By Wayne Faison, BGAV Executive Director

In my previous article, published in the March 13 issue of The Baptist Paper: BGAV Edition, I mentioned how Virginia Baptists (aka BGAV) are in the process of reinvigorating ourselves around one of our main charisms, which is missions. I also asked you to stay tuned and be on the lookout for this article, as I go into more details concerning the pairing of our ministry teams and the respective banners under which they are currently being housed to do missions.

When it comes to mission work in our contemporary ministry context, development plays a critical role in this process. The Cambridge dictionary defines “development” as the process in which someone or something grows or changes and becomes healthier and more advanced. However, I love the way the biblical text utilizes the concept of development in James 1: 1-4 in the Berean Standard Bible: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers (and sisters), when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything.”

This New Testament idea of development connotes the notion of bringing something to completion by producing results.  When James tells us the testing of our faith develops perseverance, it helps me understand that perseverance is a by-product of our faith. This is exactly what Virginia Baptists are hoping for, as we pair our ministry teams together under the following five banners: Mission Development, Leadership Development, Church Development, Community Development, and Resource Development. We are hoping to complete God’s mission by producing results and, using words from the end of James 1:4, “not lacking anything.” Virginia Baptists want to see our congregations and leaders grow, change, and become healthier and more advanced.

In Mission Development, we pray our efforts will result in congregations and leaders engaging and participating in God’s greater mission. In Leadership Development, we pray our efforts will result in leaders experiencing growth unique to their context and specific to their ministry passion, giftedness, and focus. In Church Development, we pray our efforts will result in churches maximizing their Kingdom impact in this challenging season of ministry. In Community Development, we pray our efforts will result in churches connecting with their respective communities, including the surrounding population they aim to serve. In Resource Development, we pray our efforts will result in providing our diverse congregations and leaders reliable sources of support through a wide array of resources.

In the end, it’s our hope that the collective faith and perseverance of Virginia Baptists will move God’s Mission Forward!  Stay tuned and be on the lookout for my next article, “Mission Forward: Part IV,” as I go into even more details concerning our charism and passion for missions.