Due to the pandemic, it had been two years since the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) held its Annual Meeting “live and in person.”  The live Annual Meeting returned in the fall of 2022.  It was held at the Hampton Convention Center from November 14-16, 2022.

Rev. J. Randy Myers (President) and Rev. Lois Carter (Outreach & Community Relations Manager) attended to represent GraceInside and to run our exhibit/display table.  We were privileged to witness Virginia Baptist history take place right before our eyes.  Dr. John Upton retired as the Executive Director of the BGAV after 20 years serving in that capacity!  A special retirement service and dinner was held for John and his wife Deb at First Baptist Church of Newport News on the evening of November 14, 2022, and we were privileged to attend.  John Upton has been a tireless advocate and supporter of GraceInside (and Randy says John has been a “father figure” to him over the years).  John will be greatly missed, and all of us at GraceInside want to thank him for his years of faithful service, CONGRATULATE him upon his retirement and wish him God’s very best blessings in the future! 

Randy and Lois were also blessed to witness the installation of the new BGAV Executive Director, Dr. Wayne Faison (already a good friend from his work here in the BGAV Building over the years), as well as the installation of the newly elected President of the BGAV, Dr. Herbert Ponder (a former Member of GraceInside’s Board of Trustees, longtime friend, and Lois’s pastor!).  GraceInside sends out a huge CONGRATULATIONS to both Dr. Faison & Dr. Ponder as they take on their new roles in God’s Kingdom work and in serving God’s people!  Rev. Myers and Rev. Carter truly enjoyed seeing history being made at the Annual Meeting, and we must add that we’re so thankful for the many good folks that visited our display table and signed up to receive “The GraceInsider” e-newsletter!