and discussion.”

Anderson has since portrayed Dr. Hatcher more than 400 times in churches, schools, and other institutions. He also portrayed John Leland, the 18th-century evangelist known for his advocacy for religious liberty, more than 60 times in various venues.

A highlight of Anderson’s third decade at the VBHS was the opening of the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies, formed in November 1999 as a new relationship venture between the BGAV and the University of Richmond with the purpose of creating educational resources and offering courses about Baptist heritage. The Center also introduced the Heritage Fellows program, of which Anderson is particularly proud.

Through the program, young Baptist scholars work together on special projects directed by Anderson to learn more about Baptist heritage, churches, and related topics. Most recently, the Fellows published a book about their experience forming intentional relationships with students on their campuses who are of different faith backgrounds. Anderson commented, “If we’re ever going to be at one with one another, we have to make relationships and friendships.”

Anderson stressed that preserving and learning Baptist history is critical. “Living in the most literate of times, Baptists face a danger of spiritual and denominational illiteracy if ‘church training’ by whatever name is not available.” He explained that just as families pass on meaningful, cherished heirlooms, the same can be said for the spiritual family. “There are some principles which have survived the test of time and need to be transmitted to the current generation,” he explained, “and these include a respect for the individual believer, the value of freedom in all of its dimensions, a democratic form of church polity, the importance of separation of church from state, and the overarching value of religious freedom.”

Anderson gains his new title at the VBHS in July 2017: Executive Director Emeritus. As his retirement draws near, he offered some parting thoughts from his 38-year-long perspective: “I believe that we need to let all of our people know what it means to be a Baptist and what’s characterized them, what are their distinctives and principles, and how we became known as such a progressive tribe among the many different streams of Baptists.

I think that even this generation right now needs to appreciate those two great themes that I’ve emphasized: religious liberty and missions. But I’ve found that the secret wealth of Virginia Baptists lies not in our buildings, and not in all of our programming; it’s in the people. We have people who are rich in character.”

To read Fred’s articles on Virginia Baptist history through the years, visit BGAV.org/History A landmark of the VBHS library, Anderson sits in front of the Memorial Window. This stained-glass window was designed in the 1870s as a memorial to the Baptists imprisoned in colonial Virginia and carries an inscription from Acts 4:20: “We cannot but speak of the things we have seen and heard.” (1981)

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19

Randolph College’s Dr. John Abell. The economics professor had conducted a 2011 food desert case study and a 2014 project on Lynchburg’s hunger-poverty nexus. The pastors learned that while many Lynchburg ministries are focused on the issue of food scarcity, only four of the 34 food pantries in the city are located within one of the eight food deserts identified.

Want to do more with Hunger Ministry?

Donate to programs like the Red Truck or request funding for your own hunger project through the BGAV Hunger Ministry.

Go to BGAV.org/Hunger for more information.

Visit BGAV.org/red-truck-lba to access the following resources: • USDA Food Access Research Atlas to identify food deserts near you • Watch a VSU documentary on Virginia food deserts

The pastors saw an opportunity to improve food access and build community in these previously unreached food deserts.

Guided by principles of trust building and a willingness to “work across denominational and theological boundaries,” the group identified an existing partner in Jericho Baptist Missionary Chapel, which has proximity to several food deserts.

Red Truck Season

by Caitlin Figura

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) The Red Truck Ministry is a perfect illustration of the importance of right timing in any partnership, missions venture, or Kingdom-sized dream.

Dr. Robert Putt, senior pastor of West Lynchburg Baptist Church, sees the rightness of God’s timing in the early success of the Lynchburg Baptist Association’s (LBA) Red Truck Ministry. The Red Truck Ministry fed 184 families and engaged more than 60 volunteers in its first four weeks of operation in a Lynchburg food desert, an impact five years in the making.

Five years in the making

In 2012, the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) received a grant from the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering for a mobile grocery unit that would bring fresh produce, meat, and dairy to Virginia’s food deserts. Food deserts are economically disadvantaged communities in which residents lack access to affordable, healthy food.

Soon after receiving this grant, the BGAV welcomed Joel Ingram as a hunger specialist. After much discussion and research about the proper vehicle, Ingram drove to Pennsylvania to purchase an old Coca-Cola delivery truck for the venture.

Over the next year, a Disaster Response volunteer refurbished the truck to accommodate the necessary refrigerator and freezer units. After the Red Truck’s debut at the BGAV meeting in Roanoke that year, it was field tested in Richmond at Northminster Baptist Church, an urban congregation with an 20

distribution, Putt says people who live in the community in which the Red Truck has begun operations are showing up every Wednesday, even “standing out in the rain” to “help out and give back.”

While the Red Truck’s effectiveness is in its mobility and capacity to reach multiple communities, the group recognized the importance of working through an anchor congregation in each neighborhood to provide follow-up and build relationships between the Red Truck’s weekly visits.

The Red Truck Ministry is also seeing an outpouring of generosity from farms and nonprofits throughout the region, especially after being highlighted in a local news story. The Red Truck is receiving produce from Liberty University’s Campus Farm and apples from the Society of St. Andrew, a connection made at a recent Mission Matters event. In addition, Shelton Miles, beef cattle farmer and pastor of First Baptist Church of Republican Grove, plans to provide River Bluff Farm beef for the Red Truck at a reduced price.

Desiring to provide spiritual as well as physical support, the pastors also ensured the operation would include a significant ministry of prayer to community members shopping at the Red Truck. Volunteers take the time to “listen to the heart issues of people,” Putt says, to “share stories, empathize with, and hug on” one another. One recent prayer time resulted in a young family whose five children were sleeping on the floor receiving a home visit from a pastor and new mattresses for the entire family.

Expanding the ministry

The Red Truck is currently at Jericho Baptist Missionary Chapel every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will soon begin making stops on an additional day in a different location.

However, the ministry wants to ensure healthy partnership with the community and a sustainable volunteer base are in place for this expansion.

Mobilizing the community

Roger Roller stands by the Red Truck. existing feeding ministry. There, a team developed a system for setting up the shopping experience and learned the importance of providing products appropriate to the cultural preferences of the community.

Recognizing the opportunity

Although the BGAV donated the Red Truck to the Lynchburg Baptist Association as “an answer to prayer” and will provide additional support through World Hunger Funds, the group of pastors knew their biggest challenge would be recruiting the large base of volunteers needed to staff the ongoing ministry.

What they did not predict was how much support they would receive from “community folks taking ownership of the work,” says Putt.

As momentum around the Red Truck builds, Putt is quick to remind that it’s “a God thing—nothing we’ve done; just the right time, right circumstances, and right people for it to work.” Nevertheless, in this opportunity the association and community have recognized a “time to build up...a time to embrace...and a time to love.”

In addition to LBA pastors and lay leaders helping with driving, product pickup, inventory, truck maintenance, setup, and

In 2016, a group of pastors in the LBA’s weekly ministers’ meeting began discussing the problem of food deserts in their own community. For three years, the Red Truck had struggled to find a long-term home with the right church, association, or agency, despite early interest and excitement.

Far left: Volunteers from the Lynchburg Baptist Association

As the pastors prayerfully sought a way for their congregations to improve community access to healthy food, their Field Strategist, Tony Brooks, happened to mention the availability of a Red Truck mobile grocery unit.

Left: Volunteers attend training on the Red Truck.

The group of pastors became convicted by Lynchburg’s need and their opportunity for impact through the research of

For more information, visit BGAV.org/Hunger 21

Right: Members from both Concord Baptist churches participate in a balloon launch before beginning their 10 mission projects.

Below: Church members greet residents at a nearby nursing home.

2 1

PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS AS THEY DO GOD’S WORK AROUND THE WORLD THIS SUMMER.

SUMMER

CONCORD BAPTIST CHURCHES

had already engaged in several previous Operation Inasmuch events in the past.

MISSION TOGETHER

Submitted by Concord Baptist Church

The Concord Baptist Church of Chase City has a sister congregation—predominantly black—with the same name, located almost next door. Actually, a cemetery separates them on Highway 47.

After the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, the black members of Concord Church asked to form their own separate congregation. A nearby property was donated by one of the members of the church, and the two congregations have lived as neighbors for the past 150 years. Yet they share the same name.

The two Baptist churches have existed separately, but no one can recall when the two congregations ever did anything together. Last summer, during a time of significant polarization across our nation, the pastor and deacons of the original Concord Church reached across the cemetery and invited their sister congregation to stand in Christian unity and solidarity with each other, recognizing that what unites them is our shared commitment to minister to their community in the name of Christ.

The two deacon leadership groups began to meet later in 2016 and decided that a shared ministry was the perfect place to begin expressing their unity in Christ. Operation Inasmuch was selected as the vehicle of that outreach, since the older Concord Church 22

Plans were made, and publicity sought in local newspapers. On April 29, 2017, the two churches gathered for a kick-off event with a balloon launch, and then proceeded to spread all across the Chase City community, wearing the distinctive red shirts displaying the OIAM logo and the verse in Matthew (25: 40) that gives the activity its name. Approximately 75 persons staffed 10 different, bi-racial teams that provided assistance with loading groceries into cars at a local Food Lion, paid for laundry machines at a laundromat, washed windshields at a gas station, offered free blood pressure screening by a nurse in the congregation, visited two local nursing and rehab centers, offered free breakfast sandwiches outside the food store, and gave water bottles to persons walking the sidewalks in town.

Another unusual activity included a $1 car wash, with the driver receiving one dollar and a note of God’s love when the car One project included paying for laundry was finished. One final machines for laundromat patrons. group spent the morning writing thank you notes to all local fire and rescue, police, mayor and town council and other public servants.

Whether the faces were black or white became insignificant when they all wore the red shirts that pointed to their commitment to share the love of Christ in tangible ways with the community.

Both pastors have marveled at how unified the two congregations have become over the decision to minister in the name of Christ.

Rev. John A. Mann is pastor of the church that was founded in 1824.

Rev. Raleigh Bagley is pastor of the church founded in 1871.

ROMANIA

IMPACT

Serving with Project Ruth in Bucharest providing education to women and children in the Roma community:

Serving on Impact Mission Camps staff providing leadership to the five Impact camps this summer:

• Sara Amos – graduate of Virginia Tech, Blacksburg Baptist Church, Blacksburg, VA • Eliza Green – student at Radford University, Blacksburg Baptist Church, Blacksburg, VA • Phillip Hedrick – student at Liberty University, Bonsack Baptist Church, Roanoke, VA

• Elizabeth Hayes – Student at Longwood University, Gwathmey Baptist Church, Ashland, VA • Carley Peacock – Student at Liberty University, Smithfield Baptist Church, Smithfield, VA • Emily Dean – Student at James Madison University, Winfree Memorial Baptist Church, Midlothian, VA • Brandon Hawley – Student at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg Baptist Church, Harrisonburg, VA

DISASTER RESPONSE

VIENNA Serving with Projekt Gemeinde in Vienna with BGAVsupported church plants and supporting their ministries to refugees:

Engaging in learning experiences throughout the disaster response process from preparation to relief to rebuild to longterm development:

• Kathryn Eckler – Student at the College of William & Mary, Buffalo Baptist Church, Long Island, VA

• Julianne Jones – Student at Christopher Newport University, Stafford Crossing Community Church, Stafford, VA • Tyrnan Prasad – Student at Freeman High School, Gayton Baptist Church, Henrico, VA • Daniel Ripley – Student at Virginia Commonwealth University, Hatcher Memorial Baptist Church, Henrico, VA

GHANA Serving alongside our partners in Ghana with More than Nets and church planting:

For more information, visit BGAV.org/Summer2017

• Kelsey Newcomb – student at University of Virginia, Vinton Baptist Church 23

BGAV Annual Meeting November 13–15, 2017 Hampton, VA

GRADUATING

FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL

by Tony Brooks

Second, typically Sunday School teachers for children and youth are more creative in using learning styles and teaching methods. When persons move to the adult classes, they discover many are lecture-based and less dialogical in nature. We need to help our teachers become more innovative in teaching adults for transformation and not just knowledge. Years ago, I heard our now-retired Children’s Ministry Specialist for Virginia Baptists, Diane Smith, suggest that Sunday School for young adults needs to be more like children’s classes in their teaching styles and methods. I would agree!

As I pondered those who graduated this spring (and remembered my own graduation years ago), I prayerfully thought about a disturbing trend in Sunday School and asked this question: When did adults begin to think they had graduated from Sunday School? (Feel free to remind adults that graduation from Bible study is only possible when we breathe our last breath here on earth!)

Many, however, equate Sunday School as a great place for children and youth to learn about the Bible but feel as though they themselves have graduated from it. Once you reach adulthood, you have heard the stories and no longer feel like you need to attend. For us to help adults return to Sunday School, there are a few things we need to consider:

Get more details:

BGAV.org/Meeting

Guest Speaker

Leith Anderson

First, it may be time to recognize our own fault in the misperception about Sunday School. Most churches do a great job celebrating the milestones of childhood and adolescence in Sunday School. We often have a Promotion Sunday where we recognize persons being promoted to the next level. We help first graders by providing Bibles and share how this is a book they will continue to learn from and grow.

We help our children who are transitioning into the student ministry with fellowship events and ministries to connect them to others who will be in the Sunday School class. What do we do when they graduate from high school and college to keep the excitement and connection to others in the class? How do we communicate the importance of being a part of the small group (community of faith) we call Sunday School for adults?

(Of course, that is why I am adamant about ministry care lists, service projects, and fellowship events through Sunday School classes as a way of connecting!)

Third, it may be time to move past calling it Sunday School for adults. One of the churches in my region has a class of 40-50 people every Sunday with ages ranging from 20 to 60. They call the class, “The Gathering.”

It is a master teacher model with art, music, and PowerPoint presentations. Persons in the class do not invite friends to Sunday School, but to “The Gathering.” It takes away the stigma of the name but functions like a healthy, Sunday School class.

Finally, find other times to have open Bible studies instead of just Sunday morning. It is vital for the church to grow in discipleship. Adults’ perception of Bible study at other times may not carry the stigma of Sunday School on Sunday mornings.

Registration opens in September.

BGAV Advancing the Kingdom Together

For more Sunday School resources, visit BGAV.org/SundaySchool

Check the website for schedule, breakout topics, and lodging information as details are finalized.

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s e h rc

e g d l E a r g n i u t R Cut Ministry of Chu

Stay Connected with Your BGAV Family!

by Jonathan Davis

Are e on th

Rural churches and ministries face numerous challenges in the 21st century. At some point in a minister’s career, the likelihood of serving in a small-town church seems high, especially if the person transitions from the role of an associate minister to that of a senior pastor. I and many of my friends from seminary have made this kind of transition, and nearly all of us are serving in small-town churches. In many ways, there’s a ministry myth about where all the “action” is. I have heard many people (both lay and clergy) over the years refer to inner-city ministries or foreign missions as “the front line.” Besides this militaristic language of conquest, the reason I grate against such a notion is that rural ministers are on the cutting edge of several significant ministry trends. There are three emerging social issues and trends where rural churches may actually sit at the forefront.

1. Rural churches are at the forefront of creation care and environmental stewardship. One of the largest cultural trends of the last hundred years is urbanization, with little end in sight. Rural counties in the United States only account for roughly 20 percent of the national population; however, they represent nearly 75 percent of all land, water, and mineral resources. This means that a natural area for theological reflection concerning rural ministry is creation care. Adopting a theology of creation care need not digress into political issues. Start recycling at church.

Organize a highway cleanup day. Host a scouting program at your church (most programs teach conservationism). Highlight agriculturalists, park rangers, forestry employees, and fish and game wardens when you have a stewardship emphasis instead of solely focusing on church finances. How can your rural church embody a biblical theology of creation care?

2. Rural churches are at the forefront of the Baby Boomer retirement wave. Anecdotally, nearly half the people joining the last two churches I’ve pastored (both in small towns) were moving to the community for retirement.

As many rural areas become retirement destinations, smalltown churches may see an uptick in the number of older visitors and new members. This trend could potentially serve as a boon to rural churches, providing an influx of leadership capital, knowledge, and passion. Boomers are looking to live active lifestyles in retirement, which might make a great fit for vibrant small churches open to welcoming new people into

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the community. Rural churches should think long and hard about whether a “been-here vs. come-here” mentality is a good strategy for absorbing and utilizing the gifts of new retiree residents in the community.

3. Rural churches are at the forefront of race relations. Many rural communities, like many cities, remain deeply segregated, especially in church life. What would racial reconciliation look like in your county? Until we can address some of the deep-seated issues in our culture, we will never more fully realize the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. If churches cannot cut through the noise and frame important social issues theologically and in terms of the Kingdom, we cede moral and spiritual authority to external—often politically driven— forces. In many counties in the Commonwealth, there are two Baptist associations: one historically white and the other historically black. To what shared future does the Gospel call us?

Rural ministry has the potential to be as exciting and relevant as any urban or suburban church. Issues impacting the broader culture impact rural communities, and church leaders should take note. Do you serve in a rural church? You may be on the cutting edge of ministry. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.

Jonathan Davis serves as the pastor of Beale Memorial Baptist Church and is a Doctor of Ministry student at Logsdon Seminary.

Give us a call at 800.255.2428 or email Nathan White, chief marketing officer, at nathan.white@BGAV.org.

LATEST MINISTRY JOBS • Associate Pastor for Youth Ministries @ Memorial Baptist Church, Staunton, VA • Music Ministry Coordinator @ Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, VA • Minister/Director of Music @ Branch’s Baptist, Richmond, VA • Worship Ministry Coordinator @ West Side Baptist Church, Harrisonburg, VA • Associate Pastor / Youth Minister Coordinator @ First Baptist Church of Galax, Galax, VA • Pastor @ Clover Bottom Baptist Church, Nathalie, VA • Minister of Music & Senior Adults @ First Baptist Church, Southern Pines, NC

• Next Gen Coordinator @ Highlands Fellowship, Abingdon, VA

• Youth Ministries Leader @ Chamberlayne Baptist Church, Richmond, VA

• Director of Missions @ Pittsylvania Baptist Association, Danville, VA 27

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Advancing the Kingdom Together

Baptist General Association of Virginia 2828 Emerywood Parkway Henrico, VA 23294

“Jesus said, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything, and followed him.”

Luke 5:10-11 (NIV)

Find out more:

AlmaHunt.org #AlmaHunt17

September 18-24, 2017 Goal: $1,167,500