SOUTH CHESTERFIELD, Va. (BP) – The SBC of Virginia (SBCV) celebrated 30 years of “Advancing the Gospel Together” during its Annual Homecoming at The Heights Baptist Church Nov. 8-10 with more than 1,100 messengers and guests in attendance.
The 2026 Annual Homecoming marked the 30th meeting of the SBCV, which officially formed in 1996. Forty-five churches requesting partnership with the SBCV were approved by messengers at the Homecoming, bringing the total number of SBCV-affiliated churches to 931.
Brian Autry, executive director of the SBCV, was in attendance at the convention’s first-ever meeting in 1996.
“To celebrate 30 years of SBCV is very personal for me,” Autry said. “I was there at our first convention as a youth pastor. These churches made sure we weren’t alone when I was called to plant and pastor a church. Men who helped found SBCV became mentors, and so many pastors across Virginia have become dear friends through the years.
“We often say, ‘You’re Not Alone,’ and for me that is much more than a phrase. I have experienced it.”
Autry reminded attendees at the Homecoming that as the ministry of the SBCV continues, God will always be in control.
“You are going to hear lots of stories during this event about how the Lord is advancing the Gospel through the churches of the SBCV as you work together, but we need to remember that no matter what happens in our lives, our churches, our state or our country, God is in control.”
The convention celebrated another year of sacrificial giving and financial milestones.
SBCV churches gave $10.4 million through the SBCV’s Cooperative Partnership, $2.1 million toward the Annie Armstrong Easter offering and $4.9 million toward the Lottie Moon Christmas offering.
All-time giving through the SBCV’s Cooperative Partnership/Program has now surpassed more than $237 million since the convention’s inception.
Upon recommendation from the SBCV executive board, messengers approved the proposed Ministry Investment Plan (MIP) of $11,200,000 for the upcoming 2027 fiscal year. This total represents a $400,000 increase from the 2026 MIP.
Of the total adopted Ministry Investment Plan amount, $10.7 million comes from SBC of Virginia churches giving related to Cooperative Program contributions. The adopted plan will be distributed with 51 percent going to national Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program ministries and 49 percent distributed SBCV ministries.
Ministry reports and milestones shared during the Homecoming included:
- International Missions: Autry reminded messengers that SBCV’s Executive Board approved a $300,000 gift for the International Mission Board to help update their housing at their International Learning Center (ILC), where missionaries train before being sent out. That amount was supplemented by other gifts from SBCV churches, which resulted in a total gift of $330,000. More than 80 missionaries from the ILC joined the Homecoming Sunday night, where SBCV messengers and guests prayed over them. Additionally, multiple vision trips took place throughout the year, which have opened doors for long-term ministry.
- Hispanic and People Groups ministries: Ministry efforts continue to thrive among various different people groups throughout the state, including Hispanic, East African, Korean, and more. Multiple international church planters were endorsed, and more than 500 people attended the convention’s Hispanic conference “Renovados.”
- Church planting: Church planting is continuing to flourish in the SBCV, with the convention now having 113 total church plants. More than 300 baptisms were reported out of those church plants this past year. Send Network Virginia continues to grow through connection gatherings, pastoral residencies, and more. A special recognition and time of prayer was held in honor of almost 30 years of church planting. SBCV churches also brought more than 2,300 Christmas backpacks (for school children) to be used by church planters in Appalachia.
- Relief Ministries: Hundreds of SBCV relief volunteers responded to disasters such as flooding in West Virginia and continued recovery from Hurricane Helene. More than 200 volunteers were trained, and SBCV volunteers worked 6,570 hours throughout the year.
- Revitalization: To date, more than 100 churches have participated in an SBCV revitalization cohort.
- Other thriving ministries in the SBCV include evangelism, men’s ministry, women’s ministry, children’s ministry, ministry wives, and Next Gen. Messengers approved new and returning members of the SBCV executive board via recommendation from the nominating committee.
Messengers unanimously approved SBCV officers for the upcoming year. Two officer positions went to new candidates, and two of the 2026 officers were approved for a second term.
L to R: Pat Fiordelise, Dan Ellis, Steve Chromy, Doug Echols
Doug Echols, senior pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Yorktown, was approved by messengers for a second term as president. Steve Chromy, senior pastor of Mount Herman Baptist Church in Danville, was elected first vice president. Dan Ellis, senior pastor of Rileyville Baptist Church, was elected to a second term as second vice president. Pat Fiordelise, pastor of Kingsland Baptist Church in Chesterfield, was named secretary.
Messengers approved a resolution “On Biblical Authority, Complementarian Faithfulness, and the Truth and Unity Amendment,” based upon a recommendation from the SBCV Executive Board.
Keynote speakers at the Homecoming were Bryant Wright, former SBC president and founder of Right from the Heart Ministries; Steven Wade, professor of pastoral theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; H.B. Charles, pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., and Quintell Hill, Black/Multi-Ethnic Network strategist for the IMB.
Praise teams and choirs from The Heights Baptist in South Chesterfield, Swift Creek Baptist in Colonial Heights, and Bethel Baptist in Yorktown led worship throughout the event. More than 120 people volunteered for a combined worship choir on Sunday evening.
Additional worship was led by the SBCV’s newly established Worship Pastors Collective.
Echols said the Homecoming was not only about celebrating 30 faithful years of SBCV ministry, but about looking ahead to many more years of advancing the Gospel.
“The SBCV was founded 30 years ago on a commitment to Biblical inerrancy, the Great Commission and church planting,” Echols said. “This annual homecoming was a celebration of God’s faithfulness as we continue to advance the gospel throughout Virginia and the world.”
“I am grateful for our continued commitment to the Great Commission and Biblical truth. As we looked back at God’s faithfulness over the past 30 years, we have seen over 900 churches partner together to advance the Gospel. Churches have been planted and revitalized, and thousands of people have come to faith in Christ. I am excited for all that God is going to continue to do through the SBCV.”
The 2027 SBCV Annual Homecoming will take place on Nov. 7-9 at London Bridge Baptist Church in Virginia Beach.
Keynote speakers will be Paul Chitwood, president of the IMB; Vance Pitman, national mobilizer for the North American Mission Board and Jimmy Scroggins, lead pastor of Family Church in West Palm Beach, Fla.
