by Kris Clifford

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Some weeks in ministry remind you why you became a pastor in the first place.

At the time of this writing, I’ve just attended the inaugural Ascent Summit [which took place in March 2026], a gathering of pastors and ministry leaders from across North America who came together around a simple but ambitious hope: to re-evangelize North America with the gospel. The room was filled with prayer, conviction, and an unmistakable sense of possibility. It reminded me of something we sometimes forget in the rhythms of ministry: movements matter.

There is something powerful that happens when churches begin to imagine together what God might do through them. Vision expands. Courage rises. Ordinary faithfulness suddenly feels connected to something much larger than any single congregation.

As I left that gathering, I felt both inspired and reflective­—inspired because of the shared passion I had witnessed, and reflective because it made me wonder what it might look like if that same kind of missionary imagination captured the hearts of Virginia Baptists once again.

After all, cooperation has always been one of our greatest strengths. For generations, churches in Virginia have partnered together to pursue God’s work in ways no single church could accomplish alone. BGAV describes itself as “a missionary movement unleashing the power of the resurrected Christ through the local church for the renewal of all things.” That is a beautiful and bold vision.

Yet in an age where resources, tools, and training are more accessible than ever, many of us have wondered what role denominations and church networks will play in the future. We no longer need them for information or resources the way we once did. But this week reminded me of one of the most powerful roles they have always played: they are catalysts.

This year our church invited our congregation to read the Bible together in a year. It wasn’t a program or a class—just an invitation. Yet I cannot tell you how many people have said something like this: “I’ve been a Christian for years and never read the Bible regularly, much less in its entirety. I’ve always meant to do it, but I never started. The invitation to do it together gave me the courage and motivation to begin.”

If that is true for individuals, then it is true for churches. We need each other to provide the courage and momentum to do the things we already know we should be doing. Perhaps that is the role a Virginia missionary movement can play in this moment.

The problem with movements is that they often become organizations. And organization is important. But movements remind us why the organization exists in the first place. Organization helps steward what we already have. But renewal rarely begins with organization. It begins with imagination, courage, and a shared sense of calling. And yes, that is often risky, messy, and chaotic—but isn’t that where the Spirit tends to move?

Imagine if Virginia Baptists set a shared goal of engaging in one million Gospel conversations across our state next year. Imagine hundreds of churches praying intentionally for their communities, opening their tables, serving their neighbors, and boldly reintroducing people to Jesus. Imagine the creativity that might emerge if pastors and congregations across Virginia began asking together, “How can we reintroduce Jesus to Virginians?”

As Virginia Baptists, we have no lack of faithful churches. We don’t have a shortage of committed pastors or compassionate believers. What we may need most in this moment is a fresh, cooperative dream—one that reminds us that the mission before us is bigger than maintaining what we’ve built.

The gospel is still good news. Our neighbors still need hope. And perhaps the next great chapter of Virginia Baptist life will be written not merely by what we preserve, but by what we courageously pursue together.

Rev. Dr. Kris Clifford is co-pastor of Columbia Church in Falls Church, VA.

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