With great personal interest, I read the Oct. 15 issue of the Religious Herald, particularly the “Tough calls” article. The Baptist General Association of Virginia budget committee has faced a tough task with optimistic realism and created a 2013 budget proposal that is faith based. To recognize the challenges of declining receipts and to prioritize evangelism, discipleship and new church starts reveals a budget committee that dealt with more than dollars and percentages. This committee focused on Kingdom essentials.
I am one who benefits from the BGAV budget on a daily basis. As an incarcerated resident at Greensville Correctional Center, I am ministered to by chaplains assigned to GRCC by the Chaplain Service Prison Ministry of Virginia. Yes, the Chaplain Service’s portion of the 2013 budget will be decreased but the ministry will continue by God’s grace and as creative measures are taken. God’s supply far exceeds our need.
Virginia Baptists of the BGAV, thank you for your financial support. As a fallen minister, I well remember tough budget meetings where realism and faith joined together to present a challenge to God’s people. As you together accomplish Kingdom work in the Commonwealth, nation and world, I invite you individually to consider the challenge prison ministry, a ministry to the “least of these.” As a church, a Bible study unit or a mission group, adopt an offender or a faith group and become personally involved in a valuable life on the inside.
Editor’s note: At the writer’s request, the name is being withheld.