BGAV Express - Winter 2019

VOL 4, ISSUE 1

WINTER 2019

BGAV Is “Living the Story” at 2018 story Annual Meeting

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Welcoming Missio Alliance to BGAV

Disaster Response Closes Out 2018

Uptick Receives $1 Million Lilly Grant

Learn about our new partnership initiative with Missio Alliance

Read about the latest response efforts and ongoing work in NC

Check out Uptick’s exciting opportunity and how it will be used

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WHAT A STORY TO TELL

by John Upton What a story we get to tell—and what a story we get to live together as family of the BGAV! There are two things that have defined us as a BGAV family for these past 195 years. We have always focused on the local church, and we have always been “movemental.” The Bedford Plowboys started local churches while at the same time creating the movement we are today. If we lose either of those—our focus on the local church or being movemental—we would make the other small and ineffective. The challenge has always been how to blend and integrate the two. We are now at a point in time when we need to rediscover the power of the two coming together.

Deb, the kids, and I were missionaries in the Republic of China when there were no department stores. We were there three years before the first one came to the country. It opened just in time, because our clothes were wearing out—particularly the children’s. With much enthusiasm we shopped at the store, seeing things we hadn’t seen in years. It came as no surprise that I soon tired and found myself standing by the escalator, watching the people around me.

This was the first escalator in the country. If you want an entertaining afternoon, watch people try to use an escalator for the first time. A look of terror crosses peoples’ faces as they stumble their way onto the steps. My favorite was a little guy, maybe five years of age, who was first struck that my skin tone was so pale that I might have been a ghost. I assured him I wasn’t, and he touched my hand for evidence. Then he noticed something much more interesting.

On the second floor of the department store was a toy section, which was also the first of its kind in the country. The ghost soon became invisible to the boy, as his attention went to getting him to the second floor. I watched as the little fellow took those big steps with his little legs to go up the escalator. Much to his surprise, after a few steps, he found himself returning back to the bottom again. He had no idea he was going up the wrong side. Since I was there for entertainment purposes, I waited to see how he would resolve the dilemma.

His solution was simple: take a running start and run up faster than the steps were coming down. He nearly made it on the first try; I even found myself cheering for him. He wore out about half way up and rode all the way back down. At the bottom he furrowed his eyebrows, which told me he had come up with another plan.

This time he ran up the escalator with even more fervor, but he had thought of a way to take a break. He would put his hands on the rails and then throw his feet up on the rails as well and rest. Then, he would continue his climb. Soon he learned that rails, along with steps, come to the bottom as well. He was right back where he started. This time he gave up and began to cry. His dad appeared out of nowhere, and the last I saw of that little guy was his dad holding him by the hand going up the ascending side of the escalator. The little guy had a big smile on his face.

JOHN UPTON is the Executive Director of the BGAV.

Over the years I have remembered that little guy because so much of life—either personal, family, church, or institutional—is like his experience. We give something all we have to offer. We run at it with passion and conviction only to find ourselves right back where we began. And we get discouraged. I see so many churches for whom this is their current story.

What we need is for the Father to come and take us by the hand and show us a way.

What we need is for the Father to come and take us by the hand and show us a way. Just this fall I have witnessed this happen across the Commonwealth. I have seen declining churches in declining areas that have put local church and movement together and come up with new possibilities, like the Ephesus Baptist Church in South Hill.

They now have a basketball Bible study for unchurched young adults on Wednesdays, which has become a new fresh expression of their church.

I asked Larry Cheek, pastor of First Baptist Church of Collinsville, how they had a growing church in such a declining area. He told me about their Cook’s Church for weekend BBQ contestants led by one of their church members, Tommy Houston. Local church and movement came together, and a fresh expression of church was born.

In northern Virginia, so many churches are declining but the area is growing. For all their efforts, many feel they are right back where they started. Now, through dinner church models, many are seeing local church and movement come together—forming a fresh expression of their church.

In the Tidewater area, Newington Baptist Church models how a growing church can happen in a transitional, growing community.

They have multiple fresh expressions they have developed.

The stories are multiplying of God taking churches by the hand and showing them new ways to go. While the focus may be on local church, it is feeling more and more like a movement emerging. Thanks be to God for helping us find ways to live more and more into our story.

BGAV Is “Living Story” at 2018 story the Annual Meeting // pg 6

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16 // Disaster Response Closes Out 2018 with Ongoing Efforts and 50th Anniversary

4 // BGAV News & Notes 6 // BGAV is “Living the Story” at 195th Annual Meeting 8 // BGAV Approves 2019 Budget 10 // BGAV Challenged by Inspiring Speakers in Worship 12 // Upton Celebrates and Challenges Churches in BGAV Executive Director’s Report 14 // BGAV Formalizes Strategic Partnership with Missio Alliance

18 // Snapshots of the 2018 Annual Meeting 22 // BGAV Receives $1 Million Lilly Endowment Grant to Help Expand Uptick 24 // Reflections on the BGAV Annual Meeting 25 // Walk Together, Children 26 // Living the Story: Closing Thoughts 27 // Latest Ministry Jobs

BGAV Advancing the Kingdom Together

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

A publication of the Baptist General Association of Virginia Volume 4, Issue 1 Winter 2019 BGAV Express is published quarterly by the Baptist General Association of Virginia, 2828 Emerywood Parkway, Henrico, VA 23294.

Send subscription requests and address changes to: Jennifer Law jennifer.law@bgav.org 800.255.2428, ext. 1223 BGAV Express Baptist General Association of Virginia 2828 Emerywood Parkway Henrico, VA 23294 toll-free 800.255.2428 Or visit BGAV.org/Express.

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

BGAV Missions Launches New Partnership: “focus:refugees”

Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond Announces Closure

Introduced at the 2018 BGAV Annual Meeting, the BGAV Missions Development Staff introduced a new partnership titled “focus:refugees”. An unprecedented 68.5 million people around the world have been forced from home. Among them are nearly 25.4 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18.

Trustees of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (BTSR) have outlined plans to end the seminary’s day-to-day operations January 31, 2019. The new plan comes after an independent review of the seminary’s finances by legal counsel.

The BGAV is blessed by missions partnerships with our friends in the European Baptist Federation (EBF). Much of our partnership work in the EBF supported ministries amongst displaced persons. Over the next five years we are excited to support with new intentionality our Baptist siblings in the EBF and their incredible ministries serving migrants, refugees, and displaced persons.

The original announcement on November 13 of BTSR’s closing called for a full spring term and closure at the end of the academic year. Instead, the seminary will offer no additional courses after its three-week term in January. Nine students scheduled to graduate in May will be able to complete their degrees from BTSR by cross-registering for courses at Union Presbyterian Seminary, the School of Theology at Virginia Union University, or through online studies at Eden Seminary in St. Louis. Graduation will be held as planned on May 25, 2019.

Through prayer, financial support, and service engagement, we want to create meaningful opportunities where the BGAV can support refugee work in Europe and to connect with refugee work in the U.S. We pray that our work is fruitful, meaningful, and furthers the reality of God’s Kingdom on earth.

Faculty and most staff members will conclude their employment January 31, though minimal staff will be retained in order to provide essential student services and conduct graduation, as well as wrap up business operations.

Learn more about our initial BGAV focus:refugees partners by visiting BGAV.org/Refugees or contacting Craig Waddell at craig.waddell@bgav.org and see how you and your church can be involved in BGAV focus:refugees.

“We deeply regret having to take this action. No one wants to further disrupt the lives of our faculty, staff and students,” said board chair Bill Wilson. “But as our attorney has helped us delve more deeply into our financial situation, we have come to realize that the board has inherited a financial crisis that has been building over many years. Our cash flow is not adequate to continue to cover expenses, we have only one asset left to liquidate, and we are not in a position to borrow additional funds. The issues have grown so profound that we have not found a way to navigate through them.”

BGAV Staff Updates

Nathan White announced his resignation effective at the end of 2018 to become the pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Mecklenburg County. He joined the BGAV staff in January 2013 after serving as communications & marketing director at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center. He became chief marketing officer in 2015.

Tia Enis

BTSR also is launching a campaign to raise funds for severance for full-time faculty and staff members. Three donors have already committed $160,000 in matching gifts for the campaign. More information is available at BTSR.edu/institutional-advancement/.

Becky Joubert resigned as administrative assistant this fall and Tia Enis was hired in her place. Welcome, Tia! JR Rozko was brought on board to serve as national director of Missio Alliance. Read more about Missio Alliance on pages 14–15.

JR Rozko

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NEWS + NOTES

Complete list of events at BGAV.org/Events

Event Calendar Bluefield College Announces New Ma jor & Master’s Program

January

18–20 Kairos Leadership Initiative (KLI) Retreat, Lynchburg, VA 28–29 Empower 501 Coach Training, Henrico, VA

Earlier this year, Bluefield College began offering a cybersecurity major online.

“According to CyberSeek, there are about 34,000 cybersecurity job openings in Virginia and more than 300,000 cybersecurity job openings nationally,” said Dr. Jeff Teo, professor of cybersecurity who joined the faculty last fall to develop the program. “The national average for all jobs is 6.5. The national average for cybersecurity jobs is only 2.5.”

February 2 8–9 8–9

9 15–17

For more information about the online cybersecurity major, contact Dr. Teo at 276.326.4203 or jteo@bluefield.edu or visit the Bluefield College web site at Bluefield.edu/cybersecurity.

Fresh Expressions Vision Day, Omaha, NE AAFVA Preaching Camp, Washington, DC Virginia Baptist Combined Handbell Festival, Glen Allen, VA Fresh Expressions Vision Day, Topeka, KS Camp Piankatank Winter Blast, Hartfield, VA

March 4–5 8–10 11–12 12 18–19 18–19 28–30

Additionally, the college announced a new online Master of Arts in Educational Leadership. The program is designed to give teachers the skills they need to become effective school administrators. Bluefield College School of Education and Social Sciences pursued state approval for the additional endorsement in administration and supervision PreK12 because they recognized the need for highly qualified educational leaders in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia and Southern West Virginia.

April 1 5–6 29–30 30

For more information on the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership Program contact the dean of the School of Education and Social Sciences, Dr. Thomas Brewster via email at tbrewster@bluefield.edu or by phone at 276.326.4240.

2019 BJC Fellows Program

Empower 502 Coaching Class, Henrico, VA Journey, Lynchburg, VA Empower 502 Coach Training, Henrico, VA Virginia Baptist Executive Board, Henrico, VA Empower 501 Coach Training, Ashland, VA Empower 503 Coach Training, Ashland, VA Awakenings: The Life of the Church for the Sake of the World, Alexandria, VA

BGAV Scholarship Applications Due (12:00 p.m.)

AAFVA Preaching Camp, Greenville, NC Virginia Baptist Executive Board, Lynchburg, VA Virginia Baptist Mission Council, Lynchburg, VA

Visit BJConline.org/Fellows for more information and application materials. All applications must be postmarked by February 15, 2019.

Young professionals who want to deepen their religious liberty knowledge and develop tools to take a stand can apply for the BJC Fellows Program, sponsored by the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Applications are now available for the 2019 class, which includes an educational seminar at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia from July 24–29. The seminar will equip the BJC Fellows to be advocates, utilizing Colonial Williamsburg’s educational resources in conjunction with preeminent scholars and BJC staff members. The program covers lodging and most travel expenses.

For more BGAV news, visit BGAV.org/News

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From the BGAV Annual Meeting

BGAV is “Living the Story” at 195th Annual Meeting The Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) held its 195th Annual Meeting from Monday, November 12, through Wednesday, November 14, at Mount Vernon Baptist Church.

George Fletcher presided throughout the meeting. Six hundred seventy-six messengers attended along with 283 guests and exhibitors for a total of 959 meeting participants.

Josh Franklin, pastor of Mount Vernon Baptist Church, extended a warm welcome and brought greetings. He then offered the invocation and shared a passage from 1 Corinthians 15:58, challenging the BGAV to “remain steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”

The morning business session included reports from several committees and also featured the Treasurer’s Report by David Washburn, in which he cited that the BGAV’s 2019 budget includes projected Cooperative Missions gifts of $9.1 million and additional revenue through designated gifts and new initiatives that total an annual budget of $21 million.

Resolutions of Appreciation were passed for Jim Ailor, J. Scott Burhoe, Wayne Hannah, and Fred Anderson.

Monday afternoon and evening featured Missions Monday, a time during which participants could learn about and become involved in a variety of BGAV missions endeavors. More than 200 people attended breakout sessions related to missions that afternoon.

Monday evening, over 300 people gathered at Gayton Baptist Church for a missions-themed dinner and a TED-talk-style discussion led by David Bailey of Arrabon, Elijah Brown of the Baptist World Alliance, and Valerie Carter of Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia (WMUV).

One of the highlights of the morning was John Upton’s executive director report, during which he shared many of the ways the BGAV is “Living the Story,” which was the theme of this year’s meeting. He focused on how BGAV continues to live out its story, which began in 1823 for two main reasons: to focus on the local church, and to be “movemental”—to engage the local church in a movement of some kind—in order to help each local church accomplish more than what that church could do by itself.

On Tuesday, the first session was called to order and began with spirited worship, led beautifully by BGAV’s Uptick Artists. Two BGAV preachers were the featured speakers that morning: Allen Jessee of Highlands Fellowship and Kristin Adkins Whitesides of First Baptist Church of Winchester.

Tuesday afternoon, meeting participants attended regional meetings followed by two sessions of breakouts. They returned that evening and gathered for worship. The evening session began with a memorial service, which honored those who had recently passed away after years of previous service in important roles within BGAV life.

Two BGAV preachers were featured that evening: Valerie Carter of WMUV and Chuck Warnock of Chatham Baptist Church.

On Wednesday morning, worship continued with the Uptick Artists and Keynote Speaker Tod Bolsinger, noted speaker, author, and vice president/assistant professor at Fuller Theological Seminary. Bolsinger challenged meeting attendees to be open to new ways of doing things while retaining core values.

Josh Hayden speaks to attendees of the BGAV Pastors’ Conference on Monday. This afternoon conference is one of many auxiliary events held during the annual meeting.

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HOW WILL YOU RESPOND TO JESUS’ GRACE & TRUTH? Which do you prefer, grace or truth?

Perhaps your answer depends on whether you are the dispenser or the recipient. We usually don’t mind dispensing truth, especially difficult truth, but we may not be as eager to receive it. On the other hand, most everyone enjoys receiving grace (unmerited favor from others), though we might find it hard to extend such consideration to our neighbors, coworkers, friends, or family.

baptistwaypress.org

Wednesday’s business session included the election of officers for 2019: Richard Martin of Huguenot Road Baptist Church (Richmond) as President, Adam Tyler of Grace Hills Baptist Church (Appomattox) as First Vice President, Jay Lawson of Warrenton Baptist Church (Warrenton) as Second Vice President, and Herbert Ponder of Mount Tabor Baptist Church (Richmond) as Secretary.

Also in the business session, the motion to approve the 2019 budget was overwhelmingly approved.

To conclude the meeting, Bolsinger brought the second part of his keynote address, in which he stated, “When we are on mission, the church is at its best,” and he encouraged participants to embrace new ways to reach people for Christ in a changing world. “God is taking you into uncharted territory to transform you,” he said.

Dean Miller, staff coordinator for BGAV Mission Development, welcomes guests to the Missions Monday dinner, dialogue, and discernment time.

Next year’s meeting will be held November 11–13, 2019, at Bonsack Baptist Church in Roanoke, VA.

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BGAV Treasurer David Washburn explains the 2019 budget figures during Tuesday morning’s main session.

From the BGAV Annual Meeting

$5,98

BGAV Approves 2019 Budget

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$5

During the Wednesday business session of the 195th Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) Annual Meeting, messengers voted to approve the 2019 budget of $9.1 million.

2019 Cooperative Missions Budget Allocation

This represents a reduction of $900,000 compared to the 2018 budget. David Washburn, BGAV treasurer, reported that all three areas of the Cooperative Missions budget—Virginia Missions and Ministries, Partners in Virginia, and World Mission Causes—were reduced to achieve the allocation.

$9,100,000

VIRGINIA MISSIONS & MINISTRIES (BGA $5,987,000

66%

Within his budget report, Washburn also noted four other categories of revenue that are outside Cooperative Missions: Designated Gifts, Camp and Conference Center Registration Revenue, Program Revenue, and Other. Those ministry resources total $8,081,635, and an additional $4,304,149 is estimated as revenue from giving to special offerings. Together these total anticipated giving of over $21 million—an overall increase in budget of $1,319.892.

BGAV PARTNERS IN VIRGINIA $565,000

6%

Meeting attendees had an opportunity to attend a breakout session with members of the executive board on Tuesday afternoon in order to ask questions and offer comments about the proposed budget.

WORLD MISSIONS CAUSES $2,548,000

28%

BGAV PARTNERS IN VIRGINIA Averett University......................................................$100 Baptist Extension Board.............................................. $1 Bluefield College...............................................$40,248 Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies..... $75,000 Fork Union Military Academy.................................$100 GraceInside..........................................................$44,515 Hargrave Military Academy....................................$100 HopeTree Family Services................................ $34,265 LifeSpire of Virginia..................................................$100 Oak Hill Academy................................................$16,450 Virginia Baptist Foundation....................................$100 Virginia Baptist Historical Society....................$29,022 Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia............$325,000

For more information about the BGAV 2019 budget, visit BGAV.org/Budget.

For more information, visit BGAV.org/Budget 8

2019 W

WM1 Southe

WM2 approv nationa

WM3 Kingdo

87,000

Washburn leads a breakout session during the annual meeting to go over the 2019 proposed budget and answer any questions from attendees before final voting.

+

erative Missions

5,987,000

BGAV Ministry Resources $8,081,635

Designated Gifts $4,410,050

+

L TOTA

Camp & Conference Center Registration Revenue $2,465,767

Program Revenue +

$1,001,350

- Distributed according to the ern Baptist Convention Budget

- Distributed according to BGAV ved items which includes Virginia, al, and international ministries

- Distributed according to the om Advance New Initiatives budget

+

$204,468

= $14,068,6 35

• Kairos/Collegiate Ministry • Pastor Networking & Leadership Development

2019 BGAV Ministry Emphasis

• Pastor/Staff Transition and Assistance for Matching Churches & Ministers

$14,068,635

• Children’s Ministry & Youth Ministry

DEVELOPING

AV)

WORLD MISSIONS CAUSES

Other Income

50% SENDING

PLANTING

10%

18%

SUPPORT

22%

• Disaster Response • Partnership Missions

• V3/Church Planting

• Impact Mission Camps • BGAV Annual Meeting

• Fresh Expressions/ Innovative Discipleship

• Emergency Assistance for Ministers

• Multisites

• Church Staff Benefit Support • Retiree Benefits

TOTAL ANTICIPATED GIVING

Cooperative Missions Budget Allocation BGAV Ministry Resources Special Offerings (estimated)

$9,100,000 $8,081,635 $4,304,149

$21,485,784

From the BGAV Annual Meeting

BGAV Challenged by Inspiring Speakers in Worship During their 195th Annual Meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 13–14, 2018, Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) attendees were challenged by several inspiring speakers.

Tod Bolsinger shared leadership insights during his two keynote messages Wednesday morning.

Tod Bolsinger, vice president for vocation and formation and assistant professor of practical theology at Fuller Theological Seminary, was the keynote speaker for the event. He spoke during the Wednesday morning sessions, drawing upon much of the content of his renowned book on leadership, Canoeing the Mountains.

Bolsinger used the analogy of historical explorers, Lewis and Clark, to describe the leadership challenges that Christians and churches are faced with in a post-Christendom world.

When Lewis and Clark traveled west toward the Continental Divide, they were seeking a water route that would allow them passage to the Pacific Ocean. Instead, they found the Rocky Mountains.

Bolsinger said that same type of challenge is what church leaders face today. Things are so unexpected and so new that the old solutions don’t apply.

“It’s not going to do you any good to paddle harder,” he said.

“You have to make an adaptation, and the key to adaptation begins with going back to your deepest core value.”

Bolsinger observed that church leaders often say that seminary didn’t prepare them for what they are doing now. He said that in making necessary adaptations, church leaders should remember that people don’t fear change—they fear loss.

To allay that fear, Bolsinger suggests that it’s key to learn what your core value is. “We must be clear about what we must hold onto no matter what, and in every congregation that’s slightly different.”

“When we are on mission, the church is at its best,” Bolsinger stated. “If we want to go back to the glory days, we will be less than God wants us to be. God is taking you into uncharted territory to transform you,” he concluded.

The previous morning, two BGAV pastors were featured speakers. Allen Jessee, lead pastor of Highlands Fellowship, a multi-site congregation in southwest Virginia and eastern Tennessee, encouraged attendees to “Take a Risk” as he preached on the parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10.

“Someone doesn’t have to think like you in order to help you,” he challenged. “Maybe the Lord is trying to get our attention; maybe he’s going to use people very different from us to help us.” He concluded, “Let’s work together. I’m convinced the best is yet to come.”

Kristin Adkins Whitesides, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Winchester, VA, preached about “When the Bible Sets Us Free,” focusing on the story of Philip and the eunuch from Acts 8. “As a eunuch, he was forbidden to enter the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, finding himself outside, excluded, different, alone,” she explained. “The eunuch grappled with scripture much like we do. Is he welcomed inside the house of God, or is he not?”

“Philip assures the eunuch that Jesus not only knows his suffering—he took it on,” she continued. “Christ walks beside us; he is resurrected, and he rewrites our endings.” She told of how Philip baptized the eunuch. “But the story never truly ends with baptism. We’re swept up in a story larger than our

Keynote Speaker Tod Bolsinger delivers a message to the annual meeting attendees.

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Allen Jessee speaks on Luke 10 and the parable of the Good Samaritan during his sermon entitled “Take a Risk” (below); Kristin Adkins Whitesides preaches about “When the Bible Sets Us Free” using the story of Philip from Acts 8 (right).

to the question people are asking now, “Is church for real? Is it a sham, or is it something else?” own. The story includes characters who surprise us: strangers on wilderness roads. God incorporates us all into his story of grace. Our story’s beginning and end will be written by God’s love, and that is the Good News.”

Carter challenged, “We need to aim in everything we do to minister to the whole person, for salvation is deliverance from harm—from a dire situation,” and she said further, “We need to work as disciples of Christ to deconstruct the norm.”

Two more BGAV preachers were featured at Tuesday evening’s worship. Valerie Carter, executive director of Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia, delivered a message titled, “For Real?” in which she drew upon Luke 7, exploring the different ways people responded to Jesus—those who’d been waiting for his arrival. They were asking, “Is Jesus for real? Is he the real Messiah, or should we wait for someone else?” She likened that

The final featured preacher of that day was Chuck Warnock, pastor of Chatham Baptist Church, Chatham, VA, who spoke about “The Rewards of Remaining,” focusing on John 15:5. Warnock encouraged attendees to remain in Jesus by remembering the roots of their beginnings with Jesus. “We need to stay connected to the community to which God has called us—to the church and to the community,” he charged.

Valerie Carter illustrates prayer during her sermon called “For Real?” related to Luke 7 (left); Chuck Warnock speaks on John 15:5 during his message on “The Rewards of Remaining.”

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From the BGAV Annual Meeting

Upton Celebrates and Challenges Churches in BGAV Executive Director’s Report A highlight of the 195th Annual Meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) was John Upton’s executive director report, during which he shared many of the ways the BGAV is “Living the Story,” which was the theme of this year’s meeting. He told of the history of the BGAV, which began in 1823 for two main reasons: to focus on the local church, and to be “movemental”—to engage the local church in a movement of some kind—in order to help each local church accomplish more than what that church could do by itself.

As part of the executive director report, BGAV Disaster Response Coordinator Aaron Lee updates attendees on the amazing outreach of response efforts throughout the last 50 years.

“These two things always have to be held in tension and balance in BGAV life,” Upton commented.

John Upton delivers a promising message during his executive director report.

Upton then proceeded to describe what he sees as four types of churches experiencing certain kinds of challenges, and he identified four BGAV churches within those categories who are rising to meet those challenges effectively in their communities.

He used specific examples of BGAV resources and initiatives that are currently available to help churches meet the changing needs of their congregants and communities.

He then said that in 2019, we are celebrating 50 years of Disaster Response.

“Going back to Camille, we have responded to 72 disasters, and 37 of those have happened in the last four years,” Lee explained.

“It is an incredible opportunity that we have together as the BGAV on mission to be that movement—a missionary movement sending folks from your local churches to the local churches affected in these communities.”

Upton reported several new opportunities that BGAV is making possible for churches who want to try new things or focus on certain areas of ministry. Churches who are willing to try to start a Fresh Expression of church—a non-traditional way of bringing church to people where they are—have access to a $500 microgrant to help get them going. Fifty of these microgrants are being made available through Fresh Expressions.

Upton then spoke of the importance of the local church’s role in race relations and addressing racial tension. “How does the church reach our polarized and diverse society,” he asked, “when we’re not equipped for this?” He stated that our leaders of Uptick, a BGAV initiative focused on leadership development of young ministers, submitted a grant proposal to the Lilly Foundation to establish a training piece to address this issue—and they were recently awarded a $1 million grant to carry out their plans.

Churches who would like to hire interns in pastoral or age-level ministries will now be able to apply for funds to assist them through BGAV Scholarships and Ministerial Education Funds, a program that for 10 years has provided scholarships for college and ministerial students affiliated with BGAV-member churches.

Upton concluded his report by announcing another recent partnership with Missio Alliance, a centrist group whose mission is to resource churches and individuals who share the belief that diversity of thought within denominations is a strength. Jim Baucom, one of Missio Alliance’s founders and senior pastor of Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, VA, described this new relationship as “finding the family you didn’t know you had.”

Upton reported on how Virginia Baptists respond immediately in times of need, focusing on Disaster Response ministries. He introduced Aaron Lee, Disaster Response coordinator, who brought the news that, as of the time of the meeting, the value of services provided by Virginia Baptist Disaster Response in 2018 totaled $1 million. Lee gave a recap of recent efforts in North Carolina following Hurricanes Florence and Michael.

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Live the Story: Start a Fresh Expression — New Grants Available!

At the BGAV annual meeting, John Upton announced a new opportunity from Fresh Expressions to award microgrants: three $500 awards to three churches who have already shared their story with us, and 50 $500 awards to churches who want assistance in “kickstarting” their own fresh expression of church.

Gannon Sims, director of ministry formation and Virginia regional coordinator for Fresh Expressions US, said, “If you’ve ever needed permission to start doing ministry with your friends and neighbors who are not likely ever to darken the door of your church, this is it! If every church started a Fresh Expression of church reaching 20-40 people, imagine the impact it would have upon our neighborhoods and communities. Don’t miss this opportunity to apply today! “ If your church would like to apply for one of these microgrants, please visit FreshExpressionsUS.org/Grants and complete the online application no later than February 22, 2019.

Church Internship Grants: A New Opportunity From BGAV Scholarships Do you have someone in your church who’s exploring a call to vocational ministry but not currently pursuing a seminary education? Perhaps a student or a second-career adult?

A new opportunity, made possible by the BGAV Scholarships and Ministerial Funds program, was unveiled at this year’s annual meeting. Beginning in 2019, grant applications will be made available to churches who want to provide internship opportunities in ministry settings.

Churches must commit to funding at least 50% of the total internship costs in order to pursue receiving a grant.

If your church is interested in obtaining a grant, please visit BGAV.org/Scholarships to learn more about the requirements and details. The online application will be available on that website on January 15, 2019.

Vernon Gordon accompanies Uptick’s Laura McDaniel on stage as they announce the BGAV initiative’s exciting news: a $1 million grant from the Lilly Foundation.

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BGAV Formalizes Strategic Partnership with To conclude the executive director’s report at the BGAV annual meeting, John Upton announced a recent, formal partnership with Missio Alliance, a centrist group whose mission is to resource churches and individuals who share the belief that diversity of thought within denominations is a strength.

Missio Alliance is a public gathering place of sorts—a safe space where believers from more than 30 denominational groups can support each other and challenge each other by discussing and addressing the tough issues facing the North American church today. They do this primarily through events such as their national gathering, a biennial meeting where church leaders can come together for discussion, leadership, and fellowship.

At their last gathering, over 1,000 people came together around the topic of the Holy Spirit and its place in the Church. Their website, MissioAlliance.org, provides a wealth of resources for individuals and churches that explore topics and issues relevant to their mission and purpose.

The BGAV’s relationship with Missio Alliance is certainly not new; one of its founders is Jim Baucom, senior pastor of Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church (a BGAV-member congregation). Baucom spoke during Upton’s report, describing the BGAV’s growing partnership with Missio Alliance as “finding the family you didn’t know you had.”

Missio Alliance began as an initiative of Ecclesia, a relational network of missionally-minded churches and leaders that takes a primary interest in encouraging and equipping church planters. Over the course of several years and through untold hours of conversations, there emerged a strong sense that perhaps there was a need for a broader fellowship – one that could incorporate not just leaders and churches, but other networks, denominations, schools, and still other groups that shared a desire to engage in dialogue and work around the most pressing theological and cultural challenges facing the North American Church in mission amid its rapidly shifting cultural context.

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Jim Baucom, Missio Alliance board co-chair and BGAV pastor, introduces the Missio Alliance initiative to the participants of this year’s BGAV annual meeting.

JR Rozko, national director of Missio Alliance

In a recent interview, JR Rozko, national director of Missio Alliance, reflected on the new partnership with BGAV: How did Missio Alliance’s relationship with BGAV begin?

The influence of the BGAV was present at the earliest stages of the conversations that gave rise to Missio Alliance. This influence came in two primary forms. For starters, any initiative that envisions bringing a diverse array of influential leaders together to dialogue and pray about creating a new form of ministry to equip the church takes financial resources. The generous support of the BGAV made it possible for us to get these leaders around tables together. At the same time, there was a core of BGAV pastors and other leaders who lent their own voices and relational connections to help us develop an initial network and create our first national gathering in spring 2013.

How would you define the relationship between BGAV and Missio Alliance, and in your opinion, what strengths do the two entities bring to each other?

I feel like Missio Alliance has been grafted into a loving and supportive family that’s enthusiastic for us to flourish as a ministry with a unique identity and gifts. Whereas Missio Alliance brings strong and growing partnership-driven platforms that are engaging a diverse array of church leaders at a national level, the BGAV brings a rich ecology of kingdom-focused ministries and churches that can help strengthen and further influence the ways God is continuing to shape our initiatives.

What intrigued you initially about partnering with BGAV? Beyond the historical involvement and support of the BGAV along the way, two specific things made advancing our strategic alliance with the BGAV an exciting possibility.

The Church in North America finds itself at a virtually unprecedented place—needing to navigate the complexities of (re) evangelizing a previously evangelized context. Ultimately, Missio Alliance is seeking to forge new kinds of togetherness, advance fresh conversations, and create essential resources for church leaders looking to journey into that future together. Some of the primary ways this finds expression is through our conferences, web-based publishing, webinars, and online discussions—to all of which we warmly welcome church leaders.

First, there is an incredible theological and missional fit between Missio Alliance and the DNA of the BGAV. We each understand ourselves as grounded in the historic orthodoxy of the Christian faith while wanting to boldly contend with the unique challenges of joining in with God’s mission in our time and place as we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Second, there’s a relational and visionary synergy that seemed impossible to ignore! As a leadership team, we looked at the fruit of our relationship with the BGAV over our early years as well as the future we sensed God was leading us toward. Taking steps to partner together in even more strategic ways seemed obvious and natural to all of us. In a very, “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and us” sort of way, our sense was that there were kingdom opportunities worth pursuing that could best be engaged by a tighter alignment of our efforts.

For more information, visit MissioAlliance.org 15

Disaster Response Closes Out 2018 with Ongoing Efforts and 50th Anniversary

DR volunteers remove debris from a North Carolina home during hurricane recovery efforts in October 2018.

During John Upton’s executive director report at the BGAV annual meeting, he reported on how Virginia Baptists respond immediately in times of need, focusing on Disaster Response (DR) ministries. He introduced Aaron Lee, Disaster Response coordinator, who brought the news that, as of the time of the meeting, the value of services provided by Virginia Baptist Disaster Response in 2018 totaled $1 million. Lee gave a recap of recent efforts in North Carolina following Hurricanes Florence and Michael. He then said that this year, we are celebrating 50 years of Disaster Response.

“Going back to Camille, we have responded to 72 disasters, and 37 of those operations have happened in the last four years,” Lee explained. “It is an incredible opportunity that we have together as the BGAV on mission to be that movement—a missionary movement sending folks from your local churches to the local churches affected in these communities.”

How We Started Helping in Jones County, NC Jones County is one of North Carolina’s poorest counties, which includes three towns. Other partner organizations had resources focused on the larger communities of New Bern, Jacksonville, and Kinston. Our NC Baptist partners started to hear about needs in Jones County which could not be met by our voluntary partners because of the significance of need where they were based. We began monitoring Crisis Cleanup from our Disaster Operations Center. Crisis Cleanup is a collaborative disaster work order management platform that improves coordination and improves efficiency. We began to see the red icons multiplying, each red icon indicating a home needing cleanup.

Highlights of 2018 Responses Completed Hurricane Harvey recovery after cleaning up and rebuilding 216 homes; volunteers served 21,273 hours in Liberty, TX 10 disaster operations in 5 states: responded to floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and wind storms 545 volunteers

Sabrina Haynes, site coordinator, asked one of our assessors and a Crisis Care team member to visit Jones County and begin assessments to see if and how we could assist. When Reba Clayton, the Crisis Care team member, found out where they were going, she told Haynes this was her hometown. She and Larry Culbertson spent the next few days in Pollocksville, and we had teams on the ground within a few days.

2,318 volunteer days 29,522 hours served $1,071,695 value of services 16

accessible.

Ability to work while earning a degree

affordable.

95% of Master-level and 100% of Doctor of Ministry students receive scholarships

authentic.

Diverse and powerful communal expression of the body of Christ

divinity.campbell.edu Haynes also got a call from the mayor of Trenton, another town in Jones County. With widespread flooding, most residents were unable to stay in their homes. Mayor Darlene Spivey wanted to know where her residents were staying and asked if we could go door to door. Haynes and Mayor Spivey worked out a plan for us to check in with residents to find out what the mayor needed to know and also provide the Crisis Cleanup hotline number so residents could request assistance, whether from us or from other volunteer organizations.

Since the initial response and cleanup, Virginia Baptist Disaster Response has been asked to be the sole service provider in Jones County. In an ongoing response, Rebuild Jones County, a collaboration between Virginia Baptist Disaster Response and Impact Mission Camps, will open in January 2019 to assist rebuilding. It will include two weeks of Impact Mission Camps for students in July 2019, and individuals and teams may volunteer anytime in 2019. Visit ImpactMissionCamps.org/ JonesCounty for more information.

Members of Powhatan Community Church in Powhatan, VA, volunteer with DR in North Carolina in October 2018 (above); contents of a damaged home are piled in the front yard during hurricane clean-up (left).

“Many of our volunteers started with Impact and have shifted into disaster response, or vice versa, and our collaborative effort in Rebuild Jones County is further strengthening the tie,” explained Aaron Lee, Disaster Response coordinator. “We want to see our long-term impact in communities strengthened by how we work together.”

For more information, visit BGAVDR.org 17

SNAPSHOTS of the 2018 Annual meeting

Clockwise from top: The annual meeting is a great chance for attendees from around the state to meet and fellowship with others; Executive Director John Upton presents a special plaque to Fred Anderson for his completion of a 36-year tenure as BGAV secretary; BGAV Second Vice-President Brooke Holloway uses a cardboard cutout as a prop during Wednesday morning’s opening prayer; Adam Tyler, 2019 BGAV first vicepresident and pastor, listens to others during Missions Monday’s “Dialogue & Discernment” time at Gayton Baptist Church.

Clockwise from left: Executive Director John Upton addresses the main session audience during his annual report of the BGAV; David Bailey, director of Arrabon, leads a breakout session during Missions Monday on racial reconciliation in the church; Disaster Response volunteers prepare to serve lunch to meeting attendees on Tuesday afternoon.

Rachel Pierce and the Uptick Artists group perform a worship song during the main session.

BWA General Secretary Elijah Brown addresses the crowd during Missions Monday’s “Dialogue & Discernment” time at Gayton Baptist Church.

For more photos, visit our Facebook page: Facebook.com/Virginia.Baptists 19

Attendees help package meals for Rise Against Hunger during Tuesday’s meeting. This was an on-site mission project to prepare meal packets for hungry people around the world.

Clockwise from above: Uptick Artists, fronted by Matt O’Rear and Logan Jones, lead worship for the annual meeting; Executive Director John Upton presents Wayne Hannah a Resolution of Appreciation plaque for his work as assistant clerk to the BGAV; Valerie Carter participates in prayer during the meeting; Susan McBride, team coordinator for the BGAV Congregational Field Staff, facilitates a regional meeting; a meeting attendee enjoys visiting with exhibitors in the Ministry Fair; the 2019 elected officers pose for a group photo: Richard Martin (president), Adam Tyler (first vice-president), Jay Lawson (second vice-president), Herbert Ponder (secretary), and Kevin Meadows (Executive Board chair).

Clockwise from left: Attendees listen during the Missions Monday evening program; Maria Lynn leads a breakout session about how churches can combat the opioid crisis; Uptick Artists lead worship during the annual meeting; church messengers raise their ballots during a vote in the meeting’s main session.

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BGAV receives $1 million Lilly Endowment grant to help expand Uptick The Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) has received a grant of $1 million to help expand Uptick. It is part of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Thriving in Ministry, an initiative that supports a variety of religious organizations across the nation as they create or strengthen programs that help pastors build relationships with experienced clergy who can serve as mentors and guide them through key leadership challenges in congregational ministry.

Lilly Endowment is making nearly $70 million in grants through the Thriving in Ministry initiative.

Uptick was created 10 years ago to provide intense personal and group interaction with mentors and congregational leaders, enabling participants to deepen their spiritual leadership, heighten accountability to goals, and construct a discipleship path into the future for sustainable ministry. The Thriving in Ministry grant will create three new Uptick cohorts each year starting in 2020 in the “Golden Crescent” of Virginia (Metro Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Tidewater) for young pastors who lead churches that are racially and ethnically diverse, where the congregation tends to be transient and strategic partnerships with the community are lacking. The goals of these cohorts will be to strengthen pastors to live in healthy personal and professional rhythms that make listening and responding possible, embed them into a richer network with each other and with other Kingdom leaders (mentors and coaches), and help them sharpen skills to address the challenges of leading churches in highly populated areas.

“I truly believe that the greatest miracle that the North American church is going to see in the days ahead will happen only when the walls that divide us–whether they are gender walls, cultural walls, economic walls, or race walls–come down,” said John Upton, BGAV Executive Director. “When that happens, the people of God will be free to experience the incredible miracles that the Spirit is wanting to work in us. My prayer is that the Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Thriving in Ministry grant will help us knock those walls down, so that God’s kingdom can truly be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

“A grant of this magnitude is a game changer. It will allow us to invest in the life and leadership of over 50 young pastors during the next four years, equipping them to develop a theology of a people, place and a just society; giving them tools to understand change management and cross-cultural engagement while learning how to leverage their economic wisdom for the flourishing of their community,” explained Laura McDaniel, 22

Laura McDaniel and Uptick participant Vernon Gordon announce the news at this year’s BGAV annual meeting.

Network Catalyst and Project Director for the grant. “We are grateful to Lilly Endowment for its investment into the future of the BGAV.” The BGAV is one of 78 organizations located in 29 states that is taking part in the initiative. The organizations reflect diverse Christian traditions: mainline and evangelical Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox.

Thriving in Ministry is part of Lilly Endowment’s grantmaking to strengthen pastoral leadership in Christian congregations in the United States. This has been a grantmaking priority at Lilly Endowment for nearly 25 years.

“Leading a congregation today is multi-faceted and exceptionally demanding,” said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion. “When pastors have opportunities to build meaningful relationships with experienced colleagues, they are able to negotiate the challenges of ministry and their leadership thrives. These promising programs, including Uptick, will help pastors develop these kinds of relationships, especially when they are in the midst of significant professional transitions.”

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family – J.K. Lilly Sr. and sons Eli and J.K. Jr. – through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly & Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and its home state Indiana. Its grantmaking in religion focuses on supporting efforts to strengthen the leadership and vitality of Christian congregations throughout the country and to increase the public’s understanding of the role of religion in public life.

For more information, visit Uptick.org

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reflections ON THE BGAV ANNUAL MEETING by will cumbia A Romanian, an Austrian, a Scotswoman, and a Virginian walk into a room. No, it’s not the beginning of a joke, it was the reality of the BGAV annual meeting a few weeks ago.

I am so thankful to have been present at this year’s annual meeting helping to represent the missions development team.

It was particularly special to be present there with some of our missions partners from around the world.

Walter Klimt, who was present with his wife Andrea at last year’s meeting, joined us, along with Kirsty Parratt, a woman from Scotland now working in Austria. Both are on the pastoral team at projekt:gemeinde, the Baptist church that I have the privilege to serve with in Vienna.

Also, joining us was Oti Bunaciu, dean of the Romanian Baptist theological seminary and pastor in Bucharest, Romania. He has been one of our main partners over the past five years in our missions partnership with Romanian Baptists and Project Ruth.

How can such a theologically and otherwise diverse group of people all gather together in one room and work together in unison?

It was meaningful in my own missions journey to be with Oti, whose church I visited on my first-ever mission trip in Romania with the Kairos Missions Initiative in 2015, and with Kirsty and Walter, whom I currently serve with now as a missionary with the BGAV Venturer program.

For the BGAV it was meaningful to have them present to celebrate the end of our official partnership with Romania and the beginning of a new partnership with the Austrians as a part of our focus:refugees initiative over the next five years.

It was a little bit strange for me to see this collision of worlds– seeing people I’m used to eating schnitzel with eating a big BBQ sandwich or a Chipotle burrito bowl–and seeing them mixing and mingling with my Virginia Baptist family.

Andrea Klimt preached at church the first Sunday I was home again in Austria, only a few days after the annual meeting ended. I enjoyed giving her a hug on behalf of so many friends in Virginia. Her sermon was from Romans 14: Paul wrapping up his letter by addressing the issue of how to coexist with other Christians who practice differently from each other. She pointed out that when Christ is at the center of our practice, whether or not you eat meat sacrificed to idols is less important.

When Christ is the center, everything else falls out of focus.

It was the perfect sermon to end a week of time spent with an array of Christians. It is encouraging to see Romans 14 lived out through the lives of my Virginia Baptist family. Certainly it is not easy nor without tension to join together with a group or people who think and worship differently from you, but it is immensely beautiful. When our collective focus is on Christ and building his Kingdom in the world, so much of what divides us fades to the background.

It’s this mindset that allows such beautiful missions partnerships to flourish with the BGAV. We have the flexibility to work alongside God’s people in a vast array of contexts. From Haiti to Austria and from Romania to Ghana, Virginia Baptists have and continue to focus on Christ and partner with our sisters and brothers to build God’s Kingdom far and near.

I am so incredibly thankful for my diverse Virginia Baptist family and for the opportunity to work alongside our partners around the world. I certainly don’t deserve all these abundant blessings, but I am thankful for the path that God has me on and the critical role Virginia Baptists have played in my journey.

May we continue to strive for peace amongst our differences and focus on Christ in all that we do.

Looking more broadly around the room at the annual meeting, I was puzzled and amazed. How can such a theologically and Will Cumbia currently serves a BGAV Venturer in Vienna, otherwise diverse group of people all gather together in one Austria. room and work together in unison?

24

WALK TOGETHER, CHILDREN

BY ED JORDAN

I just returned from participating in the 2018 annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. It was an amazing time, as we heard how God is working in so many different churches and in the lives of different people.

While there, I saw different people from different ethnic groups serving the Lord together, heard reports from churches of varying sizes across Virginia–and some from other states–about how God is at work through them, reconciling the world to Christ.

The General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance shared stories of God working through Baptists across the world and testimonies from those who had been persecuted for their faith in Jesus. There was a fresh breath of the Spirit of God moving through those attending. It was inspiring to hear how God is working through everyday people like you and me.

The one thing God said in Genesis that was not good, was what?

He said it is not good for man to be alone; I will make a helper so the two can share life together. The church is God’s idea, even though it is less than perfect, due to our human involvement.

The music was modern and led by various musicians from multiple churches on various instruments, worshipping the Lord together. It was inspiring to see what many people—and many churches—walking together can accomplish.

People everywhere are longing for relationships. Marriage is one form of this, but it’s not the only form. Families provide a place for people to work together and share life (both the good and the bad) together. Workplace teams provide shared responsibilities and the need to work together. School classes and classmates provide camaraderie and the possibility of functioning together.

Community clubs, as well as churches, provide structure, relationships, and opportunities to walk together and do things together.

A theme that God kept speaking to me was: Walk together children! I have that old song running over and over through my mind today as I write. I believe the song was a spiritual—a song of the soul. Although from another time, the message is still alive this morning. The only words I remember are from the chorus: “Walk, Walk, Walk together children! Walk, Walk, Walk together children! Walk, Walk, walk together children;, there’s a great camp meeting in the Promised Land.”

The difference that the church offers is that Christ is alive in each believer in the church and has gifted each member to function as part of God’s team, and thus the bond is often stronger in a church, as he knits us together to serve him while we walk together to serve others. He wants the members of the church to be overflowing with thanksgiving to God, so that wherever they walk, others can be stirred to be thankful to God too!

The Apostle Paul instructs us in Colossians 2:6 (ESV), “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” We receive Christ by faith, hearing the message that God has spoken to us through the Bible. By faith we believe that whoever shall ask Jesus to come into them to change their life, will experience Jesus coming to live within them (cf. Romans 10:12-13). We take God at his word to do what he promised to do, and God is faithful to do just that.

Walking involves movement from one place to another. While it’s true that treadmills provide faux movement for the user, in reality such walking takes you nowhere. On a treadmill you generally expend more energy trying to stay in one place than you would if you were actually walking to somewhere to accomplish something.

But God did not save us merely so we would have a reservation in heaven rather than a ticket to hell. When Jesus comes to live within a person, they enter into a shared life. God comes to live within them and to work through them.

God is moving in our world, and God invites you and me to walk with him, to serve with him, and to impact others for him. Are you spending your days walking alone on a treadmill? Or are you walking with God, joining together with others in the church to walk, walk, walk together children?

It becomes a “walk together” life. Many people want to go to heaven but don’t want to be connected to a church. It is an interesting concept, this “me faith.” But in reality, God saves us to live within us and to connect us to his body, which is the church.

We humans were created to be relational people.

Dr. Ed Jordan is pastor of Gwynn’s Island Baptist Church, Gwynn, VA. 25

LIVING THE STORY: CLOSING THOUGHTS

by John Upton

li

e

iv ng TH

story African American Fellowship of Virginia/BGAV Preaching Camps February 8-9, 2019 Preaching Camp – Washington, D.C. New Bethel Baptist Church Washington, DC Rev. Dexter Udell Nutall, Host Pastor April 5-6, 2019 Preaching Camp – Greenville, NC Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church Greenville, NC Dr. Stephen Greene Howard, Host Pastor May 17-18, 2019 Preaching Camp XVI Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church Charlottesville, VA Dr. Alvin Edwards, Host Pastor More Information: Dr. Jerome O. Lee AAFVA/BGAV Preaching Camp Coordinator jerome.lee@bgav.org

JOHN UPTON is the Executive Director of the BGAV.

Did you see the movie Shenandoah, starring Jimmy Stewart?

Jimmy Stewart plays the role of a Virginia farmer who is independent, cranky, and stubborn. He is a widower raising several boys and a daughter, and they all work hard on the farm. In the movie, as they are about to have a big meal, Jimmy Stewart’s character offers a blessing that goes like this: “Lord, we cleared the land, we plowed the field, and harvested it. We cooked the harvest. It wouldn’t be here, and we wouldn’t be eating it if we hadn’t done it all ourselves. We worked dog bone hard for every crumb and morsel and we thank you, Lord, just the same for the food we are about to eat.”

I remember being shocked and horrified by that prayer as a child. It seemed so rude and ungrateful. I’ve often imagined how God might have responded to that prayer.

First, I think God would have said, “Man, Jimmy Stewart, I love that voice!” Then, God would have said, “You’re right, you all have worked hard. Every crumb and morsel you have earned.

Enjoy your meal!”

Then I think God would have continued, “But something else is true, what about the ground itself, how much of that did you make? What about the seeds? How many of those did you create? What about what happens to the seed after you place it in the ground? Do you understand what happens then? Jimmy, while you toiled above, what about all the toiling I did beneath it all?”

Living the Story means…we will do what we can. We will do some more after that. In the meantime, there is great reason to believe the Spirit of God is working underneath and beyond all we are doing. We do our best, most productive work when our labor is done in trust, in full knowledge of the One who is able, as Paul says, to do far more abundantly than we ask or can even imagine.

“Now we know the rest of the story.”

For more information, visit BGAV.org

LATEST MINISTRY JOBS • Church Administrator @ Huguenot Road Baptist Church, Richmond, VA • Associate Pastor of Youth and Children @ Mt. Pleasant Baptist , Roanoke, VA • Contemporary Worship and Creative Arts Leader @ First Baptist Church of Conway, Conway, SC • Children’s Ministry and Outreach Director @ First Baptist Church of Conway, Conway, SC • PT Forest Hill Corridor Pastor @ Bon Air Baptist Church, Richmond, VA • PT Administrative Assistant @ Bon Air Baptist Church, Richmond, VA • Administrative Assistant for Missions @ Bon Air Baptist Church, Richmond, VA

• PT Nursery Worker @ New Bethesda Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, VA

• Accountant @ Bon Air Baptist Church, Richmond, VA

• PT Nursery Coordinator @ New Bethesda Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, VA

• PT Organist/Accompanist @ Millfield Baptist Church, Wakefield, VA

• PT Accompanist @ New Bethesda Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, VA

• PT Worship Leader/Music Director @ East End Baptist Church, Roanoke, VA

• PT Office Manager/Bookkeeper @ Glen Allen Baptist Church, Glen Allen, VA

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