The congregation of the Guilford Fellowship Baptist Church had dwindled to 15 members, and most of them were long-timers. For nearly two years, they were in a prayerful search of a new minister.
On June 1, a boyish-looking Mike McKinley answered the call. He brought another 20 Baptists with him plus the support and prayers of the Capital Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. They spent Saturday grooming the old Sterling church, painting the trim and shutters, clearing brush, mowing the lawn and performing other chores to give the building and property a fresh look. "We're helping to restart this church and revitalize it," said McKinley, 30. "Lots of good things are going on inside, and we want to reflect it on the outside,"
MCKINLEY WAS an assistant pastor at the rapidly growing Capital Hill church. He was looking to start up a new church, and decided instead to jump-start Guilford Fellowship. The Washington church had a lot of Northern Virginia commuters who were attending Sunday services and who were happy to give up the time-consuming drive.
He also brought his wife, Karen, and their daughter, Kendall, 3, and son, Knox, 18 months. They are expecting another child in October.
Mike and Sharon Bard, who have attended services at Guilford Fellowship Baptist Church on and off for 30 years, welcomed McKinley. Mike Bard was on the pastor search committee. "We were having trouble finding someone to come in," he said. "There were a lot of people from Capital Hill who live out here and wanted something closer by. This is a Godsend for them."
Mike Bard said recruiting new members has been difficult with the construction on Church Road and Route 28. The Virginia Department of Transportation is widening the road to Route 28 and finishing a new interchange at the intersection. "Once the road is fully operational, and we are looking like a church, we should start having people swing by and checking us out," he said. "I think the construction É that's what is hurting us now."
STEVE BOLSTER, said he and his soon-to-be wife plan to move to Vienna. They will attend both Capital Hill and Guilford Fellowship churches. "Mike is such a great preacher. We feel we're going to have to come every now and then to get our Mike fill," he said, adding another touch of paint to the building.
Bolster said McKinley's youthful face is deceiving. The minister gives practiced and insightful sermons, he said.
Bolster said he grew up attending Protestant churches in Massachusetts. "The one thing I like about it [Capital Hill] is they teach the Bible, nothing more, nothing less," he said. "That's kind of been my journey. É This church does it like no one else."
The Guilford Fellowship Baptist Church Sunday school classes are held at 9:30 a.m., and the worship service at 10:30 a.m. McKinley holds a prayer meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday and plans to start offering evening services in the fall. The church is at 1001 Ruritan Circle in Old Sterling.