HAMPTON, Va. (BP) – When Pastor Clint Clifton from Pillar Church in Dumfries was asked if the SBC of Virginia could spotlight his story of church planting at its 2012 Annual Homecoming, he didn’t think it would lead to a spontaneous offering.

“Our church is pretty small, and this is a God-sized dream,” Clifton said. “We know God can do it; we just had no idea how He would do it. As I began to see men all over that room respond to the film, I was reminded that where God guides us, He always provides for us. I can’t wait to see what He does next.”

Pillar Church of Dumfries and the SBC of Virginia plan to plant a church at every U.S. Marine Corps base around the world. After multiple videos documented Clifton’s journey of planting seven churches in eight years in Virginia and beyond, Executive Director Brian Autry challenged the messengers and guests to “stand up with those who stand up for us on the front lines.” Many pastors came forward to commit to give at least $1,775 toward the Praetorian Project.  A total of more than $30,000 was pledged toward this effort.

“Standing with me were pastors of churches that number in the thousands, but I was stirred to talk with one pastor, Michael Raphael, church planter of Jubilee Baptist in Fredericksburg, Va.,” Clifton remembered. “His church committed $1,775 to the project even though they only have a core group of eight members! It is so encouraging to see pastors and churches working together to bring the Gospel to Marines and their families.”

“To see our pastors and churches respond spontaneously to give generously to support planting churches near Marine bases should be evidence to us all that the Holy Spirit desires to work in and through Southern Baptist churches in Virginia,” Autry said.

On that same Monday night, Autry was officially installed as the third executive director of the SBC of Virginia. He has been serving in the role since being unanimously elected by the Executive Board on May 8, 2012. Dr. Kelly Burris, pastor of Kempsville Baptist in Virginia Beach and chairman of the Executive Director Search Committee, opened up the evening.

Autry was touched by the service. “To be installed as executive director of the SBC of Virginia at a church less than five miles from where I was raised, baptized, and called to ministry—with my family and friends in attendance—was a deeply meaningful experience.”

The presidents of both SBC mission boards congratulated Autry by video, as did the previous SBC of Virginia executive director, Jeff Ginn, who now serves as the senior pastor of Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La.

At the end of the service, Autry washed the feet of five former presidents of the SBCV and then was lifted up in prayer by the original executive director, Doyle Chauncey.

“The installation service allowed three generations of my family, including my own three children, to see that the SBC of Virginia is powerful partnership for the Gospel,” Autry said. “My prayer is that the Lord will allow me to serve our pastors and churches and be a courageous steward of our missionary resources.”

The theme of this year’s meeting, held November 11 – 13 at Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton, was “Transforming the World.”  More than 800 people attended this year’s homecoming with 510 of those registering as either messengers or guests. Another 300 unregistered guests attended either the executive director installation service or sang in the mass choir on Monday evening, which was led by Jeff Askew, worship pastor of Liberty Baptist Church. Sounds of Liberty and Scott Bullman from Liberty University in Lynchburg led worship throughout the Annual Homecoming.

Keynote speakers included Rev. David Miller, evangelist and founder of Line Upon Line Ministries, who gave the Sunday night message from 1 Peter 1 about regeneration. Monday’s messages came from Rev. Ellis Prince, lead and teaching pastor, The Gallery Church, Baltimore, MD, who spoke from John 17 on “the cost of unity”; and Dr. Michael Catt, senior pastor, Sherwood Baptist Church, Albany, GA, who closed out Veterans Day with a message from 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13, “The Battle That Must Be Won.” Tuesday afternoon’s message came from Rev. Afshin Ziafat, lead pastor, Providence Church, Frisco, TX, who preached from 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 on “the transforming power of the Gospel.”

NASCAR driver Blake Koch also spoke on Sunday night after a special update from Church Strengthening Team Leader Steve Bradshaw about SBCV churches’ evangelistic efforts at five Virginia racetracks during special “FinditHere.com” races. He encouraged messengers and guests to use every opportunity to spread the Gospel.

Bradshaw gave The Pentecost Award for Baptisms to two churches. Receiving the award for total baptisms was Pastor Grant Ethridge for Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton. Receiving the award for per-capita baptisms was Pastor Mike Ellis for Geneva Park Baptist Church in Chesapeake.

Dr. Randall T. Hahn, senior pastor, Colonial Heights Baptist Church, Colonial Heights, was re-elected for a second term as president. His convention message from Romans 15 – 16 focused on how SBCV churches can continue to “Partner Big for the Gospel.” Hahn shared, “All I can say is, ‘Wow!’ This year’s Annual Homecoming was as much revival as it was business. Good business was conducted, but in the midst we were inspired, challenged, and equipped. We were given great opportunity to worship the God for whom we were conducting business. I can’t wait ‘til next year.”

Other officers elected for 2013 include Dr. Doug Echols, 1st vice president, pastor of Bethel Baptist in Yorktown; Rev. Robert Rowland, 2nd vice president, pastor of Smyrna Baptist in Dinwiddie; and Dr. Daryl Harbin, secretary, pastor of Zion Baptist in Orange.

Messengers had the opportunity to follow the story of IMB missionary Mike Smith throughout the day on Tuesday through produced videos, some of which were shot on location in Zambia, Africa. At the end of the day, Brandon Pickett, director of communications, interviewed Smith live via Skype. “It really meant a lot to me to be part of the Annual Homecoming,” Smith said. “We are a long way from Virginia. Not only physically, but emotionally and experientially. I didn’t know just how much it meant to my whole family until they all came in our bedroom and got on the bed while I was on the Skype call. We really felt like we were truly part of the meeting, despite being 10,000+ miles away.”

Smith, who has planted four churches on the field and leads a Bible translation project, originally went to Zambia through an SBCV-sponsored vision trip when he was pastoring outside of Staunton, Va. After that trip, his church, Deerfield Baptist, committed to adopt the Nkoya people group. “Just when we were coming online with the meeting, I heard them recognize people from Deerfield Baptist, the church where I was the pastor until moving to Zambia. Even though I couldn’t see them, it meant a lot to me. At the conclusion of the call, Jim Davis was called to the stage. Jim was the first person to ever mention the people group, Nkoya, to me in 2006. It was then that God began to birth in me a heart and deep passion for the self-proclaimed ‘prodigal people.’”

Autry says he continues to be impressed with how churches aren’t just content to reach Virginia for Christ but to stretch far beyond. “SBC of Virginia Annual Homecoming messengers demonstrated in a powerful way that the Lord moved among us to stir us toward a bolder commitment to the Great Commission.”

SBCV’s new treasurer, Eddie Urbine, and Autry gave the treasurer’s report. The 2013 ministry investment plan of $9 million was unanimously adopted. It includes a 0.25% increase in the percentage of CP contributions going to SBC causes, raising it to 51%. Urbine shared with messengers that as of November 2012, SBCV churches have given more than $105 million to the Cooperative Program since the SBCV began.

Urbine presented The Macedonia Awards for Cooperative Program Giving. Receiving the award for per-capita CP giving was Pastor Donald Joyner for Matoaca Baptist Church in Matoaca. Receiving the award for total CP giving was Pastor Mark Becton for Grove Ave. Baptist Church in Richmond.

The approved 2013 ministry investment plan shows almost 37% of the resources allocated for Virginian toward church planting with another 30% toward church strengthening and missions mobilization.

Church Planting Team Leader Mark Custalow announced that there were 20 SBCV churches that sponsored church plants this past year. He explained that each will receive or has received a special Eagle Award plaque in their local church. He also shared that, in addition to church planters approved in 2012, six church planting apprentices were also approved.

SBC of Virginia messengers approved three resolutions. One thanked the host church, Liberty Baptist, and its pastor, Grant Ethridge. The second called for appreciation of the United States Armed Forces. The third resolution brought comments from the messengers to clarify its wording, which mentioned the 2012 political election. After five messengers came to the microphone to speak to the resolution, Curtis Barnes, chairman of the Resolutions Committee and pastor of Mount Pleasant Baptist in Colonial Heights, made a motion for the Resolutions Committee to reword the resolution and bring it back to the convention. The motion was approved by a voice vote, and the reworked resolution was brought back to the messengers on Tuesday afternoon. After three comments, the resulting voice vote was overwhelming in favor of the resolution. The resolution was a call to “pray regularly and consistently for spiritual awakening in our homes, churches, and communities and for our elected leaders at the local, state, and national level” and to “view the changes in our nation as a providential missiological opportunity by maintaining a focus, passion, and intentionality on sharing the Gospel through Great Commission initiatives” (all three resolutions are included at the bottom of this article).

Doyle Chauncey, president of the SBC of Virginia Foundation, presented The Nehemiah Awards for Service to Rev. Glen McLaughlin, former pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in Leesburg, who currently serves at Hamilton Baptist Church in Hamilton; and Mr. Arthur Leary, a layman from Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton, VA, who currently serves on the SBCV Executive Board as chairman of the Ministry Support Services Committee.

The 2013 SBC of Virginia Annual Homecoming will be held November 10 – 12 at First Baptist Church in Roanoke. Invited speakers include Dr. Ed Stetzer, Dr. Russell Moore, Dr. Danny Akin, and Dr. Donald Wilton.

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Brandon Pickett serves as the Director of Communications for the SBC of Virginia and Vice President of Innovative Faith Resources