BGAV Town Hall Meeting Next Week
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 - 11:00 a.m. EDT
|
|
Next week we hope you will join us for the second installment of the
BGAV Town Hall meeting - Tuesday, May 19, at 11:00 a.m. EDT. This will be an important time of discussion featuring John Upton, Executive Director, David Washburn, Treasurer, and Chris Backert, National Director of Fresh Expressions US.
They'll be looking at several critical issues facing our churches, such as:
- considerations regarding how and/or whether to meet physically once our state restrictions allow for some measure of in-person gatherings
- resources and guidelines as issued from the CDC and Virginia Department of Health for faith-based communities
- pre-planning now about how to retain the positives we've learned as we attempt to balance the two world we now live in--things the Church won't want to lose as we begin to put our energy into regathering
Have a question you would like addressed during next week's meeting? Submit your questions through the online form by Monday, May 18, and we will answer them depending on time constraints.
Submit a question.
|
|
Virtual Church? How to Establish Your Congregation's Online Presence
May 20, 2020
11:00 a.m. EDT
Search behavior, digital content, and websites have always been important, but given our new virtual reality, they have become must-have engagement tools for churches not only needing to serve their existing congregation well but seeking to build new relationships within the broader community too.
In this new normal, two questions rise to the surface:
- Are churches positioned to help people “do” church in an online way?
- Are church websites prepared to bear the responsibility of service, supporting the critical needs of the congregation as well as the essential functions of spiritual growth?
Please join John Upton and guests for a 45-minute session on ways to strengthen your digital ecosystem. Chris Morton and Emily Upton will share reasons why many experiences miss the mark and will offer guidance on how to enhance your digital presence and toolbox.
|
|
BGAV College Students Adapt to "New Normal" in Innovative Ways
Baptist Collegiate Ministry students are certainly missing their in-person fellowship and ministries, but our BCMs are making the most of their resources digitally to keep students connected to God and to each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following stories from Virginia Tech and University of Mary Washington are only two that represent some of the amazing, innovative things going on with collegiate ministries during the crisis.
|
|
Students Connect at VA Tech BCM via Virtual Opportunities for Worship and Bible Study
by Scott Anderson, Virginia Tech
Will students be interested in meeting online? What if our students become disengaged? What will this do to our ministry?
These are some of the questions that raced through my mind as we began to realize that college ministry would no longer be an in-person activity for the foreseeable future. Our 50 newly minted student leaders had not signed up for digital Bible studies.Questions and uncertainties abounded as we began to realize the realities of COVID-19.
|
|
Disruption=Innovation at University of Mary Washington
by Gannon Sims
While COVID-19 has disrupted our community gatherings--it hasn't stifled our community rhythm. It's forcing us to innovate, to grow in maturity, and to dream again about the people we're becoming. During this season, we're meeting for daily prayer on Facebook, in cadres of 4-5 people online, and through Sunday night discipleship for our core leaders (using Zoom).
|
|
Prioritizing Children's Faith Formation During COVID-19 and Beyond
by Dee Whitten, NorthStar Church Network
The COVID–19 crisis has probably been the most significant challenge to our churches during my lifetime.
For the last two months NorthStar has been providing Zoom conferences for pastors and church leaders. One such meeting was focused on children’s ministers/leaders, and it took place just a couple of weeks prior to Easter. I was impressed with the fact that so many of the children’s leaders were preparing to send out Easter packages to families with training materials for parents to use with their children over the Easter weekend. Instead of Sunday morning “at church” serving as the main spiritual training time for children, parents need to take back this primary responsibility.
|
|
Upcoming Events of Interest
offered by V3 Church Planting Movement
May 21, 2020: Vocational Health
May 19, 2020
May 20, 2020
May 20, 2020
offered by BGAV Partnership Missions
May 21, 2020
offered by BGAV Partnership Missions
June 4, 2020
offered by BGAV Partnership Missions
June 18, 2020
offered by BGAV Partnership Missions
July 2, 2020
offered by BGAV Partnership Missions
July 16, 2020
In-person mission camps for this summer have been cancelled. Instead, we will have a virtual camp experience for participants! Details coming soon so
check the website for more information.
|
|
Baptist General Association of Virginia
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
