A Church Born from a One-Dollar Gift
Foundry United Methodist Church sits on Virginia Beach Boulevard next to Beach Ford, its main entrance opening off the back parking lot. The congregation began on January 3, 1958, when Mr. and Mrs. Ollie and Adrian Vellekoop sold a four-and-a-half-acre parcel along the boulevard to the Norfolk District Board of Missions for one dollar. The property was transferred, and the location of Foundry Methodist Church became a reality.
The name was chosen with care. Early Methodists in London first gathered at a site that John Wesley had purchased - a former cannon foundry - and the Virginia Beach church took that London meeting house as its namesake. The vision that has guided the congregation ever since is to "reach out, nurture, and witness to all people the good news of Jesus Christ and share the joy that comes through serving Him." Its mission is simply stated: "to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."
Sunday Morning Worship
The church gathers for one weekly service: Traditional Worship at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. The service is open to all, and a nursery is available. The motto Foundry embraces - the wider United Methodist motto of "Open Hearts, Open Minds" - is lived out in the phrase "Come as you are."
After the children's message, Children's Church is offered at 11:30 a.m. (the program is not currently meeting). At 12:00 p.m., the congregation moves into Ebert Hall for a fellowship hour, where first-time visitors are invited to chat with the pastor over refreshments. Worship is livestreamed on Facebook so that members at home can join the same service.
What to Expect on Your First Visit
Visitors are asked to look for the ushers, who can answer questions and pass along a visitor's card. The ushers will also point newcomers toward the social hour in Ebert Hall after the service. Dress is up to the visitor; "come as you are" is the standing invitation. Parking is available in the lot behind the church, with the main entrance off that lot. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for anyone who would like to stop by during the week.
The Music Ministry
Music is a defining part of Foundry's worship. The Chancel Choir sings September through June at the 11:00 service and presents choral programs during Advent and Lent. The repertoire includes four-voice music in a variety of styles, and rehearsals are held Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 in the music room. Recent recordings shared by the choir include "Foundry Choir - We're Gonna Have Church," a violin meditation from Thaïs, a piano duet arrangement of "O, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus," a contemporary take on "This is Amazing Grace," Mouret's Rondeau for violin, an "Old Time Religion Medley" for piano duet, a handbell duet, and "Come, Christians Join to Sing."
Music Director Meg Dornbrock brings more than three decades of classroom music teaching and twenty-nine years of directing choirs in local Methodist churches. She holds certifications in Church Music and Orff-Schulwerk. Pianist Karen Reno-Cobb, who joined Foundry after a six-year absence from church music, accompanies the choir and supports congregational singing.
The Foundry Food Pantry
Each Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon, the church opens its food pantry to the wider Virginia Beach community. No referral from Social Services and no income threshold is required - anyone may come. The pantry hands out nutritional food bags and welcomes gently used clothing donations for adults and children, including coats, jackets, dress and casual clothes, and shoes.
Current needs on the pantry list include vegetable oil, sugar, flour, salt, pepper, butter, Stove Top stuffing, tea bags, coffee, cake mix and frosting, canned fruit, tuna, cereal, canned vegetables, garbanzo beans, cannelloni beans, both crunchy and creamy peanut butter, dish detergent, laundry detergent, and feminine hygiene products. Cash contributions help the pantry shop for bargains to stretch what it can give. The pantry also collects bottles of water and Gatorade for Lighthouse, a local ministry partner. Donations may be dropped off Tuesday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
Prayer Three Times a Day at 8:28
One of Foundry's distinctive rhythms is the Foundry Break Through Prayer, prayed three times a day - at 8:28 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 8:28 p.m. The prayer asks God to fill the pastor, leaders, staff, and congregation with the Holy Spirit, to "show us Your vision to revive and revitalize the church," to send children, youth, and young leaders, to bless current and new ministries, to make the church more serving, to make more disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, and to use the congregation as a channel for peace.
Beyond the set times, the church maintains a Prayer Ministry and a Care Ministry that visit the sick, welcome newcomers, and carry prayer needs through the week.
Children's Ministry
Children's Ministry is led by Colleen Ignacio, with Linda Cockrell coordinating volunteers. Children's Church takes place during the 11:00 worship service, beginning after the children's message. Sunday School is also offered, and volunteers are always needed to help share the faith with the youngest members of the congregation. A nursery is available during worship for infants and toddlers.
Connection Through UMW and UMM
Foundry's United Methodist Women chapter, under president Judy Mitchell, gathers women of the church around three commitments: knowing God, expanding concepts of missions, and enjoying sustaining fellowship. Members assemble health kits, birthing kits, and sewing kits for worldwide distribution, share church-wide game nights, and prepare chicken soup for those in need.
The United Methodist Men, led by president Bill Shedlock, organize activities throughout the year that bring men and the wider church together - Christmas tree sales, a Sweetheart Valentines Dinner, Tides baseball outings, a Veterans Dinner, and trips to local attractions such as the Virginia Air and Space Museum. The men also support the church and a number of community organizations with both volunteer hours and donations.
Supporting Foundry
Online giving is available through PayPal, and contributions may also be mailed to the church at 2801 Virginia Beach Boulevard. Volunteers can sign up through the church's online sign-up page for pantry sorting, worship support, Sunday School teaching, and visitations. For anyone interested in becoming a member, a direct call or email to Pastor JaeHaeng Choi is the place to start.
Senior Pastor and Staff
Foundry is served by Rev. Dr. Jaehaeng Choi, an ordained elder of the United Methodist Church. She earned her Th.M. at Methodist Theological Seminary in Seoul, her baccalaureate at Ewha Womans University, her Master of Divinity at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, with a dissertation titled "A Group Spiritual Exercise for Healing Broken-Heartedness." Before her present appointment, she served Korean- and English-speaking congregations in both urban and rural settings, and she continues to lead workshops and retreats on Lectio Divina, Centering Prayer, the Labyrinth, and the Jesus Prayer. She is a certified Stephen Ministry leader and a trained spiritual and retreat director.
Her ministerial slogan is "Welcome Everyone to the Love of God," and her focus is spiritual formation and transformation through works of piety and works of mercy, using Bishop Robert Schnase's five practices - Passionate Worship, Radical Hospitality, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission, and Extravagant Generosity.