Who We Are
Our Mission
To provide a loving, friendly, family atmosphere
where people can meet and serve Christ, community,
and one another.
What We Believe
We believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He is the sole authority for our congregation and lives. We believe that the Christian faith is not adherence to a doctrine about Him, but a relationship with Him.
We believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God and perfectly reveals Him to humankind. We believe that the scriptures should be taken seriously, and therefore should not be subject to shallow interpretation. We believe the scriptures to be “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16) and are a living testimony of the nature of God and always have something new to teach us. We believe each individual has the right and responsibility to interpret scripture as the spirit leads, without dependence on clergy, and that the Bible should be interpreted through the life of Christ.
We believe in believers’ baptism (that a person should be baptized when they make a personal decision to be a follower of Christ) Our methodology for baptism is immersion, which is a symbol of our death, burial, and resurrection in Christ.
We believe in the soul freedom of the believer (the right and responsibility for each believer to relate to God without the control of clergy or denomination.) We have no creed, except to love God and love our neighbor. (Mark 12:30-31)
We believe in the autonomy of the local church. We voluntarily cooperate with other entities but are not subject to their authority. We believe the local congregation has sole authority in determining church polity, staff, and ministry.
We believe in the separation of church and state. We believe that the co-mingling of these two entities is a toxic mixture that robs each entity of freedom. Our Baptist history is rife with examples of those who came to our country seeking religious freedom and feel that state-sponsored religion robs us of religious liberty. We believe that freedom of religion means freedom for all religions, not just our own.
What We Offer:
Engaging Worship Services:
We gather for worship services every Sunday, where we celebrate our faith through music, preaching, and prayer. We offer a variety of service times and styles to accommodate your preferences, including traditional and contemporary worship experiences.
Strong Christian Community:
We believe in fostering strong relationships within our Christian congregation. We offer a variety of fellowship groups and activities for all ages, providing opportunities to connect with others who share your values and interests.
Spiritual Growth Opportunities:
We are committed to helping individuals grow in their faith. We offer Bible study groups, small groups, and various ministries that delve deeper into scripture, explore different aspects of Christian life, and provide support and encouragement.
Thriving Preschool:
Virginia Hills Baptist Church Preschool provides a nurturing and educational environment for children ages 2-5. Our dedicated and qualified staff creates a curriculum that fosters spiritual growth, social development, and academic preparation in a safe and loving atmosphere.
Community Outreach:
We believe in serving our community's needs and positively impacting the world around us. We actively participate in various outreach programs and initiatives, offering opportunities for individuals of all ages to get involved and give back.
Special Events:
Throughout the year, we host a variety of special events, including family fun nights, youth activities, community service projects, and special worship services with guest speakers. These events provide fellowship, fun, and spiritual enrichment opportunities for the entire community.
Become a Part of Our Family:
We invite you to consider joining our church family. Membership offers opportunities for deeper involvement in our ministries, voting rights, and the chance to contribute more significantly to the life of our community.
our Staff
Dr. Bart Purdy
Senior Pastor
Bart is a native of the Northern Virginia area, as were his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents before him. He graduated from Thomas A. Edison High School in 1977.
Bart earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Averett University in Danville, Virginia in 1981, and his Master of Divinity from Southeastern Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina in 1984. While in seminary he completed a basic unity of Clinical Pastoral Education from Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.
He earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey in 2007.
During seminary Bart served as the student pastor of the Frank Price Memorial Church in Wilson, North Carolina. After seminary he was the Associate Pastor of Chestnut Hill Baptist Church in Lynchburg before becoming pastor at Virginia Hills Baptist Church in 1987.
Bart is married to Jeannine, who is a social worker with Fairfax County. They have a son named Benjamin and daughter named Justine.
Ms. Janice Clark
Minister of Music
Janice Clark is a native of the DC area. She began singing in a choir at the age of 8 and has been in a choir loft ever since. She graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in Church Music, then returned home to get teacher certification from George Mason University. In the field of education, she taught music in Fairfax County Schools and then moved to preschool, where she taught for 35 years.
Janice grew up at Boulevard Baptist Church, where she was baptized at 11. She later met and married her husband there. She served as Minister of Music at Greenbrier Baptist in Arlington for 20 years and has been at Virginia Hills since 2015. She has come to love this church and the members and is grateful for the opportunity to serve.
Ms. Sofia Henry
Preschool Director
Biography Incoming!
Ms. Sirena Ramirez
Church Office
Sirena hails from the beautiful island of Guam. Before supporting the VHBC community she worked in the Washington, DC Office of the Governor of Guam.
She is the wife of Tom and mother to Urban. Sirena loves going on spontaneous adventures, listening to Tom talk about architecture, and playing soccer with Urban.
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