by Marcus Vaughan

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Serving on BGAV’s Annual Meeting Program Committee has been one of the most enriching and eye-opening experiences of my ministry life. It is a unique space where people from all across Virginia—different churches, different communities, different backgrounds—come together with a shared purpose: to create an annual gathering that is spiritual, uplifting, informative, and deeply rooted in the movement of God among us. What makes this committee special is not just the work we do, but the people who do it. Each person brings their own story, their own faith journey, and their own perspective, and somehow God weaves all those threads into a single tapestry of collaboration and calling.

One of the unexpected joys of serving on this committee has been the opportunity to travel across the Commonwealth. Each year’s meeting has taken us to a different corner of Virginia, and each location has added its own flavor to our work. Coming from the hustle and bustle of Northern Virginia, where Alexandria buzzes with constant motion, I found it refreshing to step into the calm and breathtaking beauty of Abingdon, nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. There, the slower pace and the mountain air seemed to invite reflection and remind us of the quiet ways God speaks.

Now, as we look toward Virginia Beach, I’m excited for yet another shift in scenery. The artsy, bluesy vibe of the city, paired with the steady rhythm of ocean waves, brings its own kind of inspiration. There’s something about gathering near the water that feels symbolic—like standing at the edge of something vast, reminded of God’s power, creativity, and presence. Each place we meet becomes part of the story, shaping not only the event but also the people who help create it.

But beyond the travel and the planning, what has impacted me most is the spiritual growth that happens within the committee itself. Sitting around a table with people whose church experiences look nothing like mine, hearing how God has moved in their lives and communities, has broadened my understanding of the Kingdom. It is humbling and energizing to hear how faith is lived out in rural congregations, urban ministries, coastal churches, and mountain chapels. These conversations remind me that God is at work everywhere—often in ways we don’t see until someone shares their story.

In this committee, we don’t just plan an event; we grow together. We learn from one another. We challenge one another. And we witness firsthand how God uses different people, with different gifts, to accomplish a shared mission. Every meeting feels like a small glimpse of the larger body of Christ—diverse, imperfect, yet beautifully united in purpose.

Being part of the BGAV Program Committee has shown me how powerful it is when God brings people together. It has reminded me that collaboration is a form of worship, that listening is a form of ministry, and that planning an annual meeting can be just as sacred as attending one. Through every conversation, every decision, and every gathering, I see how God is working through each of us—and even more profoundly, how God is working through all of us together.

Marcus Vaughan is worship and ministry director at Beale Memorial Baptist Church, a BGAV-participating congregation in Tappahannock, Virginia.

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