June 22, 2020
Join Us Next Week for the "Healthy Pastors, Healthy Churches" Webinar
June 30, 2020 - 11:00 a.m. EDT
In the past three months, churches have faced an unprecedented season of uncertainty and stress. Pastors and staff members have pivoted quickly in order to respond to the changes in their communities brought on by multiple crises: the spread of COVID-19, illnesses and loss of lives due to the Coronavirus, racial tension, the national political divide during this election year, financial pressures, and re-gathering considerations in addition to the typical daily issues they face during “normal” times.

Join Dan Bagby and Roberta Damon, longtime experts in the field of pastoral care, as they lead us to understand and address the enormous pressure that many pastors and church staff members are currently struggling with while they do their best to care for their congregations. Their approach will include helpful advice for pastors and church members. There will be a question-and-answer time to engage participants.

Please note that this webinar will not be recorded for future viewing, so register to attend the live webinar using the link below..

Impact KIDS: A VBS Opportunity

Back in March, when churches announced they would stop having in-person worship services to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we had no idea we’d be facing a summer of virtual Vacation Bible School and trying to socially distance children at an event that usually involves them holding hands as they walk from station to station. Yet here we are, easing into Phase Two of reopening and still unsure what VBS will look like.

A few years ago, Impact Mission Camps offered a new iteration of camp–Impact KIDS–which gives kids an overnight, mission-focused camp for kids to learn about and serve in a community alongside a traditional Impact mission camp. This year, Impact and BGAV are offering those resources at no charge so churches can create their own Impact KIDS mission-themed VBS.

If your church hasn’t chosen a VBS curriculum yet, this may be a great option for you. It includes all the activities, Bible studies (including a pre-VBS study to help prepare), and devotions for kids to do on their own or with their families, worship services streamed online, and additional challenges shared to social media. Join us for an Impact KIDS VBS this summer, as God makes us all Better Together–Even When Apart.



Alma Hunt Offering for Virginia Missions Shifts Focus to COVID-19 Response Projects

The Alma Hunt Offering for Virginia Missions will look different in the coming year, reflecting the changing world in which we live as we face the challenges of a global pandemic.

As always, this critical offering seeks to meet real needs of real people by funding ministries in a variety of specific areas focused on human needs arising from the COVID-19 crisis:

  • Providing online and on-site training related to mental health and domestic violence

  • Providing grants to help support women’s and children’s outreach ministries

  • Providing partial or full-summer camping scholarships

  • Providing financial relief to church planters

  • Providing family scholarships for church Child Development Centers

  • Providing funds to offer church WiFi hotspots for students

  • Providing financial resources to partners around the world responding to COVID-19

  • Allocations may include other needs as they arise related to COVID-19 relief efforts

Funds will be distributed monthly and will begin in Summer 2020 in order to respond more quickly to immediate needs. View anticipated allocation projects for this year.

Some basic promotional materials will be mailed out to churches in the coming weeks. You can also view stories, download resources, and donate online at AlmaHunt.org!
Favorite Scriptures from the BGAV Staff Family

This summer, every issue of Advance Notice will feature a favorite scripture verse or passage submitted by a member of the BGAV staff. We hope these scriptures will inspire you in your daily walk with Christ and also help you get to know our staff a little better.
1 John 3:18, New International Version (NIV)
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

"This verse has recently gone to the top of my internal Rolodex recently." - Karin Goude

Karin Goude is Program and Network Associate of the Kairos Initiative. She has served with BGAV since 2016. 
Upcoming Events of Interest

offered by Fresh Expressions US
June 22, 2020
2:30 p.m. EDT

offered by Fresh Expressions US
June 24, 2020

June 30, 2020

offered by BGAV Partnership Missions
July 2, 2020

offered by BGAV Partnership Missions
July 16, 2020

July 21-23, 2020

August 24-26, 2020

In-person mission camps for this summer have been cancelled. Instead, we will have a virtual camp experience for participants! Check the website for more information.
Baptist General Association of Virginia
800.255.2428 | bgav@bgav.org | BGAV.org