VOL 3, ISSUE 3
SUMMER 2018
HOW CHURCHES CAN
COMBAT THE CRISIS IN 2018
The Waiting Game Read how local churches supported their community in the aftermath of a disaster 8
Postcards from Piankatank
Bridging the Gap
Gaining international campers and counselors at Camp Piankatank 15
How to make Sunday School work for every generation 21
SPEECH FROM THE DARK by John Upton
JOHN UPTON is the Executive Director of the BGAV.
The Governor of Virginia in 2018 has declared a “Public Health Emergency in Virginia” due to opioid addiction. The addiction level in the state has risen to the point of crisis, and the statistics are staggering. This crisis declaration is often confirmed whenever I meet with groups of pastors across our Commonwealth; they share pastoral stories of funerals they have done because of opioids and of how prevalent the issue is in their churches and communities. Yet, for being such a huge crisis, and even an emergency, it is something rarely mentioned in public settings or addressed in public worship. Sadly, it is even difficult to find a model on how to minister to those caught in the crisis. My hunch is that many of us in the church feel helpless in knowing what to do to address the crisis, so we don’t speak to it directly. I wonder sometimes if we are so uncomfortable with suffering that we shy away from it and distract ourselves with other pressing needs. If so, we are ignoring the deepest spiritual part of our faith that, if embraced, could be the very liberation so many are desperately needing. I think that is why the story of Job is so haunting in scripture. It reminds us that the world is not a safe place. We are all vulnerable to real disasters; suffering is real, and it can happen to anyone. Job tells the truth, and he still speaks for so many in our churches and in our communities when he speaks of how vaporous hope is. He is haunting and beautiful in his words all at the same time: “Oh, that I knew where I could find it. I go forward and it’s not there. I go backward, and I cannot find it. I go to my left and it is not there, look right and I can’t see it.” In his speech Job sounds like a person who has been blindfolded, which is exactly what happens to us in our suffering. It is what happens to those caught in the grip of addiction. Our eyes are covered over, and we can’t see hope, can’t see God, and can’t see our way out. Yet Job keeps stretching out his hands and groping for something to hold onto, trusting that out there in the darkness there is something—someone. Do you remember how he finished his speech? “No matter where I look, I cannot see. But God knows the way...” Did you hear Job? “I can’t see, but God can see. Somehow, someway, I will come through.”
Those suffering because of opioids and other addictions keep reaching out to take hold. Shouldn’t we be there for them to grasp? You can’t rush a healing, or schedule one; but if you are present, those reaching out may just find a breakthrough and a way to healing. Isn’t that what God did for you and me? In the fullness of time God sent a “go-between” who laid a hand upon us and who laid a hand upon God and who brought us in a new way into one life. In the “go-between,” God knew all of what it means to suffer as a human. In him God ate our bread, God walked on our feet, was misunderstood by friends, and was abandoned and alone. One day God was placed in such a terrible darkness that not even God could see God in the world, and he cried out, “Why am I forsaken?” and he died. Jesus’ death and resurrection do not spare us of our own long nights of grieving, but when we are there we know there is a hand we can grasp and hold. Let’s be there to extend a hand for someone else who may be reaching out blindly—reaching for you, reaching for hope, reaching for God.
HOW CHURCHES CAN
COMBAT THE CRISIS IN 2018 // pg 16
15 // From Camp Piankatank with Love 16 // How Churches Can Combat the Opioid Crisis in 2018
4 // BGAV News & Notes 6 // BGAV Church Spotlight 8 // When Disaster Strikes: The Waiting Period 10 // Fredericksburg-area Churches Partner in Food Ministry for Community 12 // Springtime on Campus: A Great Time for Ministry
18 // Gateway Community Church: Building and Growing in South Riding, VA 21 // Sunday School Can Be a Bridge Between Generations 22 // Climb Every Mountain 23 // Because of You
BGAV Advancing the Kingdom Together
ISSN 2573-5101 (print) ISSN 2573-511X (online)
A publication of the Baptist General Association of Virginia Volume 3, Issue 3 Summer 2018 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: Nathan White nathan.white@bgav.org 800.255.2428, ext. 1206 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: Jennifer Law
2018 Mission Council Meeting Report “We’re doing our best to keep up with the Holy Spirit”
and the Kairos Initiative. “We wanted to give each of these initiatives space to fly, and I want to report to you that they have flown quite well….we’re doing our best to keep up with the Holy Spirit,” he said with a smile.
The BGAV Mission Council gathered in Richmond on April 20, 2018, to hear from staff and the Executive Board, do some business, and “provide timely counsel” as spelled out by the Constitution/Bylaws.
He concluded by sharing how more and more outside groups are inquiring about how they may cooperate with—or even join—the BGAV because of the innovative and impactful work the association does. “This is the year for decisive action,” Upton said. “We need to figure out how to fit in all the other organizations that want to be part of us.” He continued, “I’m not telling you all about potential, I’m telling you about things that are already happening.”
George Fletcher, BGAV president, also serves as chair of the Mission Council. “Your role is vitally important and we’re glad you made it a priority to be here today,” he said, as he welcomed members. Fletcher then introduced First Vice President, Richard Martin, who led a devotion. “Looking around the room, I see you’re a diverse group….we need each other to work together. Our work in the BGAV really is a team sport; the key to our success is discovering how to work together.”
A clarifying question was asked about why churches from outside Virginia, and specifically the West Coast and Northeast United States, want to join the BGAV. “What’s drawing them to the BGAV is our underlying DNA,” Upton explained. “Pastors and church planters say that we honestly respect and bless the autonomy of the local church. ‘Everyone else wants to tell us how to be church, but the BGAV respects us and allows us to be part of something bigger than ourselves. Thank you for giving us a home,’ they typically say.”
Following the Treasurer’s report, John Upton gave the Executive Director’s report entitled BGAV: Present and Future. “Let me repeat what I said at the last annual meeting,” Upton began. “In all my years working at the BGAV—since 1995— I’ve never seen a time or season of opportunity like that which is upon us right now.”
Afterwards, Mission Council members voted on a slate of 15 possible members for the Executive Board, from which four must be chosen for terms beginning in 2019. The rest of the day was focused on dialogue sessions amongst Mission Council members and the Executive Board and staff. After worship and a devotion, the meeting came to a close.
Upton then walked Mission Council members through the discernment process that revealed that the BGAV, born as a movement, is in need of a movement once again. “How do you start a movement?” he asked. “I sure didn’t know how to start one.” Through lots of prayer, Upton began to feel that a movement needed four elements: leadership development, church planting, church revitalization, and collegiate ministry. Thus began the combined movemental efforts of BGAV’s Spence Network, V3 Church Planting, Fresh Expressions,
BGAV Staff Changes
The BGAV announces three recent staff changes including one retirement and two additions. On April 30, Jim Ailor retired as the Field Strategist for the northern region of Virginia, where he has served for the last 10½ years. Ailor previously was executive director of the Peninsula Baptist Association, and he also served as pastor of several BGAV churches for 23 years. He has several retirement goals including travel, creativity, education, and serving others.
BGAV First Vice President Richard Martin begins the Mission Council meeting with a devotion.
Jody Faig assumed the position of Field Strategist for the northern region on April 23. Faig most recently was Coordinator of Volunteers for OAR 4
NEWS + NOTES
Complete list of events at BGAV.org/Events
Event Calendar of Fairfax, a non-profit helping people in the criminal justice system. Faig has experience as a recruiter and coach. She previously served eight years at the BGAV, her most recent role there being with the V3 Church Planting Movement as Coordinator for Network Development and Operations. She also worked alongside her husband in Minnesota from 1999– 2005 as a church planter.
July 1–6 6–8
Camp Piankatank: Girls Week, Hartfield, VA Camp Piankatank: Co-ed Mini Adventure, Hartfield, VA 8–14 Impact Eastern Shore, VA 15–20 Camp Piankatank: Co-ed Week, Hartfield, VA 15–21 Impact Danville, VA 15–21 Impact Houston, TX 16–20 Music and Worship Arts Camp, Lynchburg, VA 20–22 Camp Piankatank: Mother/Daughter Weekend, Hartfield, VA 22–27 Camp Piankatank: Co-ed Youth Week, Hartfield, VA 22–28 Impact Danville, VA 23–27 MC2: Missions Connection Celebration, Lynchburg, VA 29–8/3 Camp Piankatank: Co-ed Week, Hartfield, VA
“I am delighted and honored to serve our BGAV churches in the northern Virginia region. I look forward to resourcing and assisting our pastors and churches as they seek to advance God’s Kingdom,” Faig commented. Caitlin Brown started her new position on April 15 as the Kairos Collegiate/ Young Adult Minister at Old Dominion University (ODU). Brown just completed her Master of Divinity at George W. Truett Theological Seminary in Waco, TX. Brown is passionate about the intersection between the church and the world and feels called to walk alongside college students in that space. She has worked in several ministry contexts from crosscultural engagement to chaplaincy and church work. Brown will work part-time until she relocates to the Norfolk area and will then transition to a full-time role.
August 4 25
Church Weekday Education Conference, Richmond, VA The Promising Future of Small Churches, Appomattox, VA 27–28 Empower Class 501: Foundation for Christian Coaching, Ashland, VA
September 7 11 18 22 27
“Caitlin is a talented, creative minister whose love for college students and desire for their growth as Kingdom leaders will make her a great addition to our Kairos team,” commented Welford Orrock, Kairos Collegiate/Young Adult Coordinator at BGAV. “She brings to ODU the gifts necessary to lead in a diverse and ever-changing campus context. I’m thrilled to see how God will use her to build bridges connecting young adults with the campus, the community, and the church as they explore the future of where God is leading the church on mission in the world.”
Church Staff Benefits Seminars, Hampton, VA Church Staff Benefits Seminars, Henrico, VA Church Staff Benefits Seminars, Annandale, VA Church Weekday Education Conference, Stafford, VA Church Staff Benefits Seminars, Roanoke, VA
October 8–11 11 12–14 13 13 15–16
Thank you, Virginia Baptists, for faithfully working together to advance the Redeemer’s Kingdom!
19–21 22–24 23 26–27 26–28 29–30
For more BGAV news, visit BGAV.org/News 5
Gathering of Silence, Lowesville, VA Ministry Equipping Network: Building Faith at Home Ignite: A Retreat for Middle School Students, Lynchburg, VA Ministry Equipping Network: Children’s Ministry 101 Ministry Equipping Network: Developmental Ages & Stages Empower Class 505 - The Language of Coaching, Henrico, VA Special Needs Retreat, Lynchburg, VA Better Than Ever: Fifty-Plus Retreat, Lynchburg, VA Ministry Equipping Network: Models of Family Ministry AAFVA Preaching Camp XVI, Suffolk, VA Kairos Collegiate/Young Adult Fall Gathering, Lynchburg, VA Empower Class 502 - Establishing a Dynamic Coaching Relationship, Ashland, VA
BGAV CHURCH SPOTLIGHT have launched ten House Church communities across the city, seen our Capital Kids ministry double with a newly launched middle-school ministry, and recorded and released a live worship album. We cannot wait to see the fruit of this next year as we prepare to begin men’s and women’s discipleship communities, continue our justice partnerships supporting DC nonprofits, and launch a second church service in the fall.
Below is a report from one of several churches who’ve recently joined the BGAV. In the past decade, churches from inside and outside Virginia along with churches outside the US have become members of the BGAV because of their desire to connect with the engaging ministries, resources, and partnerships we offer. Please be in prayer for all our member churches—those who are new, those who’ve been around since 1823, and all who are in between.
We were led to become a member of the BGAV out of a desire for greater connection with the wider church body in the DMV area. We are excited about learning from other BGAV member churches and partnering with you in seeing God’s Kingdom come in this region.
Grace Capital City Church — Washington, DC By Ali Hale, communications director, Grace Capital City Church Grace Capital City is a church of Jesus followers gathering in Washington, DC. Our mission is to see the Kingdom of God come to this city and the cities of the world through the values of worship, family, and justice. We long to see hearts transformed through encountering the Father, communities shaped by the overflow of that love, and the world changed through the outpouring of family on mission. Every Sunday we hope to invite others into a space that feels like home—authentic and encouraging—where you are free to walk in the fullness of your identity in Christ. Exciting things are happening at Grace Capital City. In the past year we have seen 21 people give their lives to God in baptism, we
Lead Pastor Chris Moerman (right) performs a baptism. 6
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love with words
or speech but with
actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18
Find out more:
ALMAHUNT.ORG
#AlmaHunt18
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Dear children, let us
love
BeBeLove
(be)love (be)love (be)love
September 17-23, 2018 Goal: $1, 167, 500 Complete allocations available online. Alma Hunt Offering for Virginia Missions materials will be mailed to churches in July. Please contact WMUV at 800.255.2428, ext. 8267, or wmuv@wmuv.org to order additional copies of materials. Resources are also available for download at AlmaHunt.org.
by Cadance Tyler On the night of April 15, 2018, I received the startling news that a tornado had ripped through the small community of Elon, Virginia, the community in which I serve as a youth minister at Randolph Memorial Baptist Church. I immediately thought about my church family, many of whom call Elon home. Within 30 minutes of learning the news, I began to receive text messages from concerned church members looking for a way to help their neighbors. Can we take food? Does anyone need shelter? When can we begin to help rebuild? As Christians, our gut reaction during times of disaster is to live out our faith through action. We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Yes, we are called to be people of action but practically speaking, sometimes helpful hands aren’t immediately needed on a disaster site. That was the case with the tornado disaster relief in Elon. Officials had asked for people to stay off the highway and out of neighborhoods so that rescue crews and police could help victims and assess damage. We were given the task of waiting, which is difficult when you see people in need. I thought about the youth in my church who had just experienced the trauma of hearing a tornado tear through their community while cowering in their basements. There were youth whose friends had just lost everything. I imagined that the youth were hurting and worried about their friends. They were all in this waiting period between knowing and being able to help. Randolph Memorial Baptist Church opened its doors to local youth and adults as a space for support and socialization activities during the days following the storm.
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Youth from Randolph Memorial Baptist Church held a community car wash to raise money for a family who lost their home in the tornado.
Through my conversations with parents of worried teenagers, I felt moved to create a space in our church for the community’s youth. While they were out of school and filled with anxiety, our church could provide a time to be with their friends and adults who were willing to offer a listening ear and a hug. We bought silly games and fun craft projects. We played happy music and set out comforting food. There wasn’t an agenda. We were simply providing the space for them to feel safe and to minister to each other.
Our ministry efforts that week reflected a collaborative effort of our congregations. We all came together as one body to minister to our community. Youth from different churches invited friends to join us. Parents provided rides to the events and supervision. The pastor of my church, Rev. Dr. Derik Hamby, and I were joined by Rev. Katrina Brooks, the youth minister from Madison Heights Baptist Church, in our ministry efforts. We were all there as the body of Christ—not as members of individual churches. When the waiting period ended that week, the youth were able to go out into the communities to help with cleanup efforts. Youth from Madison Heights Baptist Church helped with providing food, laundry services, and clean-up efforts. Youth from Randolph Memorial helped with cleanup and raised money to help a family without insurance who lost their home. These are just the efforts of two church youth groups in the community. Many others are coming together to minister in the months ahead. The body of Christ is at work in our community, providing light and love where it is needed. The waiting period was short-lived, but our call to minister as the body of Christ is not.
Every teenager in town was invited, whether they were a part of our youth ministry or not. We posted the invitation on Facebook, but it was really the youth themselves who invited friends and shared the information on Snapchat that spread the news. We had two hangouts that week during the waiting period. More than 27 youth from the community came together to minister to each other. They played, shared stories, and released the stress that had been building up since Sunday evening. This waiting period after the tornado reminded me of God’s movement through the church. As the body of Christ, we are called to minister to each other and to our community. That ministry can look like many different things. Perhaps that prayer or physically rebuilding a home. It can look like collecting donations. It can also mean providing space and a few hours of joy.
Cadance Tyler serves as youth director at Randolph Memorial Baptist Church, Madison Heights, VA. For more information, visit BGAV.org 9
Fredericksburg-area Churches Partner in Food Ministry for Community
by Rev. Dale Seley
Four years ago, during a board meeting of the Fredericksburgarea churches who partnered together to pack meals for “Rise Against Hunger,� a dream was born. The board members began to discuss the possibility of merging their various food ministries together into one ministry for the community. The issue that prompted this discussion was that various churches had their own separate dates and times to distribute food. In addition, each church had their own set of regulations for food distribution. This approach presented a challenge for the people they were serving, who were already under-resourced; they had to drive from church to church at various times during the week to get food assistance. An idea came to the surface: What if we could get together, in partnership, and create one distribution center? Fast forward to January 18, 2018, when the Community Ministry Center (CMC) in Fredericksburg, VA, was opened. The CMC was established as an independent non-profit organization to help under-resourced people who have food needs, and it is supported by Salem Baptist Church and the Fredericksburg Area Baptist Network. Volunteers from the community help to run this ministry, and there are no paid employees. People in need can come to the center and receive food three times a week. The CMC also provides a computer center and offers support for additional resources, connections, and encouragement for the clients. The organizers are considering future ministries including car repair and medical and dental assistance.
The Community Ministry Center provides a free computer center as part of its community ministry.
Since its opening in January, the center has served over 100 families each week. The number of local merchants who donate food weekly has increased, and so has the volume of food that is picked up by volunteers and brought to the center for distribution.
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Rev. Dale Seley works on the new Community Ministry Center. Currently, Panera Bread, Bob Evans, Weis Markets, Starbucks, Outback Steakhouse, Target, Giant, and Wawa are some of the businesses that donate food. The center also purchases food from the Fredericksburg Food Bank at minimal cost, in addition to receiving many free food items. The leased space is 1,600 square feet, and the need for additional space is already apparent as the center makes plans to expand and client needs increase. Most new nonprofits that fail do so because their vision does not include a plan for sustainability, but the setup of the CMC nonprofit was planned with a for-profit business plan for sustainability. Matt Mestemaker (Executive Director of the CMC and Salem member) and Terry Blackburn-Parker (an associate minister at Salem) developed a proposal to open a child care center in the children’s wing of Salem Baptist Church. Recently, the Board of Directors recommended the proposal to the congregation, and the congregation voted overwhelmingly in support of the endeavor. They are now beginning to work with the Spotsylvania Planning Commission to fulfill all requirements for the center to be housed at Salem Baptist, and it will function as a for-profit business to support the CMC. They believe that this new ministry will provide support for the CMC from a financial standpoint while providing Salem Baptist Church an important new ministry opportunity. “Connecting a Community to Christ” is the mission statement for Salem Baptist Church. This ministry is another opportunity that God has provided for the Salem congregation to show them yet another way to be Jesus’ hands and feet in their community. Rev. Dale Seley is the pastor of Salem Baptist Church, 11 Fredericksburg, VA.
For more information, visit BGAV.org
ON CAMPUS
A GREAT TIME FOR MINISTRY Jakob Lyons, a student at Virginia Tech, participated in a Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) mission trip over spring break in March 2018. The following is an excerpt from a reflection he wrote:
Over spring break in April 2018, Katy Terrill, associate Kairos collegiate/young adult minister at Virginia Tech, led a team of 12 BCM students on a trip to San José, Costa Rica. The following is an excerpt from a newsletter in which she wrote about the experience:
Throughout my week spent working with the three other guys at the BCM on Nicholl’s State University (NSU) in Thibodaux, Louisiana, I definitely felt God’s presence working in my life. First, I felt that God was/is calling me to have more boldness in sharing my faith with my friends and classmates–people whom I see on a regular basis.
Río Azul In preparation for this trip, we connected with a VT BCM Alum who is an associate pastor at an international church in San José. His director of missions, Steve, was a huge help for the week. He organized our projects, transportation, and most of the details. Most of Steve’s weekly ministries are based in a lower-income community called Río Azul.
I have always struggled with verbally sharing the Gospel message with people I know. I find myself attempting to live with Christ-like character so that others can see God’s love and grace shining through me; however, I fail to follow up and have discussions with my friends about why I live my life the way I do, which is to bring honor and glory to God the father who first loved me and gave himself for me.
It was here that we assisted with building materials for a new church and hosted Bible school activities in the morning and afternoon. We had two Spanish speakers on our team, Alma and Allison. This was Alma’s first opportunity to serve a Spanishspeaking community on a mission trip. It was such a sweet experience to watch her thrive in each project as a native Spanish speaker. I praise God for Alma’s heart for the nations and desire to see all people know Christ. Construction Day As I mentioned above, we were able to help with building a new church in the Río Azul community. The new church plot was literally on the side of a mountain. The land was for squatters, so they had no access to water and had only bootlegged electricity. One of our most notable experiences from this trip happened on this day. Three students went with Steve to help retrieve water at the top of the mountain.
While at NSU, the four of us participated in “water bottling,” which is a method of outreach in which we went out onto campus with water bottles, approached a small group of one or two students, and offered to give them a water bottle if they would be willing to ask us or answer a question about faith. While taking part in this outreach mission, I found a new sense of courage in sparking conversations with people about my faith, especially with those whom I interact with on a daily basis. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16 NIV)
Once they reached the top, at the public water access, an angry local Costa Rican asked Steve to not take the water to the squatters, because they were illegal immigrants. Our students were shocked that they would say that.
Now that I am back on campus at Virginia Tech, I want to apply what I learned and the experiences I had during this incredible week to my life to my life here at VT. One way that I can do this is by actually having conversations with not only my close friends, but also my peers and acquaintances about what I believe as a Christian and why I live my life the way I do.
As we filled five-gallon buckets with this new water (because Steve definitely ignored the guy), we were reminded of the Living Water that will be available at this new church. We ended the day on that mountainside, praying for the Lord’s hand to be on this community and that God would work mightily in this new church. 12
Taylor Terrill, associate Kairos collegiate/young adult minister at Virginia Tech, shares one of the most recent ways their BCM has reached out and ministered to students on campus this spring:
Visiting Abused Kids and Teens In Costa Rica, when a child or teen is reported as being abused in their home, they are able to immediately go to a safe home. Steve visits these homes each week. He brings ice cream and cookies, hosts pizza parties, and helps distract them from their realities so they can just feel like kids. We were able to come in for a day to visit the kids in the morning and the teenage girls in the afternoon.
Each semester we try to creatively engage with students on campus. One of the ways we do this is through proxy stations, or surveys. We think of an engaging question, paint interactive boards, and reserve a spot on campus to survey students as they pass by.
We played a lot of games of UNO and soccer, we jumped rope, and we did hair and nails with the girls. Even with the language barrier, we were able to laugh and play with both groups. I am so thankful for Steve’s continuous ministry to these homes and sharing the love of Christ with them.
This spring we asked “What are you struggling with?” and “How do you cope with it?” This gives us opportunities to have intentional conversations, make connections, and invite students to BCM. We found it very sobering to read through the answers students gave. While many focused on exams and tests, there were several centered on shame, depression, and doubt.
As a team, we’ve debriefed and reflected on how the Lord is continuously teaching us from this experience. I am so grateful and honored to have this opportunity to lead these students. When Taylor and I were considering returning to college ministry last year, I knew I wanted to be in an occupation that would help students identify their call to full-time missions. This has been my wish since returning from the international mission field in South Africa in 2013. Praise the Lord, He is faithful to hear our desires and answer with a mighty calling.
Will you join me and take a moment to pray for Virginia Tech students? Many are being crushed by the idol of grades and excelling in school. Pray they will experience the peace of Christ amidst the many challenges of college.
As always, we are continually blessed and grateful to serve the Lord on this campus, with this staff, and with these students.
For more information, visit KairosInitiative.org 13
BGAV Annual Meeting November 12-14, 2018 Mount Vernon Baptist Church Glen Allen, VA
Guest Speaker
Check for updates:
Tod Bolsinger
BGAV.org/Meeting
Author of “Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory�
Registration opens September. BGAV.org/Meeting
BGAV Advancing the Kingdom Together
2016 and 2017 were great years financially for Camp Piankatank, as the ministry achieved self-sufficiency (apart from the Cooperative Missions allocation it receives annually). For the last two years, retreat business has increased by about 30% each year, bringing the total number of individuals they serve annually to over 4,000—a number that continues to increase.
A number of years ago, Myungsu, a gentleman from South Korea, emailed me to ask if it would be possible to send his daughter to Camp Piankatank. After communicating back and forth several times, we eventually worked it out so she could come to camp for a couple of weeks. Myungsu always said that he wanted to get more Korean students to come, but it was difficult and presented many challenges. In 2015 Myungsu called me to talk about the possibility of his daughter coming to Piankatank as a summer missionary, and he also inquired about sending up to five campers for a couple of weeks. This went so well that he wanted to send another summer missionary in 2016, so he sent one in addition to 10 campers for two weeks.
w it
In 2017 we had four summer missionaries from South Korea (because it works well when students can travel along with people they know) and 14 campers. The experience has been so positive for both us and them that this summer we are looking forward to having four summer missionaries again, and this time they are bringing 20 or more campers!
ve
m o r f
by Steve Gourley
o l h
continue building these relationships, I recently contacted the ESL Director at Christchurch School here in Urbanna. He was very excited to write a curriculum for us to help our international campers get a little bit of extra training. We are so excited to see how much more God is going to be growing our camp, both locally and internationally.
Because of this relationship with South Koreans, we have also been contacted by two other organizations that work with Chinese students. They want to send their campers here as well. We are thrilled that our campers get to have a cross-cultural experience right here in their own backyard. In an effort to
For more information, visit CampPiankatank.org 15
HOW CHURCHES CAN
BY JONATHAN DAVIS
COMBAT THE CRISIS IN 2018 In 2017, we heard more than ever about the opioid crisis in the United States. There seems to be bipartisan agreement that a serious problem exists, and perhaps even a bipartisan agreement on meaningful solutions.
dying. If anyone can respond to human pain and suffering with hope and healing, it’s the risen Christ. What is your church doing to help address people’s pain (emotional, spiritual and mental) in your community? In seeking more butts in seats and dollars in the bank account, have we lost sight of our special role in ushering in Christ’s healing to the world? The opioid epidemic is certainly a health crisis, and an addiction crisis, but it’s also a spiritual crisis. How can your church help bring spiritual healing to lives and families ravaged by opioid addiction?
Last year, I became deeply involved in the opioid crisis in my county when one of my church members lost a granddaughter to a heroin overdose. He and his family were hurting deeply, and I felt God leading me to do something more than offer pastoral presence and comfort. Over the last year we have attempted to launch a recovery ministry in our community for people dealing with various addictions. It’s slow going. Building trust with those already in the recovery community, understandably, takes time. Many in our community and regionally are not yet willing to admit that the opioid epidemic is upon us.
Here are four ideas for how to make an impact locally in 2018: 1. Get lay leaders or your pastor to attend training to learn how to administer naloxone, which can prevent death in the event of an overdose. naloxone, like an A.E.D. machine, can be kept on hand at the church in case of emergency. In my county, EMTs are the only ones that carry naloxone. The sheriff’s office could, but does not. If someone overdoses, they have little time to receive an antidote. If every pastor or parish nurse in my county trained to administer naloxone, we would increase coverage of trained administers by nearly 40 times. Children and youth ministers have taken CPR training for decades. In localities where the opioid epidemic is on the rise, naloxone training makes sense.
No doubt, many readers may wonder, “What can I do,” or “What can my church do?” The use of opioids has sharply risen in the last decade in the United States. One study estimates that while the US has roughly five percent of the world’s population, we consume over 30 percent of all opioids. More than nearly any country on earth, we desire to numb our pain. The pains we want to numb, however, are not purely physical. We desire to numb mental, emotional, and spiritual pain. We want to numb the feeling of dysfunctional families, broken dreams, failures, and even the pains of success and affluence.
2. Attend a drug task force meeting in your region and join the conversation. Ask your local sheriff’s office or state representative how your faith community can get involved. At this point, I have been in many regional and even gubernatorial cabinet-level meetings regarding the opioid crisis in Virginia, and I’m almost always the only faith-based representative or pastor present. How can we serve if we don’t show up?
Churches are uniquely positioned to weigh in on the opioid crisis. Our specialty, in many ways, should be meeting people in their pain and suffering, because that is the model of ministry Christ exhibited. Jesus suffered great pain, even death, because of humanity’s sin. Our pain and brokenness led to his suffering and
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RESOURCES RECOVERYSUNDAY.ORG - An online resource for churches wishing to have a recovery emphasis Sunday (RecoverySunday.org). This year’s Recovery Sunday is September 16, 2018. September is National Recovery Month (more info at naadac.org), and the third week in September is National Heroin Awareness Week. By emphasizing local recovery options and pathways, God’s desire for human wholeness, and Christ’s call to walk in freedom from the chains that bind us, churches can participate in an already ongoing national dialogue. What if before hearing about national recovery month at school, students and kids heard about it in church? HEROIN: THE HARDEST HIT - A powerful documentary focused on the heroin and prescription drug epidemic and its effects on Virginians (HardestHitVA.com). This excellent film offers a personal look at the stories of addiction, overdose, and recovery across our state. Many BGAV congregations have hosted viewings of this 45-minute documentary, often followed by a panel discussion with local law enforcement officers or medical personnel. The website for the documentary, HardestHitVA.com, allows organizations like churches to order a DVD copy of the film, presents stats and figures on the opioid crisis in Virginia, and is an excellent on-ramp for congregations desiring to learn more about how to make a difference in their local communities.
3. Host recovery meetings at your church. There are a number of nationally based organizations that specialize in recovery which are happy to have meetings in your space if you open your doors. 4. Start a recovery ministry. Churches are not equipped or trained to deal with addiction and recovery, and a number of groups provide training (and some even offer staff) for churches interested in beginning a recovery ministry. One example of such a ministry is Celebrate Recovery. They are a national recovery ministry in over 29,000 congregations. Another example is Hatcher Memorial Baptist Church in Richmond, VA, which allows the McShin Foundation to run a full rehab center on its campus.
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OPIOID CRISIS DATA PORTAL - The VDH’s official statistics on the opioid epidemic (VDH.Virginia.gov/data/opioidoverdose/). The latest stats are always about 18 months behind real time, because the statistics are based on forensic data collected in ongoing criminal investigations, data periodically reported by emergency rooms and EMS organizations, and toxicology and cause-of-death reports from morticians and law enforcement offices.
In 2018, how is God calling your church to make a difference in the opioid crisis? Whether you realize it or not, it already impacts your congregation. This article first appeared in Baptist News Global. It is reprinted with their permission. Jonathan Davis is the pastor of Beale Memorial Baptist Church in Tappahannock, VA.
REVIVE TRAINING, DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL AND HUMAN HEALTH Training communities around the state to respond to an opioid overdose and administer the life-saving drug, naloxone (DBHDS.Virginia.gov/behavioral-health/ substance-abuse-services/revive). REVIVE! is the Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education (OONE) program for the Commonwealth of Virginia. REVIVE! provides training to professionals, stakeholders, and others on how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose emergency with the administration of naloxone.
For more information, visit BGAV.org
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B U I LDI N G AND G R OW ING I N S O U TH R ID ING , VA
Gateway Community Church, a BGAV-member congregation, has an exciting story to tell. We recently interviewed Ed Allen, lead pastor, to learn firsthand about what God is doing through them in their community.
Lead Pastor Ed Allen, right, talks with church members on the outside patio.
Please describe the community where you’re located and why you determined that area was in need of a church. The area is a fast-growing, upper-middle income exurb of Washington, DC. Our county, Loudoun, has been one of the fastestgrowing regions in the country for 20 years. It has grown dramatically more diverse during that time, with a huge influx of Asian-identifying families. There is an especially large number of Indian families. I confess, choosing this area was more an act of God’s sovereignty than it was strategy. First Baptist Church of Alexandria (FBC) brought us here to plant a church, which they were sponsoring, in 1996. This was one of the areas they identified as needing churches because of the explosive growth. My wife and I had a favorable reaction to the sound of this area – before knowing anything about it. Plus, as God would have it, this was the area where our realtor found a place we could afford.
We began meeting as a group on Sunday nights in the fall of 1997. We held our official grand opening at a local elementary school on Easter Sunday in 1998. We mailed thousands of postcards and anticipated a huge crowd. No one came! Then began the long, slow work of meeting neighbors and coworkers and encouraging our core people to do the same; about two years in, we began to see some of those relationships mature into visitors and new Christians. I should note that we did not grow to the point that we “needed” a building. We had plenty of space in the school that we rented. We decided to build the building because God had given us this property (through the faithfulness of the Baptist Extension Board). We had always believed God wanted us to build. In a sense, we violated much of the accepted wisdom current in the church right now. I read several articles, in fact, in the run-up to our building suggesting that you should NOT build as a strategy for growth. That no longer works, it seems. So if that is indeed the case, and it certainly may be, we bucked that new trend. We have grown aggressively.
How long was Gateway in the planning stages? Where did its founding members come from, and where did the church meet as it grew to the point you needed a building? I had a long-time friend who was a deacon at FBC and indicated he and his family might want to be part of the plant. He knew another couple of families who expressed interest. FBC allowed me to preach a few times, and I made a call for any interest. There were a few single people and another family interested; through these people we met others. I spent several months surveying thousands of homes. I was not recruiting; I was simply gathering information and insight. But in that process, three more families joined us.
Please tell us more about how the church came to the decision to build where it did, how the money was raised, and how the plan became reality. Building the facility: For most of our history, I really did not want to build. We honestly built out of obedience to what we believed God wanted to do through our story.
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Rev. Allen leads Sunday worship.
Two members of the church youth group embrace during an event.
We used a bank loan as the vehicle to raise much of the money. It took a while to find a bank that would believe our congregation could pull this off, but we finally found one. The congregation also made a very faithful aggressive pledge, which we are nearly finished servicing. We had two slivers of our property that we could—and did—sell off. There was, obviously, a lot of thought and strategy that went into this plan. But again, this had more to do with God’s sovereignty than our cleverness. (I don’t say that to be appropriately religious. Often God uses our cleverness. And he did in some instances in our story. It’s just that our story has many more elements of dumb “luck” than most. Since we don’t believe in luck, we strongly suspect that God was behind it!) The plan becoming reality: There was never a point at which it seemed easy, nor did it run smoothly. Every step felt like a battle, and it was impossible for me to see the end. I could almost never imagine how we were going to get from where we were to where it seemed like we were headed. We just kept trying to take the next right step.
We built where we built because 19 years ago, the Baptist Extension Board had the foresight to buy this property for us. They sold it to us five years later for the price they paid for it plus taxes. It was worth considerably more than that on the open market. We are in one of the most strategic and prime locations in Loudoun County—one of the fastest growing counties in the US. And it had very, very little to do with strategy. We are on the corner of two fourlane highways: one of which is a major north-south corridor, and the other is a well-used east-west commuter route. Neither of these roads existed when the property was first bought. Again, this was about the sovereign activity of God—not effective church planting strategy. Raising the money: We truly believed that God wanted us to build a nice facility and one which would serve our area well. We prayed and talked about building something much cheaper—something we could afford—but we believed God wanted us to build something that matched the ethos of our area. We were too small a congregation to raise anywhere near that kind of money. We knew we would need an aggressive business plan, so we built the facility with the region in mind. We built a wing that acts as a preschool. This allows us to serve our neighbors and make money. We built a gym that doubles as our sanctuary. This is space we can rent to sports teams (mostly soccer and basketball so far)—again serving our neighbors and making money. We have outdoor space that will accommodate two soccer fields. Once completed, that will dramatically increase our rental capabilities.
In what way was the BGAV involved in planting this church? FBC Alexandria called me to come here. They prayed for us faithfully. They sent some key families. And they paid my salary in full for three years and in part for two more years. Individual leaders from the BGAV have been consistent sources of encouragement and sometimes-needed insight for us. The Baptist Extension Board bought our property. They carried it for us for five years. They sold it to us for a fraction of what it was worth. In fact, we sold off two small parcels, as I said. We made five times on those two parcels what we paid for the whole property originally.
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When did the new facility open? How would you describe the church now? We opened in September 2017. In the eight months since, the church has more than doubled in size. And the growth in our emotional footprint in the area is far larger than that. We are excited and trying to keep up with what God is doing. How has the community responded to Gateway/what relationships do you have in the community that illustrate your effectiveness there? There are many stories in this category. I will offer one. A few families in our area wanted to do something for the hurricane victims in Houston early last fall. They settled on the idea of filling an 18-wheeler with supplies and driving it down. They had the truck; they had the driver; they had the contact in Houston who would tell them needs and meet the supplies and distribute. But they had nowhere to park the truck. They asked if they could use space in our parking lot. We were happy to oblige. They were delighted and deeply grateful. Aside from being friendly and occasionally bringing waters to packers and others, we did very little. It blew up on social media. “Go to the new church, Gateway Community Church, to drop off your supplies.” We got rave reviews. Again…we did nothing. I still meet people in stores who find out I go to Gateway Community Church, and they tell me “I’ve been wanting to come check you guys out. Y’all are the people that helped the hurricane victims.”
Church members and guests can easily socialize and fellowship in the building’s open floor plan. Additionally, our facility is really beautiful. So we have been overwhelmed with requests to rent it—many of which we cannot accommodate. Every time someone comes into it, they are surprised and connect with it. How can other BGAV-member churches and individuals pray for you? Pray that we can faithfully and wisely keep up with what God is doing through us. For more information, visit BGAV.org
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SUNDAY SCHOOL CAN BE A BRIDGE BETWEEN GENERATIONS by Tony Brooks
One of the Six Marketplace Realities that has changed in the past 25 years is a generational issue. This is the first time in history in which there are five living generations—four of them working together with growing differences in needs, preferences, values, and types of organizations they associate with. Here’s a question to consider:
What I am saying is that Bible study must focus on imagination and be experiential for people who are my age and younger. If I was teaching elementaryaged children, and the lesson was on Zacchaeus, I would take the children outside and have a teenager or young adult dressed as Zacchaeus in a tree and telling his story about being isolated and rejected until Jesus came to town.
Are we sufficiently attentive to the needs defined by the generational differences among our churches? Here’s an example I often use in training sessions for teachers. It was used by Leonard Sweet 15 years ago about the challenges churches will face, but I personalized it this way: When I was a child, the first chocolate candy bar I enjoyed was Hershey’s. Later I delved into Baby Ruth, Butterfinger, many others, and my favorite, Almond Joy. These were all about the taste. (I love chocolate!)
If I was doing a lesson from Jeremiah about the Potter’s House, I would have Play-Doh for everyone to use. I would want them to experience God creating something beautiful out of their frailties. Sunday School for younger generations must be experiential in nature and focused on a learning model, not a teaching model.
When I was about eight or so, mom gave us all permission to buy one candy at the grocery store. I did not choose chocolate to her amazement. I chose a superhero Pez dispenser! Suddenly it was not about the taste. It was about using your imagination and having an experience!
Millennials want older adults to be their mentors. I actually got this idea from Bo Prosser. He had a young adult class go to an older men’s class one Sunday to hear their stories about what it means for them to be a part of their church. These men inspired the younger generation and vice versa. A few weeks later the older men’s class wanted to hear the young adults’ stories. Take a Sunday to try this and see what happens. Understanding between generations is the beginning of becoming a community of faith.
People my age (end of the Baby Boomer generation) and younger enjoy experiences even in our candy choices. Ten years ago the favorite candy/bubble gum was dispensed in a toy cell phone that made all the noises of a cell phone. Today you can’t find it, because everyone has a cell phone.
Older classes can share their passions with the younger generation. What do I mean? If your folks had a free day without a to-do list and could choose anything to do, what would they want to do? Get people to turn their passions into a ministry. The younger generation may want one of them to be a mentor in that passion. Considering how mobile we have become, many young parents do not have grandparents nearby. Get older persons to adopt children in the church. In the meantime, these older adults will connect with the parents and develop a friendship that leads to a spiritual family. I had two such families for our children, and they were still considered grandparents in their adulthood. Yes, there are challenges as we consider worship and the needs of each generation, but Sunday School can become a bridge between the generations!
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Climb Every
MOUNTAIN by Will Cumbia
Some of my favorite moments I’ve had in Europe have been while hiking. From the quiet mountains jutting from crystal blue lakes in Austria to Arthur’s Seat in the middle of bustling Edinburgh, I’ve seen some amazing vistas in my time here. It’s astounding to look back towards the path from which you came—to see how the winding path that didn’t seem to lead to the summit suddenly makes sense from the top of the mountain. Life is similar sometimes, isn’t it? Often our path can seem sporadic and random. As a young twenty-something, I’ve wondered how all of my experiences could possibly lead to any one clear place. Yet standing on one of life’s summits, it’s amazing to look back and see the path I’ve walked. To see how so many of my experiences in the past have unexpectedly prepared me perfectly for what I am doing right now. To see how my love for singing and musical theater prepared me perfectly for singing at a home for the elderly in London. I was blessed to watch everyone in the room light up and sing along with me to “My Favorite Things.” To see how my dealings with anxiety in the past prepared me perfectly for the moment a woman on the brink of homelessness shared with me her own experiences of anxiety. I was blessed to look into her eyes and tell her I knew exactly how she felt and for her to have someone understand her, even for just a moment. To see how my time as a conversational English partner in my BCM’s international ministry prepared me perfectly for working with people from different cultures every day. I am continually blessed to learn from people from around the world.
There is beauty in looking back down the mountain to see the path that we’ve taken. To see how my nine semesters of foreign language study in college, though not in German, made me more comfortable being around people I couldn’t understand. I am blessed to use whatever words I know to connect with others—even to lead worship in a language other than English. To see how my experiences doing short-term mission trips prepared me perfectly to put myself out there even when I was uncomfortable. I am blessed every time I push myself out of my comfort zone and meet God halfway. To see how a life lived in the Baptist church prepared me to connect with other Baptists from all over the world. I am blessed beyond measure by this quirky family, even when I disagree with them. So somehow, “The Sound of Music” and mental health issues and hanging out with Chinese people and learning French and adventures in Puerto Rico and being Baptist all somehow combine perfectly. There is beauty in looking back down the mountain to see the path that we’ve taken. To see how God takes our gifts, talents, and experiences and uses them in unexpected ways for our present moment. Each day is an adventure in Vienna, and I can’t wait to see how God is preparing me for whatever adventures come next.
For more information, visit BGAV.org/Venturers
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Because of
You... …the Small Church Conference was held in Crozet, where a filled room learned from Dr. Chuck Warnock, pastor of Chatham Baptist Church, about effective ministry in a small church context. Bookmark and visit BGAV.org/Events for more regional conferences in the coming months.
…the African-American Fellowship of Virginia held their 14th Preaching Camp, where church leaders can have their preaching skills challenged and sharpened in an intimate setting. The next Preaching Camp in October will be a reunion of sorts for all past preaching camps. Learn more at BGAV.org/AAFVA.
…in conjunction with Texas Baptists, the first pastoral care training event was held in Williamsburg for chaplains and church leaders. The three-day event trained dozens in several areas and counts as required continuing education for chaplains.
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