Where the Heart of the Church Lives: Newbys Bridge Road
Friendship Baptist Church sits at 5200 Newbys Bridge Road in Chesterfield, Virginia, where it has served as a steady Southern Baptist presence since 1953. The congregation is rooted in its neighborhood, with a single campus on Newbys Bridge Road and a ministry that reaches from Sunday worship into a network of weekday Bible studies, a children's program, a women's service group, a senior adult fellowship, a grief support gathering, and an always-open food pantry that feeds neighbors in and around Chesterfield.
The church describes itself in plain words: "Friendship is a church that loves God, loves people, and exists to reach others with the good news of Jesus Christ." That mission shapes the rhythm of the week, from the Sunday School hour at 9:45 a.m. through the worship service at 11:00 a.m., into the Monday night Bible study, the Tuesday afternoon Joy Circle meeting, and the Wednesday morning grief support gathering.
Sunday Mornings at Friendship
Sunday School meets at 9:45 a.m. for every age group, and visitors who arrive a few minutes early can be paired with a class that fits. Children's programming is available at the same hour. Children's Worship is also offered at the 11:00 a.m. hour alongside the main gathering. After Sunday School, the morning moves into the sanctuary for worship at 11:00 a.m.
The service is live-streamed on Facebook so that members who are traveling or unable to attend can worship alongside the congregation. Music in the service is described as "dynamic, blended, truth-filled worship music led by our worship leader and band," with a "challenging message from the Word of God" from the pastor. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly.
What should a first-time guest put on? Friendship says to come as you are. Visitors will see everything from suit coats and ties to jeans and t-shirts, and the atmosphere is laid back and welcoming.
What Friendship Believes
Friendship Baptist Church is an autonomous body of believers that participates in membership with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Baptist General Association of Virginia, and the Middle District Baptist Association. The congregation affirms the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message as its doctrinal statement and walks through its eighteen articles with care.
The Scriptures stand at the center of everything the church teaches. The Bible is described as a perfect treasure of divine instruction, totally true and trustworthy, written by men divinely inspired, with God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without mixture of error for its matter. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is the focus of divine revelation.
The church confesses one living and true God, infinite in holiness, who reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - three persons without division of being. God the Father reigns with providential care over His universe. God the Son, Jesus Christ, is the eternal Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, who perfectly revealed and did the will of God. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, died on the cross in substitution for sinners, was raised from the dead, ascended to the right hand of God, and will return in power and glory. God the Holy Spirit inspired the Scriptures, convicts of sin, regenerates the believer, baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ, seals the believer unto final redemption, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which believers serve God through His church.
Salvation is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It involves regeneration (the new birth), justification (God's gracious acquittal upon principles of His righteousness), and glorification (the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed). Sanctification begins in regeneration and continues throughout the believer's life through the presence and power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The church practices two ordinances: baptism by immersion in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and the Lord's Supper, a symbolic act of obedience in which members, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.
A New Testament church, in Friendship's understanding, is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the two ordinances of Christ, exercising the gifts and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. Pastors and deacons are the scriptural officers, and the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.
The first day of the week is the Lord's Day, a Christian institution for regular observance that commemorates the resurrection of Christ. The Kingdom of God includes both God's general sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship over those who acknowledge Him as King, and the full consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ.
Friendship also affirms that God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory; the dead will be raised; Christ will judge all men in righteousness; the unrighteous will be consigned to Hell; and the righteous, in their resurrected and glorified bodies, will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord. It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ to make disciples of all nations, and the church is committed to that Great Commission. Christians are also called to be good stewards of their time, talents, and material possessions, recognizing all they have as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others.
Friendship Kids
Friendship's children's ministry serves children from babies through fifth grade. The vision of the ministry is to see children safely cared for and taught that God loves them while developing social skills and a desire to serve and help those in need.
Children's programming is offered on Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m. and during the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Teaching often walks children through Bible stories such as the calling of Samuel, the young boy who heard the Lord speaking to him in the temple, with monthly memory verses such as John 10:27, "My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me." Angela Dutton serves as the Children's Ministry Director and oversees the work of caring for, teaching, and walking alongside the youngest members of the Friendship family.
Youth Ministry
The Youth Ministry meets every Sunday at 9:45 a.m. alongside the Sunday School hour. Students gather for Bible teaching, community, and friendship during that hour and are invited to youth events throughout the year, including seasonal activities and fellowship gatherings. The youth ministry also welcomes adult leaders and helpers to serve alongside the students.
WinGS: Women in God's Service
Women in God's Service, called WinGS, is the women's ministry at Friendship. The group describes itself in its own words: "We are a group of women on fire for Christ, seeking to serve our church and community with the love of Jesus." WinGS operates the church's Food Pantry and feeds the homeless once a month. The group hosts events throughout the year and welcomes women to come alongside in any of the different service opportunities.
Gems and Jewels: Senior Adults
Friendship's senior adult ministry is called Gems and Jewels. The group is described as "the ongoing ministry of those who have been at the heart and soul of how Friendship has developed over the years." Gems and Jewels meet monthly on the third Thursday at 11:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall for fellowship and lunch. The ministry is open to senior adults who want to stay connected with the church family.
The Food Pantry and Reaching the Community
Friendship's food pantry ministry is one of the most visible extensions of the church into the surrounding community. Coordinated by Doris and Karen and supported by WinGS, the food pantry is always open - whether the church campus is open or closed. The pantry accepts cold and frozen foods, fresh vegetables and fruit, and personal hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoos, and soaps. Opened packages and home-canned foods cannot be accepted.
Friendship partners with the Chesterfield Food Bank on Ironbridge Road, and members of the church can also support the food bank through volunteering and monetary donations. The "Lil' Blessing Pantry" sits on church property next to the community board. Anyone can stop by, take what they need, and give what they can. Vehicles park in the church parking lot and walk up to the pantry.
Food assistance can be requested by calling the church at (804) 276-5803 during office hours or emailing office@friendshiprva.org, and a pick-up time will be arranged.
Grief Support and Other Care
Friendship hosts a Grief Support gathering on the second Wednesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. The group is open to anyone walking through loss and provides space for prayer, conversation, and Christian encouragement during a season of grief.
Small Groups and Bible Study
Beyond Sunday School, Friendship offers additional Bible study opportunities during the week. The Trust and Obey Bible Study meets on Monday nights at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Adult Sunday school also meets on Monday nights at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Joy Circle Services gather on Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Members of the church are encouraged to get plugged into a small group and into serving. The leadership says the best way to get to know someone and discover the heartbeat of Friendship is to be part of a small group and a service team.
Next Steps at Friendship
For newcomers, the church offers a simple pathway: fill out a Connection Form so the staff can get in touch, then take the next step of baptism (a public profession of faith for those who have trusted Him as Lord and Savior), and consider church membership for those who have been saved and baptized. Worship services are live-streamed and the church maintains a sermon archive online for catch-up listening, with sermons from recent years available to revisit at any time.
Staff and Leadership
Matt McCauley serves as pastor of Friendship Baptist Church. He preaches the Sunday sermons and leads the pastoral ministry of the congregation. Angela Dutton serves as the Children's Ministry Director, overseeing the work of Friendship Kids. The staff also includes Liz Morris in an office support capacity. The deacons of the church gather for regular meetings to support the congregation's life and ministry.
Visiting Friendship
Friendship Baptist Church is located at 5200 Newbys Bridge Road, Chesterfield, Virginia 23832. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sunday School begins at 9:45 a.m. and worship is at 11:00 a.m. The service is live-streamed for those who want to participate from home.
The office can be reached at (804) 276-5803 or office@friendshiprva.org. Newcomers can fill out a Connection Form, and anyone interested in baptism or membership is encouraged to get in touch. Friendship is also active on Facebook and Instagram, with a sermon archive available online for those who want to catch up on a recent message.