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February 9, 2024
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Two Dinwiddie Congregations Celebrate 150th Anniversaries Together
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“It dawned on me that there was a church—a Baptist church—founded in the exact same year…and I started toying with the idea of: What if we were to celebrate together?”
Shortly after beginning his first-ever, full-time pastorate at Central Baptist Church in Dinwiddie, VA, Jacob Drake drove around his church’s area and noticed a sign at Rocky Branch Baptist Church—only a few miles down the road from Central—saying they, like Central, were also founded in 1873.
Central Baptist Church, upon its constitution in 1873 following a merger with nearby Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, was comprised of white members. That same year, Rocky Branch Baptist Church, a Black congregation, was founded only five miles away. For 150 years, these two separate Baptist bodies have operated independently of each other, and both churches have flourished.
Read more.
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Revised Giving Plans for 2024
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Since its beginnings more than 200 years ago, BGAV has fostered a space for shared Kingdom work, rooted in freedom and autonomy. Churches that financially support Cooperative Missions have the freedom to choose exactly which missions and ministries they support. BGAV Treasurer David Washburn has created two videos to explain the new plans as well as to address some common questions he's received since their introduction at the 2023 Annual Meeting.
Read more and watch the videos.
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Other News and Resources
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Digital Church Proficiency Workshops
Leading a church is never easy, and the unexpected adjustments over the past couple years have made it even harder. Livestream worship services, drive-in church, and social media connections have become necessary parts of many churches’ weekly offerings. For small- to medium-sized churches where resources and dollars can be tight, getting the most reach with your digital presence can be overwhelming.
We invite you to join other church leaders in your area for a workshop sponsored by BGAV to improve your church’s online presence. Each registered church will receive a personalized Digital Snapshot of their current digital presence. Participants will then learn valuable insights through local trends and relevant case studies and get easy and affordable tips to improve your church’s digital presence immediately! Learn more.
Upcoming Workshops include:
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 BGAV Leaders Needed!
BGAV's Committee on Boards and Committees is now accepting recommendations of leaders from BGAV churches to participate in the boards of BGAV's agencies and institutions and on its various standing committees. These important roles in BGAV life help shape our future while honoring our legacy as Virginia Baptists.
Both lay leaders and clergy are welcome to serve, with ideal nominees being:
- Christ followers
- Ethnically, racially, and generationally diverse
- Passionate about Advancing the Kingdom Together
- Able to handle the responsibilities assigned
All persons being recommended should be resident members of BGAV churches contributing financially to the Virginia portion of the Cooperative Missions Budget.
Nominations must be received no later than May 1, 2024.
To submit nominees, please either fill out the online recommendation form or download and complete the PDF form.
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For Your Info
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Virginia Baptist Women's Chorale Announces 2024 Concert Dates
The Virginia Baptist Women's Chorale, under the direction of Susan Deal, will present their 2024 program, "I Sing for I Cannot Be Silent" - which includes the music of Joseph Martin, Eric Whitacre, John Rutter, Moses Hogan, Craig Courtney, Mark Hayes, and others - at the following churches:
- March 16 - University Baptist Church in Charlottesville, VA
- April 20 - Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church in Bassett, VA
- September 14 - Hull's Memorial Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, VA
- October 26 - Jackson Memorial Baptist Church in Chesapeake, VA
All concerts are at 5:00 p.m. and the public is invited to attend.
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Apply for a BGAV Scholarship or Ministerial Fund
Applications for 2024-2025 BGAV Scholarships and Ministerial Education Funds are now open! The deadline to apply is 12pm noon on April 1, 2024.
- College Scholarships
- Ministerial Education Funds
- Nontraditional Ministry Education Funds
- BGAV Academy Scholarships
- Church Internship Grants
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 Baptist Joint Committee Offers Religious Liberty Scholarship
The 2024 Religious Liberty Scholarship Contest is now live! This year’s topic is about the connection between Christian nationalism and efforts to ban books. To enter the scholarship contest, submit an essay OR a TikTok-style video. Don’t miss the chance to win a grand prize of $2,000 or a runner-up prize of $500. There are no GPA or religious requirements all high school juniors and seniors are eligible to enter. Essays are due March 15, 2024.
Learn more about the topic and how to enter.
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Please Complete Lifeway's 2023 ACP Survey or BGAV's 2023 Annual Church Statistics
If you are a BGAV Church who supports SBC, please complete the 2023 Lifeway’s Annual Church Profile. Churches may go in and enter their statistics for 2022-2023 church year online. Visit the SBC Workspace website to complete this. Surveys will close on February 29, 2024. Please respect your local association deadline.
If you are a BGAV Church and choose not to complete the Lifeway ACP Survey, please consider sending your information to BGAV only. Below are the links to provide this information.
There are 2 separate links:
- BGAV Annual Church Statistics (17 questions)
- BGAV Church Staff & Leadership
Thank you for helping BGAV to keep your church information updated! Email Paula Washburn at acp@bgav.org or call 800.255.2428, ext. 1208 if you have any questions. As always, your diligence in providing statistical information to the state convention each year is vital and greatly appreciated. You are the key to the history of your church!
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Ministry Job Openings
The latest ministry job openings on our website include:
- Children’s Ministry Director, Manly Memorial Baptist Church, Lexington, VA
- Pastor, Chestnut Grove Baptist Church, Appomattox, VA
- Youth Summer Intern, Bonsack Baptist Church, Roanoke, VA
- Church Nursery Worker, Manassas Baptist Church, Manassas, VA
Did you know that BGAV-participating churches and ministry partners can post ministry job openings on our website at no additional cost? Non-BGAV churches and ministry organizations can post jobs, but they must pay for the opportunity. To post a ministry opening, visit the Ministry Jobs webpage and click "Submit a Job" when you're ready.
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Upcoming Events of Interest
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Preach 2024: "Endure"
March 10-12, 2024
Eagle Eyrie Conference Center, Lynchburg, VA
Join us for Preach 2024, a conference designed to help pastors sharpen their skills in a peer-learning environment - sponsored by Augusta Baptist Association.
Experience a time of renewal through four worship services, while also gaining valuable insights and knowledge from twenty breakout sessions on a variety of topics. The serene retreat setting at Eagle Eyrie Conference Center in the Blue Ridge Mountains provides a beautiful backdrop to this special time of renewal, reflection and connection with fellow pastors. Get more information and register online.
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Other Events
Camp Piankatank Winter Blast
February 16-18, 2024
Hartfield, VA
Church and Clergy Tax Seminar - now a webinar!
February 22, 2024
Digital Church Proficiency Workshop
February 28, 2024
Ruckersville, VA
Digital Church Proficiency Workshop
February 29, 2024
Woodstock, VA
Preach 2024: "Endure"
March 10-12, 2024
Lynchburg, VA
CAM 501: Foundations of Christian Coaching
March 11-13, 2024
Base Camp Youth Retreat
March 22-24, 2024
Lynchburg, VA
Impact Missions Spring Break Camp
April 1-5, 2024
Mecklenburg, VA
Digital Church Proficiency Workshop
April 8, 2024
Bluefield, VA
Digital Church Proficiency Workshop
April 9, 2024
Abingdon, VA
Chaplain and Pastoral Care Training
April 14-17, 2024
Richmond, VA
Digital Church Proficiency Workshop
April 18, 2024
Roanoke, VA
View all upcoming events and subscribe to the BGAV calendar.
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