by Steve Zimmerman and BGAV Staff

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Three years ago, as he was concluding his service on the BGAV Mission Council, Steve Zimmerman heard a recurring request during regional discussions: churches wanted practical leadership training again.

“One person in our team mentioned that they would like to have some church leadership training again,” Zimmerman recalled. “I looked at Tom Stocks and said, ‘We can do that!’” As the larger group reconvened for a time of sharing, another small group shared the same desire for training.

That conversation eventually grew into a collaborative effort involving BGAV, regional associations, local churches, and the Barnabas Partnership in Martinsville. What emerged was a series of spring training events designed to equip pastors and lay leaders in ways that fit the needs of their specific communities.

As a founding partner of the Barnabas Partnership, Zimmerman said one of the ministry’s long-standing passions has been creating opportunities for church leaders to receive practical encouragement and training close to home.

“One of our passions is to see pastors and church leaders come together for short-term opportunities to be better equipped in their roles of ministry together because many of them cannot attend annual state meetings that have training sessions,” Zimmerman said.

“As we make these plans, we make sure to structure the training from the ground up instead of from the top down,” he added. “We listen to the local pastors’ and church leaders’ needs and then match someone who might best help that need. It is definitely not a one-size-fits-all approach.”

In February and March 2026, more than 70 pastors and laity gathered on Saturday mornings for three workshops across Southside Virginia: Replant at New Prospect Baptist Church in Hurt, Equip at First Baptist Church in South Boston, and Walking New Trails at Heritage Baptist Church in Farmville.

Each event featured different topics and speakers based on feedback gathered from church leaders in the region. Ten different leaders participated in the sessions, including representatives from BGAV, local associations, and ministry leaders from across Virginia and North Carolina.

Participants consistently pointed to the collaborative atmosphere and practical conversations as highlights of the experience.

At the Walking New Trails gathering in Farmville, Sabrina Martin of Tabernacle Baptist Church in South Hill said the event “allowed a lot of active involvement and sharing from across churches.”

Several participants also emphasized how the training encouraged new thinking for ministry in their own congregations.

“It opened up new ideas in ways to engage our church and community,” said Zach Bradsher of First Baptist Church in South Boston.

For Zimmerman, the events represent more than leadership development. They also strengthen relationships among churches and leaders who often face ministry challenges in isolation.

“When it is all said and done, folks who attend get more than just training,” he said. “They come away with a deeper fellowship with others and realization that they are not the only church facing similar challenges. For it is so much better to work together than to die together.”

Rev. Steve Zimmerman is founding partner of Barnabas Partnership and has served in several leadership and ministerial roles in BGAV and our participating congregations.

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