Best NOVA churches

[Anonymous]

Friends have been happy at City Gates Church in Fairfax. Also heard good things about Fairfax Church on Braddock. I think both are non-denominational Protestant. I know nothing about these in terms of doctrine or liturgy.

Truro is a lovely place but it's its own thing. Anglican doctrine and liturgy, but with praise music and immersion baptisms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Friends have been happy at City Gates Church in Fairfax. Also heard good things about Fairfax Church on Braddock. I think both are non-denominational Protestant. I know nothing about these in terms of doctrine or liturgy.

Truro is a lovely place but it's its own thing. Anglican doctrine and liturgy, but with praise music and immersion baptisms.

TFCA member here. We have a handful of friends who LOVE the kids' and youth programming at Fairfax Church. Also a ton of friends at McLean Pres and it's varioius satellites (mentioned above) as well as Alexandria Pres.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think bc our school is SO small I was looking for a church that wasn’t totally our school - so that my kids could meet some other Christians and make friends outside of school.

I don't have a great suggestion for you, but I went to a church that was outside of our school district and it was really nice to have a set of church friends who weren't all wound up in the social scene at my school. I think this is a good call on your part.

[Anonymous]

I attend McLean Bible and love it. I was raised Catholic but fell away from religion for a very long time. I started to reconsider religion a few years ago due to an unusual confluence of circumstances. MBC was radically different from anything else I had ever attended, but it quickly grew on me. David Platt and Mike Kelsey are fantastic preachers. My wife is not religious but has gone on certain occasions with me and has said that Platt is one of the best public speakers she has ever heard, period. The band is fantastic. The mood is just generally very happy. You see it in the door greeters, in the strangers sitting next to you. And the church has a real community. I made a lot of friends at MBC over the past few years and previously had very few friends in my personal life. It’s been amazing to me how much these people have embraced me. The church is also mulicultural, multi-generational, and has explicitly avoided the Trump idolatry that has infected so many Christian churches.

Perhaps most importantly, for the first time in my life, I actually understand Christianity now and it makes sense to me on an intellectual level. I never felt that way growing up where the services were boring, ritualistic, and the Bible was never actually explained. MBC is very big about applying the theology to everyday problems too so most Sundays I walk out with practical advice that can improve my week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attend McLean Bible and love it. I was raised Catholic but fell away from religion for a very long time. I started to reconsider religion a few years ago due to an unusual confluence of circumstances. MBC was radically different from anything else I had ever attended, but it quickly grew on me. David Platt and Mike Kelsey are fantastic preachers. My wife is not religious but has gone on certain occasions with me and has said that Platt is one of the best public speakers she has ever heard, period. The band is fantastic. The mood is just generally very happy. You see it in the door greeters, in the strangers sitting next to you. And the church has a real community. I made a lot of friends at MBC over the past few years and previously had very few friends in my personal life. It’s been amazing to me how much these people have embraced me. The church is also mulicultural, multi-generational, and has explicitly avoided the Trump idolatry that has infected so many Christian churches.

Perhaps most importantly, for the first time in my life, I actually understand Christianity now and it makes sense to me on an intellectual level. I never felt that way growing up where the services were boring, ritualistic, and the Bible was never actually explained. MBC is very big about applying the theology to everyday problems too so most Sundays I walk out with practical advice that can improve my week.

And unlike institutional churches, there likely won't be a turnover in pastors until the founders die. You've found a happy place to go on Sunday mornings. Bravo.

[Anonymous]

We go to the Journey in Springfield and love it. Non-denominational but well established—just celebrated its 50th anniversary.

They have a large kid’s ministry and youth program, though my kids are much younger so I can’t speak specifically about teen programming. But I know they have regular meetings and special events like a pool party and a camp program, and recently did a dinner for kids heading off to college.

The families are all down to earth, normal people, though a lot are military so there’s quite a bit of turn over. There’s a bunch of small groups that meet, some based on interest and others by geography so you can hopefully connect with families close to you. Some groups even offer childcare paid for by the church. I think families probably make up the bulk of attendees, though there are a lot of seniors and empty nesters as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We go to the Journey in Springfield and love it. Non-denominational but well established—just celebrated its 50th anniversary.

They have a large kid’s ministry and youth program, though my kids are much younger so I can’t speak specifically about teen programming. But I know they have regular meetings and special events like a pool party and a camp program, and recently did a dinner for kids heading off to college.

The families are all down to earth, normal people, though a lot are military so there’s quite a bit of turn over. There’s a bunch of small groups that meet, some based on interest and others by geography so you can hopefully connect with families close to you. Some groups even offer childcare paid for by the church. I think families probably make up the bulk of attendees, though there are a lot of seniors and empty nesters as well.

What about its politics? Is it mainly liberal? Conservative?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We go to the Journey in Springfield and love it. Non-denominational but well established—just celebrated its 50th anniversary.

They have a large kid’s ministry and youth program, though my kids are much younger so I can’t speak specifically about teen programming. But I know they have regular meetings and special events like a pool party and a camp program, and recently did a dinner for kids heading off to college.

The families are all down to earth, normal people, though a lot are military so there’s quite a bit of turn over. There’s a bunch of small groups that meet, some based on interest and others by geography so you can hopefully connect with families close to you. Some groups even offer childcare paid for by the church. I think families probably make up the bulk of attendees, though there are a lot of seniors and empty nesters as well.

What about its politics? Is it mainly liberal? Conservative?

I have no idea honestly. Probably in the middle? I know there are some politically conservative people who attend. I don’t think I’ve ever heard politics, abortion, or gay marriage mentioned from the stage. I think as long as you aren’t far out to either side you’ll fit in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We go to the Journey in Springfield and love it. Non-denominational but well established—just celebrated its 50th anniversary.

They have a large kid’s ministry and youth program, though my kids are much younger so I can’t speak specifically about teen programming. But I know they have regular meetings and special events like a pool party and a camp program, and recently did a dinner for kids heading off to college.

The families are all down to earth, normal people, though a lot are military so there’s quite a bit of turn over. There’s a bunch of small groups that meet, some based on interest and others by geography so you can hopefully connect with families close to you. Some groups even offer childcare paid for by the church. I think families probably make up the bulk of attendees, though there are a lot of seniors and empty nesters as well.

What about its politics? Is it mainly liberal? Conservative?

I have no idea honestly. Probably in the middle? I know there are some politically conservative people who attend. I don’t think I’ve ever heard politics, abortion, or gay marriage mentioned from the stage. I think as long as you aren’t far out to either side you’ll fit in.

It's conservative