The BGAV Pastor’s Conference met Monday, November 13, the day before the BGAV Annual Meeting officially began with its first business session. Last year, after offering only online video events during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Pastor’s Conference returned as an in-person event with strong attendance.

This year’s conference was held at Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond, VA, which was the host church for the entire BGAV annual meeting. Attendance was strong again, according to Steve Nethery, president of the conference and pastor of Spring Hill Baptist Church. “We had 125 attenders, which is the average for our last three in-person meetings,” he said.

The theme of the gathering was “Rejoicing in Hope,” based on Romans 12:12a. Former BGAV pastor, Dr. Mark Croston, was the guest speaker. Croston now serves as the National Director of Black Church Ministries at Lifeway Christian Resources in Nashville, Tennessee, where his primary goal is to equip and encourage pastors.

Through generous gifts from sponsors, EverBless Foundation and Capital Stewardship Services, all attendees received a copy of Croston’s recently published book, BigResults Leadership.

Nethery commented there was one particular statement that jumped out at him from Croston’s sermon: “You can’t do this job unless you are willing to lose this job.” The central theme of Croston’s remarks was to encourage pastors to be bold in their leadership.

“I am so thankful I arrived at the annual BGAV meeting in time to attend the Pastor’s Conference. Mark Croston brought a timely message that encouraged my heart and soul. We are thankful for his leadership in Nashville, but we are beyond grateful that he came back to Richmond to encourage Virginia Baptist pastors,” said David Donahue, pastor of Manassas Baptist Church. “The world of ministry in a post-Covid landscape is beyond challenging. Dr. Croston brought a word of hope and encouragement and challenged us to serve with grace and resolve.”

Nethery said that he and the other officers of the Pastor’s Conference, Robert Lee (pastor of Collinswood-Agape Baptist Church, Portsmouth) and Skip Wallace (BGAV field strategist) have been working on this year’s program for eight months.

“This event was encouraging to everyone present,” said Ruth Nethery, who led some of the music for the event.

“I came away from the conference enlightened, encouraged, and inspired in my own walk with God,” added Chris Fritzinger, who also provided music.

“The worship music opened our hearts, and the fellowship with pastors around the state was great,” said Kevin James, retired BGAV pastor, who serves now with Capital Stewardship Services.

Mike Gray, pastor of Elk Creek Baptist in Mineral, summed up his experience by saying, “The Pastor’s Conference was on point this year. It started BGAV’s200th anniversary with the celebration of the preaching of the Word of God. The tradition of the Bedford preachers was alive and well. Dr. Croston’s message was powerful, truthful, and encouraging. I walked away inspired and hopeful.”

Ten percent of the offering they received will be sent to the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Lebanon. The conference also donated $250 to the Augusta Baptist Association to help with expenses related to the annual spring preaching conference they hold at Eagle Eyrie.

Also at the meeting, the Pastor’s Conference elected the following new officers to serve a two-year term beginning in 2024:

President– Scott Salsman, pastor, James River Baptist Church, Williamsburg

VicePresident – Dr. Larry Perkins, associate pastor, Mt. Tabor Baptist Church,Richmond

Secretary– Eli Withers, associate pastor, Harrisonburg Baptist Church, Harrisonburg

Treasurer– John Robertson, pastor, Red Bank Baptist Church, Marionville

For more information about the Virginia Baptist Pastor’sConference, email Steve Nethery at steve@springhillbaptist.org.