Indian River Baptist Church stands on the corner of Laurel Avenue and Willow Avenue in Chesapeake, Virginia, a congregation of more than seven decades that has built its identity around three simple verbs: reaching, teaching, and sending. Members describe the church as a place to find healing, hope and purpose, and Sunday mornings regularly begin with coffee in the parking lot before the doors of the Sanctuary open.
Reaching Upward, Teaching Inward, Sending Outward
The whole ministry of Indian River Baptist Church flows from a single vision statement: to proclaim the glory of Jesus among the nations. That vision is lived out in three directions. Reaching upward means loving God through gathered worship. Teaching inward means loving one another through Bible study and fellowship. Sending outward means loving Indian River and beyond through service and partnerships.
The church's motto is: Loving God. Loving One Another. Loving Indian River and Beyond.
Sunday Morning at Indian River
Bible Community Groups for all ages meet on campus at 9:15 am. At 10:30 am the Sunday Worship Service begins in the Sanctuary, mixing classic hymns with modern praise songs. The atmosphere is intentionally relaxed. Some people dress formally and others come very casually; the church encourages first-time guests to come as they are. Coffee is available before the service, and a Fellowship Luncheon often follows.
The easiest way in for newcomers is the Willow Avenue parking lot. Welcome flags between the Education Building and the Sanctuary lead directly to the worship space and to River Kids. The service is livestreamed each Sunday on the church's YouTube channel for those at home.
River Kids and Family Ministries
During the 10:30 am worship service, children are invited to River Kids Worship, which runs from 10:30 to 11:30 am. The children's hour is built around learning about God, Jesus, and the Bible, with games, snacks, crafts, and plenty of room to move. While kids are in River Kids, parents can settle in for the worship service and grab a cup of coffee.
Baptism is a regular milestone in the life of the church. Indian River Baptist typically baptizes on the third Sunday of each month, and candidates can request information through the church office. A separate ministry called Friend to Friend collects and distributes children's clothing out of the second floor of the Education Building. Men in the church also gather for a monthly Men's Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall.
Bible Community Groups and Wednesday Prayer
Discipleship at Indian River Baptist happens in small groups. On-campus Bible Community Groups for every age begin at 9:15 am on Sundays, and additional off-campus groups meet throughout the week. The church office helps newcomers find a group that fits their schedule.
Midweek, a Wednesday Prayer Meeting brings the congregation back together online. The meeting is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, and archived prayer meetings and Bible studies can be viewed anytime.
Walking Through Philippians Together
Recent sermon series show the kind of extended, book-by-book teaching that shapes the congregation. The Philippians series, titled Experiencing Joy! and later Joyful Obedience!, walks through the apostle Paul's letter week by week, with a companion Bible study and a written discussion guide for every passage. Members can follow along at home or in their small group with each study PDF.
A separate series called The Bright Church Resolves, preached by Pastor Bert Kirk through the fall of 2024, prepared the church for what it saw ahead, drawing on passages such as Matthew 5:14-16, Deuteronomy 5, 1 Peter 4, Acts 4, and 1 John 1. The five-part series closes with a written document laying out the church's renewed commitments.
Looking back over seventy-five years, the church has chosen to mark the milestone with a celebration video rather than a single event, gathering the story of how God has carried the congregation from its earliest days to the present.
Pastoral Leadership
Indian River Baptist Church is led by Pastor Dr. Bert Kirk, whose preaching anchors the sermon series and the Bible studies. Kathy Monson serves as Interim Music Director, working with Mark Hamilton, who serves as Organist, to lead congregational singing. Mark Weko supports the ministry as Audio Visual Technician, and Karen Huff serves as Administrative Assistant. Office hours run Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Getting Connected
Visitors who want to plan a first visit can park in the Willow Avenue lot, follow the Welcome Flags to the Sanctuary or River Kids, and arrive early for coffee. Giving is available online through the church's Church Center. Sermons, Bible studies, and the weekly Prayer Meeting can be watched live or on demand through the church's YouTube channel. Those who want to learn more about the church, schedule a baptism, or be added to a Bible Community Group can reach the office at info@indianriverbaptist.com or (757) 424-5700.
For more than seventy-five years, Indian River Baptist Church has pointed its members in three directions at once: upward in worship, inward in study, and outward in service. That rhythm, simple, steady, and rooted in the Word, continues to shape the congregation on Laurel Avenue today.