Emphasis Dates: September 7-14, 2008

Goal: $1,167,500

By Prayer with Thanksgiving...

The turning year of the century was a year of change in Virginia and in the entire nation. Changing conditions and the excitement of a new century vitally affected Virginia Baptists.

One particular man, William Ellyson, keenly felt the challenge of the new day and began to lead Virginia Baptists to plan a more effective witness to the more than 700,000 unsaved persons within the state. Mr. Ellyson was corresponding secretary of the State Mission Board.

In November of 1899 he challenged the messengers to the General Association to make the next year “a year for State Missions and the beginning of a new era in State evangelization.”          Read the rest of the story...