by Carrie Brown McWhorter, The Baptist Paper

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The 2025 BGAV Annual Meeting has begun, focusing on the theme “Mission Forward,” based on Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Pastors, church staffers, lay leaders, and guests have gathered in person at Highlands Fellowship in historic Abingdon, Virginia. Nestled in the beautiful Great Appalachian Valley near the Virginia-Tennessee line, Abingdon is part of the Tri-Cities region of northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia.

Those attending the Nov. 10-12 conference will have many opportunities for fellowship, networking, and learning. A virtual option will allow the greater BGAV family to participate in all worship and business sessions and a selection of small-group breakout sessions.

This year’s meeting will include two business sessions, four main sessions, a ministry fair, and small-group options called Learning Labs — interactive, hands-on sessions designed to give participants practical ideas they can implement right away and resources to help.

Four speakers will lead the main session theme interpretations:

• “Mission Here: Pressing Toward the Church,” Tim Brown, lead pastor of Highlands Fellowship, Abingdon.
• “Mission There: Pressing Toward the Community,” Cindy Wiles, executive director of Restore Hope, a nonprofit corporation that serves a network of churches sending people cross-culturally to live and serve in long-term missionary capacities.
• “Mission Everywhere: Pressing Toward the World.” Karl Johnson, chair of the Baptist World Alliance, former general secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union, and pastor of Phillippo Baptist Church in Spanish Town, Jamaica.
• “Mission Forward: The High Calling of Christ,” Wayne Faison, senior pastor of East End Baptist Church in Suffolk, Virginia, and BGAV’s executive director.

As in past years, main sessions and business sessions will be livestreamed through the Whova app. Voting messengers from BGAV-participating churches will use the app to securely cast their votes, whether they attend in person or virtually.

Three Learning Lab sessions will be held on Monday and Tuesday, with virtual options available during each session. Topics for the Learning Labs include religious liberty, missions and ministry ideas, AI and the Church, and various leadership topics. On Tuesday afternoon, six insight sessions will be held on site.

Many on-site attendees also will be participating in a tiny house build in the parking lot of Highlands Fellowship. Tiny 2, as the house is known, will be the second tiny home finished by Impact Disaster Response. The tiny house project is an effort by BGAV to provide emergency housing after disasters. The idea was born after Hurricane Helene wreaked destruction in areas of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, leaving many residents homeless.

During the main sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, bluegrass gospel band Chosen Road will lead worship. Highlands Fellowship’s praise band will lead worship during Monday evening’s main session.

See a full schedule of sessions and events here: Schedule 2025 – BGAV Annual Meeting.

Messengers from participating BGAV churches have received registration and voting information ahead of today’s (Nov. 10) opening session. All are welcome to attend the on site or virtual sessions by registering at Registration – BGAV Annual Meeting.

To log in to watch and participate, go to meeting.bgav.org.

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