SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD
FAITH & FAMILY
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FAITH & FAMILY
SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD
Community plants seeds in Suffolk
BY ALEX PERRY STAFF WRITER
Every Sunday, members of a unique Hampton Roads church arrive early in the morning at King’s Fork High School to prepare for a Sunday of worship. A flurry of activity transforms the school to the church in just a few hours, according to Community Church member Heather Masten. They bring in tables for coffee and refreshments, activities for the children and necessary equipment for the auditorium. Recently, there’s even been a big, inflatable snowman in front of the school. “It gets easier and easier every week,” Masten said. Community Church started holding services at King’s Fork High School on March 26, 2017. The church is committed to being relevant and inclusive, using technology to help facilitate services for nearly 3,000 people at their Western Branch and Kempsville campuses as well as at the Suffolk campus. Suffolk Campus Pastor Tyler Kent said about 150 members helped launch their Sunday morning services at the school, which now average about 400 attendees each week. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see how awesome we can make it,” Kent said. Members mingle between 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. worship sessions over coffee. In November, a tree was covered in tags, each of them with information about
Suffolk students and families, and members took tags to provide them holiday gifts, Kent said. “A lot of people have taken a lot of tags,” Masten said. Masten and her family first joined the Western Branch campus four years ago before volunteering at the Suffolk campus, where she helps run the café and bookstore, she said. Their goal is to help more people to be “fully alive” through their shared experiences with God and community at the church. She added that it was her kids’ excitement that helped convince her that Community Church was right for her family. “It’s very kid friendly,’ Masten said. “My kids really just loved everything about it from day one. They automatically wanted to come back.” Each worship service opens with electric guitar, drums and a worship team on stage. Dozens of worshippers on a recent Sunday sang along to “Amazing Grace” as stage lights flickered and the electric keyboard chimed. “We’ve steadily built to a great attendance,” said worship team member Khrystian Hembree. “It’s always amazing to hear everyone sing together.” Worshippers are helped by large screens with song lyrics, and informational videos and accompanying Bible verses grace the screens later in the service. “It really assists in everyone worshipping together,” said
ALEX PERRY/SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD
Community Church Suffolk Campus Pastor Tyler Kent addresses the Sunday congregation at King’s Fork High School.
singer Riekus Williams. “You feel their energy, and it’s awesome.” Kent explained to the congregation on a recent Sunday how to plant seeds and share their message with more people. Members reach the community
through school supply drives, Thanksgiving meal collections and other efforts to improve the local community. “We have to continue to go out and plant seeds wherever people are, and not just hope that they’ll come and darken the doorway at
our church,” Kent said. “There’s a lot of opportunities out there as far as planting,” said member Mark Joyner. “We need to be doing our part to reach them. That’s what Christ is all about.”
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Suffolk has a strong and diverse faith community. Below is a listing of some of Suffolk’s many churches. Every effort was made to include everyone. If your church was left out, make sure to let us know at 5393437 so we can include it next year. AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL Macedonia AME Church 127 Pine St. 539-4502 Saint Mark’s AME Zion Church 817 McKinley Ave. 539-5560 APOSTOLIC Faith Temple Apostolic Church 476 Wellons St. 934-2735 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Bethel Assembly of God Church 8904 S. Quay Road 657-6188 BAPTIST Balm of Gilead Missionary Baptist Church 3731 White Marsh Road 934-1700 Canaan Baptist Church 2064 Nansemond Parkway 538-1841
FAITH & FAMILY
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017 | 3
Church Directory Crosspointe Freewill Baptist Church 2460 Pruden Blvd. 923-9059 Diamond Grove Baptist Church 6890 Crittenden Road 255-4770 East End Baptist Church 1056 Portsmouth Blvd. 539-3324 First Baptist Church — Holland 6508 Cumberland Lane 562-0595 First Baptist Church — Mahan Street 112 Mahan St. 539-6623 First Baptist Church — Suffolk 237 N. Main St. 539-4152 Gethsemane Baptist Church 1656 Copeland Road 539-5894 Great Fork Baptist Church 180 Great Fork Road 986-4185 Greater First Baptist Church Orlando 600 Factory St. 539-0032 Healing Chapel Baptist Church 2375 Godwin Blvd. 934-0527
Hillcrest Baptist Church 1637 Holland Road 539-8801
Mineral Spring Baptist Church 4849 Mineral Spring Road 986-3994
New Hope Baptist Church 4260 Pughsville Road 484-8939
Olive Branch Baptist Church 5200 Milners Road 255-7348
Holland Baptist Church 6519 Holland Road 657-2424
Missouri Baptist Church 2020 Lake Cohoon Road 934-1176
New First Baptist Church 1105 Hosier Road 934-0833
Palm Tree Baptist Church 8165 Whaleyville Blvd. 986-4303
Lakeview Missionary Baptist Church 635 Brook Ave. 934-1047
Mount Sinai Baptist Church 6100 Holy Neck Road 657-6212
New Olive Branch Baptist Church 9364 Gates Road 562-0107
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church 4481 Butler Drive 986-3648
Oak Grove Baptist Church 2635 E. Washington St. 539-8012
Pleasant Union Baptist Church 215 Webb St. 539-0367
Liberty Baptist Church 116 Romans Road 539-3511
Nansemond River Baptist Church 2896 Bridge Road 484-3423
Liberty Harbour View 7025 Harbour View Blvd. 826-2110
See CHURCHES page 5
757-539-6611
Little Bethel Baptist Church 6533 Everets Road 255-4945
801 N. Main St.
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Little Grove Baptist Church 6320 Old Town Point Road 484-4496 Little Mount Zion Baptist Church 3288 Pruden Blvd. 539-1991 Macedonia Baptist Church 8300 Crittenden Road 238-2562 Metropolitan Baptist Church 125 County St. 539-2696
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FAITH & FAMILY
SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD
New things happening at Main Street
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-HERALD
What does a historic, downtown church have to offer these days? How can it be relevant in today’s world? Main Street United Methodist Church is constantly finding new ways to serve God in its community and beyond. The church has found a way to continue to be mission minded in all of its work. The latest mission field of the church includes victims of domestic violence. For the past year, the United Methodist Women and Men of the church have sponsored a domestic violence awareness program in partnership with the Suffolk Commonwealth Attorney’s office. These forums have covered topics on how the church can help with domestic violence issues, the effects of domestic violence on children, signs of domestic violence and
what services and legal structures are in place for the victims. The forums have brought people and agencies together and also helped create partnerships with organizations such as the Genieve Shelter and the YWCA of Norfolk. The goal of these forums has been to inform the public and bring the horror of domestic violence out into the open. By raising awareness, the church hopes to help stop the abuse before it happens. The church also has a new partnership with the Suffolk Christian Fellowship Ministry. That ministry serves hot meals once a week and also collects and gives away groceries for families six days a week. Main Street is collecting non-perishables throughout the year for that ministry and also for ForKids. The partnership with the Coalition Against Poverty in Suffolk allows the church to offer transportation during the cold win-
ter months for those participating in the Night Stay program. The New Year will bring Lew Johnston, legendary football coach and Christian speaker, to Main Street as a guest speaker on Jan. 14. The church will also offer financial workshops in January and February for anyone who is interested. The goal for the year is to help people learn to plan for generosity in all aspects of their lives. The most exciting thing to look forward to in the spring is a new service. Recently, the church hired a worship leader, David Springstead, to lead a modern service. This new service is being created for anyone who is looking for a service that is not traditional. New churches pop up all around Suffolk, but few churches in the downtown area offer this type of worship. Main Street hopes to fill that void for the unchurched, for
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those who once attended church but stopped and other seeking something new. It will be an uplifting experience of praise and worship.
Main Street continues to strive to be relevant in a hurting world. Now more than ever, people need to find God, and the people of See MAIN STREET page 6
Good Tidings of Great Joy! Celebrating the Joy of Christmas at 202 N. MAIN STREET | SUFFOLK, VA 23434 WWW.MAINSTUMC.ORG SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 9:30 am The Annual Cookie Factory for Main Street United Methodist Church Family and Friends served until the last cookie crumbs are gone!
And good tidings of great joy
the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you
,
which shall be to all people. Luke 2:10
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17 8:30 am Worship 9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Children and Youth Christmas Celebration Service Lessons and Carols: “Prepare the Way!” 4:00 pm The Candlelight Choir of Main Street Church presents the 2017 Christmas Musical “Go Sing It On The Mountain” The choir will be accompanied by professional musicians. Reception immediately following the Musical in the Atrium. Nursery provided
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 8:30 am Worship 9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship Join us at 5:00 or 11:00 pm for a Christmas Eve Worship Service with Holy Communion as we celebrate the joy and wonder of the birth of Christ! 5:00 pm A special Christmas message for the children, and a nursery will be provided. 11:00 pm Christmas Eve Worship Service. No nursery provided. Everyone is welcome; invite your family, friends and neighbors.
SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD
FAITH & FAMILY
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017 | 5
CHURCHES continued from page 3
Saint Paul Baptist Church 806 Lincoln Ave. 539-9692 Sixth Street Baptist Church 324 Goodman St. 539-6629 Southside Baptist Church 917 Carolina Road 539-6629 West End Baptist Church 105 Saint James Ave. 539-8771 West Suffolk Baptist Church 1001 Kenyon Court 705-5431 Western Branch Baptist Church 6952 Old Myrtle Road 539-6854 Wilroy Baptist Church 306 Williams Road 539-5658 CATHOLIC St. Mary of the Presentation Catholic Church 202 S. Broad St. 539-5732 CHRISTIAN Berea Christian Church 4109 Driver Lane 538-8872
Cypress Chapel Christian Church 1891 Cypress Chapel Road 986-4096 Holy Neck Christian Church 4400 Holy Neck Road 986-4731 Liberty Spring Christian Church 4213 Whaleyville Blvd. 986-4403 Mount Zion Christian Church 9061 Eclipse Drive 238-2477 Oakland Christian Church 5641 Godwin Blvd. 255-4353 Saint John Christian Church 1226 White Marsh Road 925-4885 Suffolk Christian Church 216 N. Main St. 539-9182 Trinity Christian Church 128 Franklin St. 539-7275 True Gospel Christian Church 1226 White Marsh Road 539-4458
Bethlehem Christian Church 1549 Holland Road 539-4274
CHURCH OF GOD Suffolk Church of God 207 Kilby Ave. 934-2526
Bethlehem Christian Church 312 Bute St. 539-1167
Church of God and Saints of Christ Temple Beth El
3927 Bridge Road 484-3926 Church of God in Christ Gates of Heaven COGIC 112 Beech St. 539-3856
METHODIST Beech Grove United Methodist Church 4245 Driver Lane 538-8353
Ebenezer United Methodist Church 1589 Steeple Drive 238-2359
Magnolia United Methodist Church 1764 Wilroy Road 538-8552 See CHURCHES page 6
Saint Mary’s COGIC 3636 Nansemond Parkway 538-0155 EPISCOPAL Glebe Episcopal Church 4400 Nansemond Parkway 538-8842 Saint John’s Episcopal Church 828 Kings Highway 255-4168 Saint Mark Episcopal Church 140 Tynes St. 934-0830 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 213 N. Main St. 539-2478 FRIENDS (QUAKER) Somerton Friends Meeting 5239 Quaker Drive 539-6574 LATTER-DAY SAINTS The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 4759 Bennetts Pasture Road 538-9218 LUTHERAN Faith Lutheran Church 2730 Bridge Road 686-0468
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CHURCHES continued from page 5
Main Street United Methodist Church 202 N. Main St. 539-8751 Oxford United Methodist Church 601 W. Washington St. 539-8253 Providence United Methodist Church 3105 Providence Road 539-9582 Somerton United Methodist Church 8610 Whaleyville Blvd. 810-9397 Virginia Korean United Methodist Church 5701 Lee Farm Lane 484-5988 Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church 220 Kings Highway 255-2259 Whaleyville United Methodist Church 6312 Whaleyville Blvd. 986-4587 MISCELLANEOUS AND NONDENOMINATIONAL 3n1 Church Meets at Harbour View Grande 16 Theater 5860 Harbour View Boulevard www.3n1church.com The BALM Church 3731 White Marsh Road and 523 E. Washington St. 934-1700 Believers Church 6801 Bridgeway Drive 488-7541 City Life Church 2730 Bridge Road 595-1957 Community Church Meets at King’s Fork High School, 351 Kings Fork Road 405-6000
Covenant Community Church 3504 Robs Drive 539-1724 Divine Church of Deliverance and Transformation 6315 Whaleyville Blvd. 986-5115 The Experience Church 4165 Pruden Blvd. 347-1870 Faith House of Refuge 461 E. Washington St. 538-0808 Family Harvest Church 750 Manning Road 816-5055 Greater Sweet Beulah Holiness Church 137 Maple St. 539-9535 New Life Suffolk 540 E. Constance Road 539-7001 New Mount Joy Food for Living Ministries 307 County St. 539-2931 New Paul’s Temple Holiness Church of Deliverance 720 Hosier Road 539-0498 New Vision Ministries 4165 Pruden Blvd. 809-3135 Open Door Church 816 Kings Fork Road 934-2671 Open Hands Christian Fellowship 239 Holladay St. 692-9740 R.A.W. Ministries 810 E. Washington St. 338-4897 The Sanctuary — The Teen Church
4165 Pruden Blvd. 354-5958 Word and Spirit Worship Center 1607 Bridge Road 729-9712 PENTECOSTAL Greater Sweet Beulah Pentecostal Holiness Church 137 Maple St. 539-9535
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Pentecostals of Suffolk 641 Carolina Road 539-4848 Rising Saint James Pentecostal Holiness Church 201 N. Sixth St. 539-7026 Suffolk Pentecostal Church 100 Kilby Shores Drive 539-1096 PRESBYTERIAN Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church 1885 Bridge Road 238-3550 Suffolk Presbyterian Church 410 N. Broad St. 539-3213 Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church 3488 Godwin Blvd. 539-0540
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REFORMED ZION UNION APOSTOLIC Saint Paul RZUA Church 615 Spruce St. 539-2742 SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST Capernaum Seventh-Day Adventist Church 314 York St. 934-3518 UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Antioch United Church of Christ 900 Hull Ave. 539-0667 See CHURCHES page 7
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SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD
FAITH & FAMILY
Churches try to attract young people BY TRACY AGNEW NEWS EDITOR
The religious landscape in America is changing, particularly among the younger generation. Many millennials, even those who were raised in church, no longer go to church or even affiliate themselves with a particular religion, researchers say. According to a 2014 survey by the Pew Research Center, 36 percent of young millennials, those born between 1990 and 1996, are religiously unaffiliated, as are 34 percent of older millennials, those born from 1981 to 1989. Among millennials, about 57 percent identified with Christian groups in the 2014 survey, compared to 70 percent of Generation X, 78 percent of Baby Boomers and 85 percent of those born from 1928 to 1945. The survey also found more than a quarter of American adults who were raised Christian no longer identify with Christianity. But many churches are trying everything they can to reverse that trend and keep younger people in church — or bring them back. “You’ve got to be intentional about who you’re trying to reach,” said David Sexton, pastor of Crosspointe Free Will Baptist Church. “Obviously, you’re trying to reach everybody, but if you’re trying to reach a particular group, you have to be intentional.” Sexton said that while the church
hasn’t specifically targeted millennials, it does have a number of events and ministries that lend themselves toward bringing in younger people. The church recently started a preschool, which brings in young families, and has held several events geared toward young children as well. The church also does advertising on social media, which tends to draw a younger crowd. At Bethlehem Christian Church on Bute Street, volunteer youth leader Roylinda Haskins said it’s about the delivery of the message that keeps young people. “With the youth, if you engage them from the standpoint of knowing that I can serve God and still have fun, that’s what triggers for them,” she said. “If you explain it to them and you come to their level, they’re going to be open to that.” Haskins, 34, has attended that church since she was 12 and started leading the youth at 18. The world is changing, she acknowledged, but she tries to guide the young people in how to live in the world but not of the world. “We have to live here,” she said. “This is going on, but we should also have the mindset of Christ.” Sexton said it is important to reach the younger generation. “If we lose this millennial age, what’s it going to do to our churches?” he asked. “Where’s the next deacon or board member going to come from and the next pastor of the church going to come from?”
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2017 | 7
CHURCHES continued from page 6
Corinth Chapel United Church of Christ 7945 Corinth Chapel Road 569-9367 Galatians United Church of Christ 2320 Manning Road 934-0897 Holland United Church of
Christ 6733 S. Quay Road 657-6681 Laurel Hill United Church of Christ 8001 S. Quay Road 657-6234 Mount Ararat Christian United Church of Christ
1860 Airport Road 934-0986 Suffolk Church of Christ 2025 Holland Road 539-1768 Zion United Church of Christ 5200 Quaker Road 934-0223
MIAN STREET continued from page 3
Main Street want to do whatever they can to be God’s representatives on
earth. Main Street United Methodist Church is locat-
ed at 202 N. Main St. Call 539-8751 or visit www. mainstumc.org.
ally encourages them. “At first it might be awkward for the person, but that’s OK,” Robb said. “I prefer people ask questions, rather than just thinking them in their heads.” She added that individuals with disabilities are
equally obligated to take steps. “As someone with a disability, you have to take a first step also,” Robb said. “You can’t just wait for a church to invite you. You have to be willing to show up at the same time.”
WELCOME continued from page 8
tions have been hesitant to approach her, or spoke with whoever was with her instead of addressing her directly. She has no problem answering questions they might have about her condition, she said. She actu-
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Suffolk church welcomes special needs BY ALEX PERRY STAFF WRITER
Churches bring community members together in worship, and some intentionally take extra steps toward including those with disabilities. People like Laura Robb, however, have shown that they can contribute and be active in church no matter their limitations. In fact, Robb spent several years leading children’s classes at Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church in Suffolk, with other volunteers acting as her “hands,” the 33-yearold said. “If there was something I wanted to do and participate in, they were welcoming,” Robb said about the church. She was born with arthrogryposis, meaning some of her joints were difficult to move or stuck in one position, and the muscles
around these joints are thin or weak. She writes and speaks about overcoming her disabilities and how being part of a church community helped her gain confidence and independence, she said. “It was really important for me to feel like a normal person, and that I have this life outside of my house,” she said. The goal is to provide those with special needs the opportunities to do their part, fit in and form long-lasting relationships, according to Westminster Kids Director Kelly Griffin. “We realized Laura was very capable of teaching, leading and loving on children,” Kelly Griffin said. “We were very excited to have her come and do a wonderful job.” The ACCESS Ministry at Westminster provides services and resources to children and fam-
ilies with special needs. Families are able to attend church services with more convenience and less scrutiny, Griffin said. “We’ve had families who had not been able to worship together before be able to come together, knowing they have a place where their child is accepted and loved,” she said. Laurie Gardner and her husband, Chris Gardner, attend services while their 14-year-old son, Tommy, goes to ACCESS classes. They left their previous church because it couldn’t accommodate youngsters like Tommy, who has autism, Laurie Gardner said. She said Tommy has become familiar with volunteers and children at Westminster, and the results have been fantastic. “It’s really been a blessing,” she said. “He’s happy, and we’re able to go without worrying about what’s going on in the other
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church staff, members and volunteers with the church’s ACCESS ministry. Front row from left, Katie Swift and Laura Hobb. Back row from left, Westminster Kids Director Kelly Griffin, Ruth Robins, Women of Westminster Board Member Jenny Bridger and Heidi Swift.
room.” Some volunteers simply see improvements when the children are comfortable and greet them with a smile. “If they see me in the hallway, recognize me and give me a high-five, I feel like that’s a huge
bonus,” volunteer Emily Arters said. “That’s definitely a goal I work towards.” Robb said other churches aren’t always so welcoming. Along with some inconveniences because of her wheelchair, other congregaSee WELCOME page 7
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