Kingdom Advance is a vision of the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) and its Virginia Baptist Mission Board (VBMB) as an umbrella under which diverse Baptists can cooperate on the “main thing” — spreading the gospel and ministry of Jesus Christ while maintaining their church autonomy and freedom to choose.

Kingdom Advance did not originate as a response to controversy but as a way to expand and magnify missions and evangelism at a time when the state population growth outstrips Christian growth, when there is a growing crisis in church leadership development, and when ministries are opening up all around the world

But messengers at the May 10, 2002, meeting at which Kingdom Advance was adopted embraced it as way for diverse Baptists to work together in unity in a time of denominational controversy.

Executive Director John Upton has described the four elements of Kingdom Advance like this:

1. Courageous Churches: “If our churches are not healthy and vibrant, the Baptist General Association of Virginia cannot be strong,” Upton said. Accomplishing that goal will require starting more churches, rejuvenating existing churches, offering customized discipleship and Bible study curriculum, and helping with conflict resolution, he said.
2. Emerging Leaders: “Virginia Baptists are about 15 years away from a leadership crisis in our churches,” Upton said. “We're doing a lot better job of talking people out of their call to ministry than in helping them find their call.” He proposed a deliberate program of leadership development that begins with children and continues through young people, college and seminary students and adults.
3. Empowering Leaders: Churches are seeking better ways to identify and call their leaders, and ministers need help in finding places to serve, Upton said. A more effective staff placement process that does not infringe on congregational autonomy must be developed, and “assimilation” of new ministers into Virginia Baptist life must be intentional and strategic, he said. In addition, he said, “burnout” among ministers is an increasing concern that must be addressed.
4. “Glocal” Missions: Upton describes Virginia Baptists’ missions philosophy as “glocal” – both global and local – with a mobile missions team as its vehicle.
   
   In 1900, about 87 percent of the world’s Christian churches were in the United States and Europe, he said. In 2000, only 37 percent of the churches were located there, and by 2025, it will be 30 percent.
   
   “What we need is a mobile mission force that can connect with the 70 percent of churches outside our borders and partner with them in sharing the gospel. We need the rest of the Christian family just as much as they need us. We need to join the global Christian family.”
   

Find out more about Kingdom Advance:

• PDF Booklet (presented at the May 10, 2002 meeting in Charlottesville)