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-by Kristen Curtis
In January we began a new area of emphasis within our Impact Missions Team—Community Missions, alongside the National and International Missions we’ve supported for many years.
Those who study church trends note that COVID accelerated something already underway in the American church: for many congregations, attendance has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Many of us who came of age during the church growth movement of the late 1900s still carry a mental model of outreach that centers on strong programming, attractive facilities, and inviting people into the church to meet Jesus.
The reality today is different. We are increasingly living in a post-Christian society where the world still desperately needs Jesus—but most people are not actively looking for him. And when they do, they are unlikely to do so inside a church building at 11:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning.
So what is a church to do if it genuinely cares about Kingdom growth and introducing the lost to Christ? One answer may be found in missional models long reserved for international contexts or church planters sent to unchurched areas. For many of us, those unchurched places now surround our church buildings.
This recognition has launched me on a quest to discover practical models and methods for bridging the gap between communities of faith and the communities in which they live. If you are building partnerships, gathering congregations in non‑traditional spaces, or experimenting beyond typical Baptist patterns, I want to learn from you—so others can learn, too. If that’s you, please email kristen.curtis@bgav.org.
For congregations that sense the need to do something new but aren’t sure where to begin—or how to help churched members connect authentically with neighbors who have little interest in church—we have several upcoming opportunities designed to offer both clarity and inspiration.
A New Church Cohort
Impact Missions and Uptick are partnering to launch a 14-month facilitated Church Cohort, beginning May 2026, focused on spiritual growth, community connection, and experimentation in discipleship. We are still accepting teams of at least three leaders per congregation for this pilot cohort.
The experience includes five one to two-day in-person retreats and seven Zoom gatherings running May 2026 through June 2027 (with breaks in July and December). Together, participants will engage in learning, collaboration, and discernment—exploring how God may be inviting their church into something new.
As an inaugural offering, the cost is half price: $2,000 per team of three leaders, with $500 for each additional participant. Scholarships may be available through BGAV. For details, click here or contact kristen.curtis@bgav.org or paul.maconochie@uptick.org.
Dinner Church Learning Labs (Starting Soon)
If you’re looking for a model you can begin immediately, consider one of our Food to Faith Dinner Church workshops, hosted with Fresh Expressions. These gatherings explore how shared meals can become sacred spaces where trust is built, stories are shared, and Jesus naturally enters the conversation.
- Richmond – February 26, 10:00am–2:00pm, BGAV Office (2828 Emerywood Parkway, Henrico). More information and registration are available here.
- Virginia Beach – February 27, 9:00am–3:00pm, Calvary Baptist Church (4832 Haygood Road). More information and registration are available here.
- Newport News – February 28, 9:00am–3:00pm, Orcutt Baptist Church (653 Baxter Lane). More information and registration are available here.
Cost: $15 for BGAV affiliates / $35 general admission
If there are additional local mission ideas you’re curious about or would like to explore, we’d love to hear from you. Together, let’s imagine what God might do in and through our communities.