A Country-Feel Church in the Heart of Grassfield
Grassfield Baptist Church sits on Cedar Road in Chesapeake, Virginia, on land that was once a dairy farm. Though houses now surround the property instead of cows, the congregation has held onto that country feel, and visitors are invited to share it. The motto on the front of the church says it all: Sowing God's Word, Seeking God's Heart.
The church was organized in 1958, when members of the Grassfield and Deep Creek community saw the need for a local body of believers. After meeting in nearby buildings for a few years, the founding members built the present church building in 1961, and members have been ministering to the surrounding community from that spot ever since.
What to Expect on a First Visit
Worship is informal, mixing beloved hymns with occasional contemporary music. Children's church is offered during the service for the little ones. Sunday School begins at 9:45 AM, and Sunday Worship follows at 11:00 AM. Communion is observed on the first Sunday of the month during the 11:00 service.
Visitors who arrive for Sunday School should enter through the door closest to Moses Grandy. A greeter is usually on hand, and the first office on the right belongs to the pastor, who is glad to help families find a class. Those who arrive at 11:00 for worship should use the door beneath the steeple. If that door is locked for security after the service has started, a knock brings someone to let guests in.
The dress code is simple: come as you are. Jeans, casual clothing, sport coats, and ties all appear in the pews. The only guideline is modesty.
Visitor parking is available, and the parking lot was recently regraded above the front of the building. The shrubs that once lined the front of the church are gone, and the original doors have been replaced with glass, but the architecture is much the same as in 1961.
A digital connection card lets first-time guests share their names in advance so the church can be ready to greet them and direct their children to the right Sunday School class.
Midweek Bible Study on Zoom and in Person
Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM are reserved for Bible study. The fellowship hall fills with conversation over coffee, with decaf on Wednesday nights, before the study begins. The same study is broadcast live on Zoom, with a meeting ID and password posted for the week, and the audio can be joined by phone for those who prefer to call in. A video archive of past studies is kept on the church's YouTube channel.
Thursday mornings at 10:00 AM belong to the Ladies Bible Study and Fellowship, which meets in the fellowship hall for Bible study and light refreshments. All women are welcome. Like the Wednesday study, the Thursday gathering is also broadcast on Zoom.
AWANA for Children on Wednesday Nights
Children have their own weekly program on Wednesday nights. AWANA clubs begin at 6:00 PM, with training for volunteers held earlier in the year. The clubs are organized by age and stage so each child receives teaching appropriate to them.
Puggles welcomes toddlers ages 2 to 3 with simple lessons, play, and foundational truths about God. Cubbies is for preschoolers ages 4 to 5 and uses stories, puppets, and activities to introduce them to Scripture and the love of God. Sparks covers kindergarten through second grade and builds early biblical knowledge through memory verses and handbooks. Truth and Training, called T&T, serves grades 3 through 6 with structured lessons and challenges that deepen faith and biblical doctrine. Trek meets the needs of middle schoolers through discussion-based lessons on real-life issues, while Journey walks alongside high school students with mentoring, leadership opportunities, and deeper discipleship.
A typical AWANA night includes Bible teaching and small-group discussion, handbook work and memory verses, high-energy team games, and awards that celebrate each child's progress.
Mission and Beliefs
The church's stated mission is to expand the influence of the Kingdom of God by faithfully preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, inviting all to hear it, helping others find the forgiveness of sin that comes through trusting the saving work of Christ, and loving one another as Christ loved us. The vision is shaped by the Apostle Paul's words in Galatians 6:9-10: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
The congregation subscribes to the Baptist Faith and Message (1963), the confessional statement of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Serving the Wider Community
Grassfield Baptist was one of the original partners in the Chesapeake Meals on Wheels program, and many members still serve in it. Volunteers meet behind Chesapeake Regional Hospital on the first Friday of each month at 10:15 AM to help deliver meals, with Brenda Jefferson serving as the church's coordinator.
The church also opens its doors as a community resource. It serves as a Red Cross blood drive site, and the parking lot welcomes local food truck vendors on the third Thursday of each month beginning around 4:30 PM. Members have been active in supporting local schools, especially the Vocational Technical School on Cedar Road, and the building also serves as a voting station during elections.
Men's Fellowship, Women's Circles, and Deacon Care
The men of the church meet from time to time as the King's Men for fellowship over food, group activities, and ministry in the church and community. The Shirley Walters Circle gathers on the first Tuesday evening of the month at 7:00 PM, and the Barbara Deal group meets on the first Thursday of the month from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. Deacons meet on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM.
Leadership
Dr. Joseph R. Primeaux became the pastor of Grassfield Baptist Church in April 2026. A 1989 graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he earned his Doctor of Ministry from Houston Graduate School of Theology in 2009. He previously served as a Navy chaplain for 21 years and has pastored churches in Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi. He is married and has five children.
Kevin McDaniel has served the congregation for twelve years as Financial Secretary and also teaches Bible in various outreach capacities. The active deacons are David Toole, Jackie Snow, Shelley Steinfurth, Jerry Snow, and Mike Reitelbach, and the church board includes Jerry Fulford, Ann Litchfield, David Williams, Cathy Whitaker, Debbie Billips, and Mike Reitelbach.