Monday, November 14
3:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions
Multiplying Disciples Over Spectators
Eun Strawser
Can you definitively say that you have been discipled and can disciple someone else? Do you have the clarity to equip those in your church community to be a disciple and therefore go and make disciples? In this session, we will clearly define the need for a Discipleship Pathway and an equipping framework that helps to make all attendants in your church community disciples who live into Jesus' Great Commission and make disciples.
Dr. Rev. Eun K. Strawser is the co-vocational lead pastor of Ma Ke Alo o (which means “Presence” in Hawaiian), a BGAV Watch Care Church with missional communities multiplying in Honolulu, HI, a community physician, and an executive leader at the V3 Movement, the church planting arm of the BGAV. She is also the author of Centering Discipleship: A Pathway for Multiplying Spectators into Mature Disciples (IVP 2023). Prior to transitioning to Hawaii, she served as adjunct professor of medicine at the Philadelphia College of Medicine and of African Studies at her alma mater the University of Pennsylvania (where she and her husband served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship) after finishing her Fulbright Scholarship at the University of Dar es Salaam. She and Steve have three, seriously, amazing children.
Dying to Live: Waking Up to the Mission of God
Josh Hayden
Many churches in the United States have either stopped growing or are in decline. Yet, what is even more concerning is the steady drift away from following Christ deeper into our local communities to live on mission. Leaders like you are regularly waking up to this new reality that the pandemic has made it impossible to ignore. In this session, we will explore practical ways on how to lead through change in our churches for the sake of our neighbors.
Josh Hayden is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church in Ashland, VA. Josh studied leadership and organizational change while writing Creative Destruction: Towards a Theology of Institutions to receive his Doctor of Ministry at Duke Divinity School. He’s also the author of Sacred Hope, a book designed to foster conversation about the role of hope in our everyday lives. Josh is the Director of Re-missioning with the V3 Movement.
Tuesday, November 15
2:25 p.m. Breakout Sessions
Executive Board and Budget Dialogue
Do you have questions for the BGAV Executive Board, the Executive Director Search Committee, about the proposed changes to the BGAV Constitution/Bylaws, and/or about the 2023 budget? Come meet with BGAV leadership for discussion and dialogue.
David Washburn is the treasurer of the BGAV, and Becky McKinney is the current chair of the BGAV Executive Board.
Digital Proficiency for the Local Church
Tom York and Will York
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 church’s 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. Join us to learn how to improve your church’s online presence through some easy and cost-effective tips.
Tom York and Will York are a father-and-son duo from Richmond, VA. As developers of the ChurchPoint app, their company focuses on helping local churches be best positioned for success through technology. Tom and Will draw on their background of corporate work and part-time ministerial roles to offer a unique perspective on what churches can do to thrive in today’s digital world. Having interacted with hundreds of churches across different denominations, they look forward to sharing their insights on how to improve your churches’ digital presence.
Calling Churches: Finding and Keeping Pastoral Leaders for Your Church
Bill Shiell
An alarming percentage of pastors are thinking about leaving full-time ministry, and numerous churches have open pastor positions. However, the Spirit is calling new generations of staff, ministers, and senior pastors to serve. Join Dr. Bill Shiell, President of Northern Seminary, as he shares surprising data and insights to help you recruit and retain church staff. In addition, Dr. Shiell will share practical steps to help churches reclaim their role as the “called out ones” by discipling their congregations, sustaining and nurturing their existing staff, identifying and calling pastors, and training everyone for lifelong ministry.
This session will be livestreamed.
Bill Shiell is the eleventh President of Northern Seminary, where he also serves as Professor of Pastoral Theology and Preaching. Prior to coming to Northern, Dr. Shiell served as a Pastor of Baptist churches in Texas (McGregor and San Angelo); Tennessee (Knoxville); and Florida (Tallahassee). A native of Pensacola, Florida, Dr. Shiell holds degrees from Samford University (B.A.) and Baylor University (M. Div., Ph.D.). Bill and his wife, Kelly, met while in college at Samford. They have two sons, Parker (17) and Drake (11).
3:50 p.m. Breakout Sessions
Darkness to Light
Impact Missions
In summer 2022 BGAV announced that training for preventing child sexual abuse would be available to churches and individuals. Darkness to Light’s "Stewards of Children" is a facilitator-led video-and-discussion-based training program featuring real people and real stories about protecting children from sexual abuse. It offers five key steps to protecting children: learning the facts, minimizing opportunity, talking about it, recognizing the signs, and reacting responsibly. This breakout will provide an introduction to the training BGAV is offering, including how churches and individuals can access it and take steps to develop their own policies for protecting the children they serve.
Ascent: An Overview
Jim Baucom
Ascent is a Christ-centered movement of the Holy Spirit through a collaboration of numerous committed partners, associations, churches, and leaders to re-engage the North American population with the Gospel of Jesus.
Jointly affirming the 381 Nicene Creed and the 2010 Capetown Commitment, Ascent partners are centrist orthodox believers and associations who eschew the political and theological polarizations that are dividing North America and diverting the church's attention away from answering the call of Jesus' Great Commission.
The Baptist General Association of Virginia has answered God's call to be the primary catalyst of this movement, and we are passionately committed to its success. This breakout will provide more information about the Ascent movement and how your church or organization can participate.
This session will be livestreamed.
Jim Baucom currently serves as Senior Pastor of Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, VA. He is also part of the steering council for Ascent.
AXIS Academy and Resource Network
Introduces Co-Vocational Church Resources
Kathy Kruschwitz
During this session, participants will learn about a new AXIS resource regarding the Co-Vocational Church including why there is a growing need for co-vocational churches, what distinguishes co-vocational pastors from bi-vocational pastors, and the benefits of a co-vocational church for the congregation as well as the community. Please join us as we share these exciting resources for your church and congregation. In addition, you will learn about resources offered through AXIS including professional development and peer networks that foster supportive relationships for church leaders across the BGAV family. The AXIS Coordinator will also share how changes in registration and scholarship applications will ease the course registration process and lower costs for church leaders.
VIRTUAL BREAKOUTS
Navigating Transitions
Cadance Tyler and Skip Wallace
Cadance Tyler is the BGAV Minister in Residence for Vocational Connections, and Skip Wallace is the BGAV Field Strategist for the Central/Valley region.
Keeping in Step with the Spirit
Todd Still
Todd Still is DeLancey Dean and Hinson Professor at Baylor University’s Truett Seminary.