Vilma Rosales, Evaristo Rosales, Maritza A. Gonzalez, Adan Lazo, Tania Nichol and Melany Nichol typically attend Parkwood’s Spanish services. Evaristo used to run bible study as well as serving as a deacon of the church for 3 years. Tania has been attending Parkwood for 6 years, currently travelling from Manassas to continue attending. She enjoys that at Parkwood everyone is treated like family.
Parkwood Baptist Church in Annandale celebrated their 50th anniversary with a memorial picnic and outdoor service on Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12. Despite the intense heat, current and previous parishioners as well as members from the community - including neighboring Burke,Springfield and Fairfax - came out to honor the occasion.
On Saturday tents were raised to host the different activities. Parishioners could sign and add their thumbprint to the commemorative photo, participate in the silent auction and enjoy the array of BBQ picnic food while listening to live music. Children enjoyed face painting, a bounce castle and a ball pit. Games were arranged for the older children and children of all ages made visits to the ice cream cart.
The theme of the anniversary was “strong roots, new growth,” according to Pastor Mike Bradley. Pastor Bill Corder, Parkwood’s first pastor, indicated that it was his hope that Parkwood be “…community oriented, seeking to minister to the needs of the people around it while being a good neighbor to those people.” Pastor Bradley considers “the most important thing that happens (at Parkwood) happens outside the walls.”
Ministry and missions have been part of the “roots” of Parkwood. They’ve helped with Fairfax County’s nonprofit FACETS’ hot meals program since it began in 1988 and have served as Boy Scout Troop 1523’s meeting place since the troop’s founding, according to Bonnie Hopler, one of the event organizer and a member of the church for over 30 years. During Parkwood’s 50 years the number of the missions they have and support, as well as their mission diversity, have grown. Parkwood is now involved in numerous local community projects as well as others around the nation and world.
Charlotte Poe is the longest standing continuous member of the church, having joined during its founding in 1966. Charlotte, her husband Harvey Poe and daughter Kathy Sherman were in attendance. Reflecting on Parkwood’s 50 years was simple for Charlotte. “I love the people, and the principles of the church have stayed the same.” Charlotte has been a deacon, sang in the choir, married her husband and watched both of her daughters get married at Parkwood. Sherman recalls that the church “was just a trailer in a parking lot” in 1966 but that Parkwood, through all its growth and change “… is our anchor.”
The Sunday worship was a special opportunity for all seven of the services offered at Parkwood to worship together. Unable to fit everyone in the chapel due to sheer numbers, the tented setup allowed everyone to congregate at once. Although the service was in English, parishioners who prefer Parkwood’s Vietnamese, Korean or Spanish services were also in attendance for the 50th Anniversary service. The service honored Parkwood’s community, its roots and its dedication to its doctrine but ended with Pastor Bradley’s reminder, that “being comfortable inside a building isn’t what we’re about. Our service is outside of (Parkwood’s) walls.”