​Virginia Baptists Committed (VBC), a diverse group of clergy and laity devoted to preserving, protecting, and promoting the witness of mainstream Baptists in Virginia, is pleased to endorse candidates for the four annually elected offices of the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) for the November 2025 Annual Meeting.

Chief Stephen R. Adkins – Candidate for President
Virginia Baptists Committed is pleased to endorse Chief Stephen R. Adkins for the office of President of the BGAV.

Chief Adkins is a devoted Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at Samaria Baptist Church in Providence Forge, a former Moderator of the Dover Baptist Association, and has represented the association for two terms on the Virginia Baptist Mission Board.

A graduate of Bacone Junior College in Muskogee, Oklahoma (Associate of Arts), and Virginia Commonwealth University (B.S. in Business Administration), Chief Adkins built a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors. He worked at DuPont for forty years, retiring in 2006, and later served the Commonwealth of Virginia as Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resource Management under the administrations of Governors Tim Kaine and Bob McDonnell.

Since 2001, Chief Adkins has served as Principal Chief of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe. His leadership extends to multiple boards, including the Argent Federal Credit Union Board of Directors, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees, and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission.

Chief Adkins and his wife, Eunice J. Adkins, are blessed with five children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
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He will be nominated by Kristin Olson, member of Haymarket Baptist Church in Haymarket.

Rev. Mark Mofield – Candidate for First Vice President
Virginia Baptists Committed is pleased to endorse the Reverend Mark Mofield, Senior Pastor of Melrose Baptist Church in Roanoke, Virginia, for the office of First Vice President of the BGAV.

Mark’s roots in Virginia Baptist life run deep. When his family moved to Roanoke during his middle school years, they joined Colonial Avenue Baptist Church, where his mother, Laney Mofield, served first as Music Minister and later as Associate Pastor. As a Virginia Baptist Scholar, Mark attended the University of Richmond, where he became a leader in the Baptist Student Union and served on mission teams throughout the state. He also spent several summers as a ministerial intern at Colonial Avenue.

After earning his Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School, Mark returned to Roanoke to serve as Associate Pastor of Melrose Baptist Church. Beginning in 2001, he spent nearly two decades as Senior Pastor of two congregations in North Carolina before returning to Melrose Baptist in 2020 to serve once again as Senior Pastor.

Since returning to Virginia, Mark has served three years on the Committee on Boards and Committees, including two years as chairperson. He also completed Next Level Leadership training through the BGAV and participated in Impact Missions projects in Damascus and South Hill.

Mark and his wife, Amy, have been married for 30 years and are the proud parents of two sons, Justin and Noah, and a daughter-in-law, Hailey.

Mark will be nominated by the Reverend Bryon Lepere, Senior Pastor of Gayton Baptist Church in Henrico.

Rev. James D. Bunce – Candidate for Second Vice President
Virginia Baptists Committed endorses the Reverend James D. “Jim” Bunce, Pastor of Marlow Heights Baptist Church in Front Royal, for the office of Second Vice President of the BGAV.

A native of rural Indiana, Jim met and married his high school sweetheart, Suzy. Together they are blessed with two children and four grandchildren. Since 1989, Jim has served three Virginia Baptist congregations, celebrating his 25th anniversary as pastor of Marlow Heights this past August.

Jim earned a Doctor of Ministry in Contextual Theology from Northern Seminary. He has served multiple terms on the Committee for Scholarships and Ministerial Education Funds and currently serves on the Missions Council for the Valley Region. His previous denominational leadership includes terms on the Board of Trustees for the Religious Herald and the Credentials Committee.

Beyond his church and denominational work, Jim serves on the Board of Directors for a local men’s homeless shelter and has long participated in mission-based home construction projects.

Jim will be nominated by the Reverend Dr. Greg Anderson, Pastor of Belmont Baptist Church in Charlottesville.

Rev. Dr. Timothy N. Madison – Candidate for Clerk
Virginia Baptists Committed is pleased once again to endorse the Reverend Dr. Timothy N. Madison for the position of Clerk of the BGAV.

Tim serves as Pastor of Emmaus Baptist Church in Providence Forge, Virginia. Over the past 35 years, he has faithfully served four BGAV congregations and held numerous leadership roles within the BGAV, including President, First Vice President, Chair of the Budget Committee, Memorial Committee, and Committee on Boards and Committees. He has also completed two terms on the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, where he chaired the Support Services Team.

Beyond his state-level service, Tim has served as Moderator of both the Lynchburg and Dover Baptist Associations, as well as Moderator and Recording Secretary for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia. In addition, he has contributed to his local community as a volunteer chaplain with the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.

With his extensive background and deep institutional knowledge, Tim brings valuable experience and continuity to the role of Clerk, helping to ensure the accurate preservation of BGAV’s official records and proceedings.

Tim will be nominated by the Reverend Dr. Mike Hatfield, Pastor of Chatham Heights Baptist Church.

​Virginia Baptists Committed celebrates these four dedicated, well-qualified leaders for their faithful service and commitment to the ongoing mission and ministry of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.

VBC is honored to endorse these individuals for leadership positions within the BGAV and welcomes the nominations of other qualified candidates who share a passion for serving Virginia Baptists now and in the future.

Virginia Baptists Committed, a diverse group of clergy and laity devoted to preserving, protecting, and promoting the witness of mainstream Baptists in Virginia, is pleased to endorse candidates for the four annually elected offices of the BGAV for the November 2024 annual meeting.

VBC is pleased to endorse the Reverend Wyatt Shelton Miles, III, for the office of BGAV President.

Shelton is a retired bi-vocational pastor, having served BGAV churches in Halifax, Pittsylvania, Campbell, and Wise Counties. His longest and last pastorate was with the First Baptist Church of Republican Grove, where he served over 27 years. In retirement, he is a member and deacon of Kedron Baptist Church, Gladys, where he was baptized, licensed, and ordained as a teenager.  

Shelton is a graduate of Carson-Newman University and attended Southern and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminaries. Within the BGAV, Shelton served as a longtime trustee of the Religious Herald, as a member of the Executive Committee of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, and as chair of the Religious Liberty Committee and the Resolutions Committee. He has represented the BGAV at the State Capitol, advocating on religious liberty issues. For many years, he hosted, outfitted, and guided the Virginia Baptist Ministers’ Canoe Retreats and always enjoyed immersing fellow pastors in an experience in nature (and often in the river as well).

He and his wife Jody reside on their family farm along the Staunton River in Campbell County where they raise beef cattle. They are the parents of three children and the grandparents of six.

Shelton will be nominated by the Reverend James D. Bounce, pastor at Marlow Heights Church, Front Royal.

VBC endorses Chief Stephen R. Adkins for First Vice-President of the BGAV.
 
Chief Adkins is a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at Samaria Baptist Church, a former moderator of Dover Baptist Association, and he represented DBA on VBMB for two terms.

He is a graduate of Bacone Jr. College (Associate Arts), Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Virginia Commonwealth University (B.S. in Business Administration). After working at DuPont for forty years, he retired in 2006. He is also retired from the Commonwealth of Virginia as the Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resource Management after serving the administrations of Governors Tim Kaine and Bob McDonnell.
 
Chief Adkins has served as Principal Chief of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe since 2001. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Argent Federal Credit Union, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Board of Trustees, and the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission.
 
He is the husband of Eunice J. Adkins. They have five children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
 
Chief Adkins will be nominated by the Reverend Dr. Herbert L. Ponder, Pastor of Mount Tabor Baptist Church in Richmond, VA.

​VBC also endorses the Reverend M. Elizabeth Withers for Second Vice-President of the BGAV.
 
Eli is the Associate Pastor of Harrisonburg Baptist Church in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Having served the church for just over eight years, she works to provide support for the Senior Pastor and the Ministry Team by sharing worship planning and leadership, preaching regularly, and assisting where needed. She helps the church to offer various discipleship opportunities through small group Bible studies and Sunday School classes, occasional retreats, group art projects, book studies, etc. for all ages of the church. She loves serving HBC and the local community has come to feel very much like home for her. She is grateful to see the love of God being lived out regularly in their congregation.
 
In her personal time, Eli enjoys being with family back in West Virginia and friends whenever she is able, as well as reading, writing for fun, watching movies, learning various art techniques and practices, and being outside when the temperature is just right!
 
Shirley Cobb, a member of Harrisonburg Baptist Church, will nominate her.  

Finally, VBC is pleased to endorse the Reverend Dr. Timothy N. Madison to serve as Clerk of the BGAV. 

Tim is the Pastor of Emmaus Baptist Church of Provident Forge, VA. In the last 35 years, he has served four BGAV churches, and in numerous positions in the BGAV, including President and First Vice President, Chair of the Budget Committee, the Memorial Committee, and the Committee on Boards and Committees. He served two terms on the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, and he chaired the Support Services Team. 

Tim has also served as Moderator of both Lynchburg and Dover Associations, and as Moderator and Recording Secretary for the CBF of Virginia.

He also served as a volunteer chaplain for the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. 

Tim has a long history with the BGAV and will bring to the position of Clerk a long institutional history, which will be beneficial in maintaining the record of the
BGAV meetings.

Darrell Foster, member of King’s Grant Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, will nominate him.

These candidates are well qualified to serve and are committed to the work of the BGAV now and in the future.

VBC is happy to endorse these persons for these leadership positions.

VBC welcomes and encourages the nominations of other qualified candidates.

​Virginia Baptists Committed, a diverse group of clergy and laity devoted to preserving, protecting, and promoting the witness of mainstream Baptists in Virginia, is pleased to endorse candidates for the four annually elected offices of the BGAV for the November 2023 annual meeting.

​VBC is pleased to endorse Becky McKinney for the office of BGAV President.

Becky has been a part of Virginia Baptist life for many years. She is a graduate of Radford University with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. She has worked as a child welfare worker for Henry County DSS and Director of Programs for Volunteer Emergency Families for Children (VEFC).
 
Becky has served as a deacon, a Sunday School teacher, and a mission emphasis coordinator at Chatham Heights Baptist Church, Martinsville, Virginia. She has served on the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, chaired the BGAV Executive Board, and has been the Past Vice President and President of WMUV. She is currently serving as First Vice-President of the BGAV. She is married and has two sons and five grandchildren. 
 
Becky will be nominated by the Reverend Adam Tyler, former BGAV President, and messenger from Farmville Baptist Church. 

​VBC endorses the Reverend Shelton Miles for First Vice-President of the BGAV.
 
Shelton is a retired bi-vocational pastor, having served BGAV churches in Halifax, Pittsylvania, Campbell, and Wise Counties. His longest and last pastorate was with the First Baptist Church of Republican Grove, where he served over 27 years. In retirement, he is a member and deacon of Kedron Baptist Church, Gladys, where he was baptized, licensed, and ordained as a teenager. 
 
Shelton is a graduate of Carson-Newman University and attended Southern and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminaries. Within the BGAV, Shelton served as a longtime trustee of the Religious Herald, as a member of the Executive Committee of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, and as chair of the Religious Liberty Committee and the Resolutions Committee. He has represented the BGAV at the State Capitol, advocating on religious liberty issues. For many years, he hosted, outfitted, and guided the Virginia Baptist Ministers’ Canoe Retreats and always enjoyed immersing fellow pastors in an experience in nature (and often in the river as well).
 
He and his wife Jody reside on their family farm along the Staunton River in Campbell County where they raise beef cattle. They are the parents of three children and the grandparents of six.
 
Shelton will be nominated by the Reverend Jim Bunce, pastor of the Marlow Heights Baptist Church in Front Royal.

​VBC also endorses the Reverend Alan Miller for Second Vice-President of the BGAV.
 
Alan serves as pastor of Orange Baptist Church in Orange VA.  He first began his ministry with this church in 2008 as Minister of Worship and Music. Alan met and married his wife Mary Beth, was ordained, and welcomed three children all at Orange Baptist. 
 
Having grown up at Second Baptist Church in Richmond, Alan is a lifelong Virginia Baptist. From a young age, he has participated in Music Week at Eagle Eyrie, later serving as an intern, and more recently as faculty, worship leader, and camp pastor. He currently serves the BGAV on the Mission Council as a representative from the Northern Region, and is on the Executive Committee of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society. Alan continues to sing in the Virginia Baptist Male Chorale.
 
Alan is a graduate of Furman University (B.A. in Religion and Music), and the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (M.Div.). 
 
Alan will be nominated by the Reverend Nancy Stanton McDaniel, former BGAV President, and messenger from Rhoadesville Baptist Church.

​Finally, VBC is pleased to endorse again the Reverend Dr. Nathan Taylor to serve as Clerk of the BGAV.
 
Nathan serves as executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage and Studies. An ordained Baptist minister and Certified Archivist, he holds a D.Min. from Mercer University, a M.Div. from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, a B.S. from Asbury University, and has completed additional graduate work in archival studies at Louisiana State University. Prior experiences include congregational ministry, institutional advancement, and history education. Nathan is married to Bryn and they have one son. He is a member of River Road Church, Baptist, in Richmond.
 
Nathan will be nominated by the Reverend Dr. Bert Browning, messenger, River Road Church, Baptist, Richmond, VA.

These candidates are well qualified to serve and are committed to the work of the BGAV now and in the future.
 
VBC is happy to endorse these persons for these leadership positions.

VBC welcomes and encourages the nominations of other qualified candidates.
 

Thursday, September 28, 2023
11:00 a.m. to Noon
All members in good standing* are invited to attend.
 
Emmaus Baptist Church
6700 Emmaus Church Road
Providence Forge, Virginia  23140
 
Following the meeting, attendees are invited to gather for a "dutch treat" lunch at a nearby restaurant.

*As a membership-based organization, VBC depends on members who join us. An annual $25 fee is used to support our work to preserve, protect, and promote the witness of mainstream Baptists in Virginia. Please join or renew your membership here.

​Thursday, September 29, 2022
11:00 a.m. to Noon
All members in good standing* are invited to attend.
 
Emmaus Baptist Church
6700 Emmaus Church Road
Providence Forge, Virginia  23140
 
Following the meeting, attendees are invited to gather for a "dutch treat" lunch at a nearby restaurant.

*As a membership-based organization, VBC depends on members who join us. An annual $25 fee is used to support our work to preserve, protect and promote the witness of mainstream Baptists in Virginia. Please join or renew your membership here.