Jackson Memorial Baptist Church sits on Bruce Road in Chesapeake, Virginia, where it has become a steady presence for families in the western part of the city. Known for two Sunday morning services in the JMBC Sanctuary, a weekly Wednesday-night fellowship dinner, and an active children's program connected to Jackson Christian Preschool, the church centers its life around the rhythms of worship, table fellowship, and small-group study. The pastoral team keeps a low-key, family-focused feel: a senior pastor who preaches expositionally, a worship pastor who shapes the music, and a children's minister who has spent more than fifteen years in the preschool and children's halls. Visitors tend to find that the church has the shape of a small-town congregation that takes seriously both the preached Word and the shared table.
Sunday Mornings on Bruce Road
Worship on Sunday takes place twice, both in the JMBC Sanctuary. The first service begins at 8:15 AM, and the second begins at 10:30 AM. Between those two services, at 9:15 AM, LifeGroups meet for small-group ministry. The morning is shaped so that someone can arrive for the early service, step out for an adult LifeGroup at 9:15, and return for the late service, or simply attend whichever service fits their week. Children have parallel programming during the morning so that families with kids can worship together while knowing their children are being taught at their level.
The services center on engaging music and singing and meaningful preaching. Senior Pastor Dr. Tommy Larson works through books of the Bible in his sermons, and the worship team, led by Pastor of Worship Ian Hardee, prepares a blend of congregational songs that span the breadth of the church's musical heritage. Sermons are posted online for those who want to revisit a message or catch up after a missed Sunday. Communion and believer's baptism are the two ordinances a Baptist congregation practices, and the church celebrates them as part of the normal flow of congregational life.
Wednesday Fellowship Dinners
Midweek meals have become one of the most recognizable rhythms at Jackson Memorial. Each Wednesday at 5:15 PM, the congregation meets in the Fellowship Hall for a shared supper. The dinners are organized week by week, and registration opens at noon on Thursday of the week before and closes at noon on Tuesday. Members and visitors who want to join sign up through the church's online portal so the kitchen team can plan the right amount. The program pauses during the summer to give the volunteer cooks a break, but the rest of the year it draws a wide cross-section of the church family, from young families to longtime members.
For newcomers, the Wednesday dinner is often the easiest place to put names to faces. The meal is preceded and followed by informal conversation, and the kitchen team treats it as a ministry of hospitality. Even when registration is light, the cooks prepare enough for whoever shows up, because part of the church's calling is to keep an open table.
Senior Pastor Dr. Tommy Larson
Dr. Tommy Larson has served as senior pastor since 2015. He entered pastoral ministry in 2001, and his focus has been preaching God's Word, shepherding the congregation, and proclaiming the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. Before moving into ministry full-time, he worked in business, and he has carried that background into a steady, organized leadership style that the congregation has come to appreciate.
He and his wife, Daina, have three grown children and two grandchildren. When he is not in the pulpit, he enjoys family time, reading, a round of golf, and cheering on JMU athletics. His life verse is Psalm 37:4: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." It reflects his desire to find joy in Christ and to encourage others to do the same.
Worship Led by Ian Hardee
Ian Hardee joined Jackson Memorial as Pastor of Worship in August 2021. Born in North Carolina, he grew up in New Mexico, where he spent his time outdoors, in books, and starting bands. After high school he attended Wayland Baptist University to study music and religion, and he began his first full-time ministry position in 2016. At Jackson Memorial he leads the music ministry, shaping the songs, arranging the team, and guiding the congregation in worship on Sunday mornings.
Ian is often seen with a book in his hand, talking about a recent hobby, or serving as a human jungle gym for his children. He and his family are glad to be serving and leading others to worship their Savior at Jackson Memorial. The pastoral staff complement each other: Tommy focuses on the preached Word, while Ian focuses on the sung Word.
Children's Ministry and Jackson Christian Preschool
Mary Terwilliger leads the children's ministry. She has spent the last sixteen years in the preschool and children's hall, both on Sundays and during the week with Jackson Christian Preschool, the church's weekday preschool program. She became JMBC's Preschool and Children Ministry Director in December 2017 and earned an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education in December 2018.
Mary's ministry verse is Psalm 78:7: "Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deed but keep His commands." Her aim is for the children and their families to know that they are loved and precious in the eyes of their Creator. She often says, "There is nothing sweeter than hearing and seeing God's Word through their eyes." On Sunday mornings, while parents worship in the sanctuary, the children gather in the preschool and children's hall for age-appropriate teaching.
Jackson Christian Preschool is the church's weekday early-childhood program. Children enrolled there spend their days in classrooms that share space with the Sunday children's ministry, which means the teachers and volunteers know the same building, the same families, and the same rhythms. The preschool is a natural on-ramp for young families who later begin attending Sunday worship.
A Gospel-Centered, Word-Focused Church
Across worship, teaching, and fellowship, the church keeps a consistent focus on two things: the faithful preaching of God's Word and the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Senior Pastor Tommy Larson describes his own calling as preaching the Bible book by book and shepherding the congregation in the gospel, and that tone carries through the rest of the church's ministries. Children's ministry is built on the same conviction, with Psalm 78:7 guiding the preschool and children's programs: "Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget His deed but keep His commands."
Prayer, Bible study, and LifeGroups are offered as ways for the congregation to grow into that same focus. The pastoral team treats Scripture as the church's anchor and fellowship as the natural outflow of a community that takes the Bible seriously.
LifeGroups, Bible Study, and Prayer
Small-group ministry sits at the center of the church's teaching life. LifeGroups meet on Sunday mornings at 9:15 between the two worship services, and separate Bible study groups run through the week. The Bible study groups are open to anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of Scripture in a welcoming environment. Members describe the format as in-depth Scripture exploration, fellowship with others, and spiritual growth opportunities.
Prayer is also central. The church gathers for regular prayer meetings and supportive fellowship groups, and there are ongoing opportunities to pray for one another and for the wider Chesapeake community. The prayer ministry is presented as a quiet backbone of the church, a steady habit rather than a single event. Anyone looking for a smaller setting to ask questions about the Bible or about faith is encouraged to start with one of these groups.
Family Activities and Outreach in Chesapeake
The church nurtures family faith through family game nights, seasonal events, and family Bible study groups. The seasonal calendar moves with the year, and the church treats these family touchpoints as an intentional way to strengthen faith at home. Family game nights in particular have become a low-pressure way for newer families to meet longtime members.
Outreach in the Chesapeake area takes the shape of food drives, volunteer opportunities, and direct support for local families. Members can step into these efforts through the church office. The church frames its outreach as simple and direct: gather what is needed, show up, and serve. Anyone in the Chesapeake community looking to volunteer or receive help can call the church office.
Visiting Jackson Memorial
Sunday services are at 8:15 AM and 10:30 AM in the JMBC Sanctuary, with LifeGroups for all ages at 9:15 AM. Wednesday fellowship dinners meet at 5:15 PM in the Fellowship Hall; registration is required, and dinners pause during the summer. Online giving is available through the church's Realm portal. The church office is reachable at (757) 484-5568 and office@jacksonmemorial.org. The mailing address is 4316 Bruce Road, Chesapeake, VA 23321.