by Wayne Faison, BGAV Executive Director

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Over the past several weeks, several pastors and church leaders have asked about our recent Ascent Summit hosted at Columbia Church in Falls Church, VA. Since several people in our BGAV churches have either heard or asked questions about Ascent, I would like to offer a word of clarity for our Virginia Baptist family. More importantly, I want to place this conversation in the larger context of how God is calling us to sow the gospel of Jesus Christ together with our ecumenical faith kin.

The recent Ascent Summit was a gathering of pastors and ministry leaders from various affinity groups joining together to expand our thriving collaborative connection that strengthens churches to live out the Great Commission in the North American context. Like many conferences or leadership gatherings, the summit created a shared communal space for conversation, learning, and relationship building around the theme “A Hopeful Witness for a Joyful Church.”

As it relates more broadly to the Ascent Movement, it is important for us to realize that since 2016 this movement has continued to emerge as a connectional platform for leaders seeking to collaborate around leadership development, rural church renewal, and kingdom mission. Ascent is still early in its development, and many of the details about its future are still taking shape. The one thing we do know is that God is up to something in the midst of our different tribes and traditions focusing on the centrality of Christ.

What is important for Virginia Baptists to understand is that the Ascent Movement is not attempting to become another denomination. It is simply a network of leaders exploring ways to encourage one another to think about the future of ministry for generations to come. Virginia Baptists have always been about cooperating together for the sake of the mission of God’s kingdom. Our shared vision is clear: to become greater agents of mission together with our networks of churches, partners, and leaders impacting the kingdom locally, nationally, and globally with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When we talk about becoming greater agents of mission, it might sometimes sound like something reserved for pastors, missionaries, or church staff. However, we know that God’s mission belongs to every follower of Jesus. As I heard someone once say, “The church doesn’t have a mission; the mission has a church.” The beauty of God’s mission is that all of us can participate in some way, fashion, or form. Gatherings like the Ascent Summit reflect this important truth: many Christian leaders are asking how the church can be more faithful and effective in today’s world. As Virginia Baptists continue to move the Mission Forward, my prayer is that we engage in this shared mission with clarity.

Rev. Dr. Wayne Faison is BGAV’s executive director.

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