Outdoor Food Pantry at Biltmore Baptist Church Blesses the Community |
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by Barbara Francis
Biltmore Baptist Church in Glen Allen, VA, may be a small church, but the congregation’s heart for the community and its generosity knows no bounds. The church’s latest missions project is a Blessings Box with a simple rule that applies to all: Take what you need, Give what you can.
Biltmore received a $1,000 grant from the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) in March to assist in ministries directed toward responding to the COVID-19 virus and its effect on the community. This grant was instrumental in stocking the outdoor food pantry and providing a "feature product" on Saturdays. This item is typically a perishable food which could not be kept in the box during the week.
The Blessings Box is located outside of Biltmore’s Clothes Closet and looks like a small bookcase with doors. Constructed by several men of the church, the Blessings Box is filled with donated nonperishable foods, canned goods, boxed and bagged products, paper items, small toiletries, baby diapers, a few Christian books and other items that might benefit those in need.
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BGAV Engages Lee B. Spitzer as Part-time Consultant
The Baptist General Association of Virginia is pleased to announce that it has invited Rev. Dr. Lee B. Spitzer to serve as a part-time Senior Consultant and Spiritual Advisor, effective September 1, 2020.
“Dr. Lee Spitzer is a good friend and has been a colleague in leadership for many years,” said Dr. John V. Upton, Jr., BGAV Executive Director. “When he was Executive Minister for ABC of New Jersey we frequently had our executive teams meet to collaborate and share resources. Dr. Spitzer knows the BGAV from years of shared ministry. Having served as ABCUSA General Secretary, Lee brings a broad range of experience and knowledge that will help our churches navigate the post-Covid world, as well as help generate a collaborative strategy called Ascent which will help us re-imagine reaching North America with the Gospel. I am so grateful Lee is willing to be a consultant and spiritual coach for this journey.”
Dr. Spitzer will provide guidance in the formulation and promulgation of Ascent’s vision, mission statement, theological rationale, national strategy, and organizational structure. He will assist executive leadership in implementing Ascent’s national strategy for collaboration in missional engagement.
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BGAV Disaster Response on Standby from Hurricane Laura
With Hurricane Laura making landfall over the weekend in areas of Louisiana and Texas, BGAV Disaster Response is currently on standby for deployment. As we do not self-deploy, we instead go at the invitation of local emergency managers and state disaster response coordinators. Because of the damage and complications of COVID-19, housing is at a premium, and too many teams coming who require housing will create additional challenges rather than help.
The most likely initial response would be cleanup/chainsaw, feeding, and crisis care. We recently completed a COVID-19-aware training and simulation focusing on distributing feeding volunteers among local churches to help limit exposure and will likely use that form of response if feeding is required in Virginia. Learn more about our COVID-19 guidelines by viewing our recent training webinars.
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FOR YOUR INFO
This Year's Alma Hunt Offering for Virginia Missions Focuses on COVID-19 Response
This year, the Alma Hunt Offering for Virginia Missions is meeting real needs in real time. View allocations, read stories, download resources, apply for grants, and donate online at AlmaHunt.org!
Kairos Ministries Seeking New Student Info for the Fall
Are there students from your church and community heading off to college in the fall? The BGAV supports a vibrant network of Collegiate and Young Adult ministries on college and university campuses all over Virginia called the Kairos Initiative. If you know a first-year undergrad or transfer student, we would love to reach out to them and invite them to be a part of one of our Kairos ministries in their area. Share your student information and learn more about Kairos.
BGAV Annual Meeting to Take Place Online This Year
This year's BGAV Annual Meeting will be held online November 9-10, 2020. Visit the BGAV Meeting website for more details as they are finalized. |
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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.
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Mark 12:30-31 (NIV)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.
“These words from Jesus ground me–and beautifully (and directly) remind me of my mission as a disciple of Jesus Christ.” - Jody Faig
Jody is Field Strategist for the Northern Region. She has served with BGAV for 10 years (2006-2014 in a different role and since 2018 in her current position).
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Upcoming Events of Interest
August 31, 2020
September 1-29, 2020
September 10 - November 12, 2020
Registration closes September 4!
September 13, 2020
September 17, 2020
offered by V3 Church Planting Movement
Use code BGAV15OFF for $15 off!
Children/Youth/Family Certificates:
Church Finance Course of Study:
October 5-8, 2020
October 15, 2020
October 23-25, 2020
November 9-10, 2020
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Baptist General Association of Virginia
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