BGAV is excited to announce the hiring of a new director at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center, Jonathan Vandermark. Eagle Eyrie has been near and dear to the hearts of thousands of Virginia Baptists since it opened in 1956. As he begins his new position on May 1, 2025, Vandermark will be the fifth person to serve in the role of director.

“Jonathan’s preparation and enthusiasm distinguished him during the search process,” commented David Washburn, BGAV’s treasurer, “and I look forward to his servant leadership, standing upon the shoulders of those who have led Eagle Eyrie’s ministry for nearly 70 years. His ministry experience and passion will serve Virginia Baptists well.”

Vandermark is no stranger to Virginia. “As the son of a sailor, I was born in Richmond, but we did a lot of moving as a child,” he said. “From Virginia to California, wherever the Navy sent Dad, we were there with him—when he wasn’t on a submarine. We made it back to Virginia in the early 90s as Dad retired from the Navy and began his second career.”

“I am blessed with deep Virginia roots,” he continued, “going all the way back to Rev. Boisseau, who came from England to start a new church in the Virginia colony back in the 1600s, fleeing persecution in France.”

While spending his teen years in Virginia, Vandermark also spent time at Eagle Eyrie. “I remember coming every year,” he recalled. “God used those moments on the mountain to confirm my calling into vocational ministry and my passion for service.” He remembers worshipping, listening to guest preachers, and building lifelong friendships.

After graduating from Manchester High School in Chesterfield County, Vandermark studied worship ministry at Bluefield University and then religion at Liberty University. He served in Virginia churches as a youth pastor, worship pastor, church planter, and technology director before becoming senior pastor of Boydton Baptist Church in Boydton, VA. He currently serves as senior pastor of Juniper Bay Baptist Church in Conway, SC.

In addition to his roles in local church ministry, Vandermark has served internationally in Russia, Argentina, Italy, Germany, and Austria through short-term mission work.

Vandermark has thought a lot recently about how the breadth and depth of his ministry experience have equipped and prepared him for his new role. “For the past 20 years—from my early days as a camp counselor and various college internships to my time as a senior pastor, I firmly believe God has uniquely equipped me with a large toolbox of skills and experiences for this assignment,” he reflected.

“Having been a full-time youth pastor equips me for the many student and children’s ministry events and youth pastor relationships. My time as a worship pastor equipped me with the skills to lead worship musically, train musicians, and build worship teams and choirs, and it gave me a strong technical foundation for today's church audio/visual needs,” he explained. “As a lead pastor, I have been able to direct diverse and dynamic staff teams, deacon boards, committees, and congregations while navigating different personalities, conflict resolution, staff, and volunteer recruitment. These years also gave me great insight into understanding the needs of our local churches, pastors, ministry leaders, and volunteers, so we can better meet those needs and resource not only our Virginia Baptists, but all our guests.”

Everywhere he serves, Vandermark is focused on one thing: “To serve Jesus with all I am. I simply want to be a guy who tells other people about Jesus, how he changed my life, and how he can do the same for them,” he explained.

Vandermark is married to Jennifer, his wife of 17 years. Together they are blessed to spend their days with their boys, R.J. and Samuel, ages 15 and 12. In 2021, Vandermark authored the book, 9 Months to Say Goodbye, the inspirational story of his daughter, Virginia Rose, and her battle with pediatric cancer. “I have been blessed to speak at many local and national events,” he said, “sharing her story and the grace of God even in life’s most painful moments of grief after the loss of a child.”

As he moves his family from Conway to Lynchburg, Vandermark is looking forward to his next chapter of ministry at Eagle Eyrie. “There is an amazing foundation in place at Eagle Eyrie, and I look forward to building on the incredible work Rod and his team have done these last two decades,” he said. He hopes to invest in lives through creating new and dynamic opportunities for discipleship and ministry training—creating new relationships and fostering existing ones.

“We are uniquely positioned and resourced to equip and train new missionaries, pastors, small group leaders, deacons, business leaders, and professionals in this diverse landscape to go and share Christ's light in this world like never before,” he stated. He explained his priorities will include resourcing and providing exceptional hospitality to current ministry partners and leaders as they gather on site to sharpen their skills, network, rest, refresh, renew, and re-launch into their established ministry areas.

“I look forward to seeing all God is going to do through the Kingdom work of Eagle Eyrie, and I am humbled to be leading this special ministry,” Vandermark said. He asks his fellow Virginia Baptists to pray for him and his family as they move and get settled in over the next few months.

“I cherish and am thankful for how God poured into my life through the ministry of Eagle Eyrie. To see this full-circle moment God has orchestrated is amazing.”

To learn more about Eagle Eyrie and its retreat and conference opportunities, visit https://eagleeyrie.org.

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