Woodbridge Church of The Nazarene Woodbridge VA

We are a multi-cultural congregation aimed at Sharing Life, Serving Others, and Searching the Truth. Join us for Sunday Worship or for any of the events on our Calendar. Our prayer is that you find what you are searching for here at Woodbridge Nazarene!

Our Mission

Making Christ-Like Disciples in the Nations Who are Real, Relevant, and Relational

After His resurrection and before His ascension back into heaven, Jesus explained to His followers that it was their job to finish what He started. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”. (Matthew 28:19) For centuries, this passage of Scripture has been known as the Great Commission. At Woodbridge Church of The Nazarene, we have taken Jesus’ words to heart in establishing our purpose statement – Making Christ-Like Disciples in the Nations Who are Real, Relevant, and Relational. We are committed to making this purpose our priority and we are partnering with God in fulfilling His purpose for our congregation, our surrounding community, and in the Nations.

 

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Our History

Woodbridge First Church of the Nazarene is celebrating 50 years of ministry during the month of October! Fifty years of ministering to the homeless in Prince William County and Washington DC, to those in need locally and around the globe through missionaries in 160 world areas! We are also celebrating 50 years of ministering to youth, people of all cultures, and women in ministry. We also celebrate 50 Years of communicating the Gospel truth of God's Love seeking humanity, forgiving sin, and filling us with His Holy Spirit who shows no partiality to any, He desires all of us to be conformed into His holy image.

Our Early Years On June 19, 1966, Pastor Joe Sutherland and a small band of believers began to meet in the basement of a small house at 103 Staggs Court in Woodbridge, VA. It did not take long for Dr. Littrell, the Virginia District Superintendent, to organize the Woodbridge Church of the Nazarene with 15 charter members. The date of official organization was July 20, 1966.

In 1967, the church moved to Potomac Elementary School where they worshipped for the next eight years. The church continued to grow under the leadership of Pastor William Sessions and Milton Clark until 1972, when Rev. Ralph Ahlemann came to pastor the church. The church secured a $150,000 loan from Washington and Lee Savings and Loan and erected a sanctuary (now the gymnasium), fellowship hall, kitchen, two offices, two restrooms, and space for four educational departments. On Thanksgiving Day 1974, the congregation met in the sanctuary for the first time with no furniture. Rev. Paul Sydenstricker led the church to build a 1,920 sq. ft. extension on the educational wing in 1983. From 1977 through 1985 the congregation averaged over 200 in morning worship. Rev. Sydenstricker led the church for the longest period of time up to this point.

Pastor Randy Berkner led the congregation from 1986 through 1991. During his tenure, he oversaw the building of a beautiful new sanctuary that holds nearly 400 with overflow and added much needed educational space and staff offices in the lower level. The newly constructed sanctuary was dedicated in 1991. In 1991, when attendance was at an all-time high (349 in worship), Pastor Randy moved on to Nashville Trevecca Community Church and then on to become the District Superintendent of the Wisconsin district and now the North Arkansas district. During Pastor Berkner's tenure, he hired Buddy Marston and Marvin Jones who became interim co-pastors following Pastor Berkner's departure. Buddy also led a weekly youth group of over 100 here at Woodbridge Church of the Nazarene.

In 1993, Dr. Henry Spaulding became the lead pastor. He was Religion Chairman at Eastern Nazarene College. During his short tenure (1993-95), he, Buddy, and Marvin saw the largest annual attendance in the history of the congregation (450). Dr. Spaulding later served as Religion Chairman at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO and is now President of Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Today, Dr. Marvin Jones is worship pastor at Trevecca Community and Buddy is Senior Pastor at Fredericksburg Church of the Nazarene (since 1995), now Salem Fields Community Church of the Nazarene, which averages 1,700 every weekend.

Dr. Spaulding was followed by Gary Hutcheson from 1996-2000 then Rev. Ron McCormick (2000-2005). Under these two pastors' tenure, the congregation allowed Pastor Ramon Mora to begin a Spanish-speaking congregation.

Today Pastor Athan Burch came to us in 2006 from the Loudoun Valley Church of the Nazarene in Loudoun County, VA where he was lead pastor for 17 years and grew the congregation from 8 to nearly 150 during his tenure. He also served the Virginia District as Church Growth Trainer and as a Ministerial Credentials member for over twenty (20) years. Spiritual transformation and emotional restoration have been the focus of his pastoral tenure for the last 11 years.

Our Spanish-speaking congregation is now led by Rev. Nicanor Mairena and averages more than 90 each week.

Woodbridge Church of the Nazarene has also experienced new life and growth in the past few years with the launching of two new congregations: a Gospel Service and a South Stafford campus with about 275 attending.

We are committed to our purpose Statement, which is "Making Christ-Like Disciples in the Nations who are Real, Relevant, and Relational."