Stories of Vision Virginia

Transforming Lives through Church Planting

When Giovanny Ortiz left El Salvador 20 years ago, his plan was to work for five years, save money, and return home. But God had bigger plans. Today, Ortiz pastors Iglesia Biblica Bautista Emanuel and Crossroads Baptist Church in Leesburg, Virginia—two congregations in two languages but united by the single power of the Gospel.

What began as a small Bible study of six people, started with the help of the SBC of Virginia, has now grown to more than 80 adults and 20 children gathering each Sunday. “SBCV has been an incredible partner from the beginning,” Ortiz shares. “I found not only encouragement, not only support, but a network that truly cares about me.”

Cross-cultural ministries like this are at the heart of the Vision Virginia State Mission Offering. Through your generous giving, churches like Ortiz’s find places to gather, ministries grow, and lives are changed. Sonia Henriquez, the children’s ministry director, shares, “From the moment you walk through the doors [of the church], you feel like you’re part of a family.”

Now pastoring both Hispanic and English-speaking congregations, Ortiz sees God moving. “One member said, ‘I’ve read that verse many times, but this is the first time I understood exactly what it meant.’

Transforming Mission Strategy through Vision Trips

When Pastor Tim Shaw from Shenandoah Community Fellowship felt called to global missions, he didn’t know where to start. “We had no connections,” he shared. But one call to the SBC of Virginia led to a life-changing vision trip to Spain. “They encouraged us to go and see for ourselves,” he says. That, in turn, opened doors to partnerships with missionaries reaching some of the most unreached people groups in Europe.

Through the Vision Virginia State Mission Offering, SBCV equips churches to explore cross-cultural missions, like this journey to Spain. “The nations have come to Europe,” said Brad Russell, SBCV Missions Strategist. “It’s not just Europeans—it’s immigrants from North Africa and the Middle East. We’re reaching the world, right here.”

Pastors from across Virginia walked the streets of Spanish cities, visited mosques, and met local missionaries. “You really begin to grasp the scale of lostness,” said Pastor David Rhymes, First Baptist Church of Woordbridge. “Our missionaries are few, and the need is great.”

Those that went say this kind of firsthand experience brings clarity. “It helps us discern—Is this a fit for our church?” said Brian Parker of Bethel Baptist. “And when we return, we can rally our people to pray, give, and go.”

Michael Howard, pastor of Seaford Baptist, summed it up well, “If we come, we come to serve. We come to further the kingdom.”

Thanks to your giving through Vision Virginia, churches are planting, partnering, and proclaiming the gospel—at home and across the globe. As Pastor Josh Wootton reminded the team, “Spain belongs to God.”

Transforming Churches with Revitalization

In a time when many churches across America are closing their doors, the SBC of Virginia is standing in the gap—reviving hope and restoring vision. Through the Vision Virginia State Mission Offering, churches in need of revitalization are finding strength, strategy, and support to dream again.

At Salem Baptist Church in Goochland, Pastor Jeff Dixon recognized the need to move from preservation to preparation. “After building this beautiful facility and walking through seasons of transition and rest, we realized it was time to break free from complacency,” Jeff shared. “That’s when I joined the revitalization cohort.”

Led by Strategist Rusty Small, the revitalization cohort connects pastors across Virginia to collaborate, cast vision, and pursue real change. “Revitalization is just good pastoring,” Rusty said. “It’s about honoring the church’s history while dreaming new dreams together.”  More than 100 churches have already benefited from this ministry since 2017.

For Mike Fitzgerald, an experienced and retired pastor now serving as a revitalization coach, the reward is deeply personal. “To walk alongside a pastor who was ready to quit and see God rekindle a calling—that’s the greatest blessing of all.”

Vision Virginia makes this possible. From helping churches like Salem fund sanctuary expansions to providing pastors with the emotional and strategic support they need, every gift matters. “Because of your investment,” Jeff said, “pastors like me are being encouraged and equipped to lead with fresh vision.”

Together, through Vision Virginia, we’re not just preserving churches—we’re planting new seeds of growth.