By Jonathan Vandermark

If you close your eyes and listen closely enough, you can hear the joyous sounds of God’s creation proclaiming his goodness, and you can see the majesty of God’s handiwork in abundance. For many Virginia Baptists like me, we have spent many summers, weekends, and sun-filled days on Locke Mountain in Lynchburg, Virginia. On this special mountain, there is a place called Eagle Eyrie.

Just reading those words brings to mind those summer nights you may have spent there, or those fall retreats with your youth group, or a pastor or deacon retreat you attended. Perhaps you grew closer to God at a women’s or men’s retreat, or at missions camp, or music camp, or maybe your child is a part of our special-needs retreat—the list goes on and on. Over the decades, thousands of lives have been discipled on this mountain. Thousands have given their lives to Christ—missionaries, pastors, church leaders, and community leaders—and so many have received their call to ministry on this mountain.

So now, just like the turning of a page, the ending of one season and the start of another, we as Virginia Baptists are faced with a monumental transition. After more than 20 years serving as the director of Eagle Eyrie, Rod Miller has handed over the torch. As this torch is passed, I humbly ask for your prayers. Specifically, please pray for God’s light to shine.

In Matthew 5, Jesus is speaking to the crowd in the Sermon on the Mount. He says these words to the people gathered:

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)

For decades, Eagle Eyrie has been a light on a hill, shining before all to see and giving glory to God. As we launch into this new season with a new director at the helm, please join with me in prayer as we take the light of Christ and shine for him. May Eagle Eyrie continue to be that soul-saving lighthouse on the hill where lives are changed for eternity—where boys, girls, women, and men surrender to the call to ministry—and where leaders are developed, equipped, and resourced to go take that light into every town in Virginia and to the ends of the earth.  

Rev. Jonathan Vandermark began his role as director of BGAV’s Eagle Eyrie Conference Center on May 1, 2025.

Photo credit: Eagle Eyrie's Facebook page

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