Living Faith Church sits along Battleview Parkway in Manassas, Virginia, a charismatic-leaning congregation where prayer and inner-healing ministry shape every part of weekly life. The church is best known for its Sozo ministry, a Greek word used roughly 110 times in the New Testament meaning to be "saved, healed, delivered, and restored" all at once. That phrase has become a kind of motto: Saved. Healed. Delivered. Restored.
The Sozo Ministry
Sozo is Living Faith's signature offering and the thread that ties much of the church's identity together. It is not counseling, the church explains, but a practical tool that gently uncovers and heals the root issues that keep people trapped in emotional anguish, unhealthy thought patterns, and destructive behaviors. Through a personal encounter with God, the ministry helps participants move from being stuck in past trauma into newness, wholeness, hope, and peace.
Appointments last two to three hours and are led by two trained Sozo ministers who pray for and guide each participant through a process of connecting with God. They may ask questions as the Holy Spirit leads, and by the end of the session participants have encountered God in a way the church describes as powerful and fresh. A recommended donation of $50.00 is suggested for Living Faith partners and $75.00 for non-partners; anyone unable to give is welcome to email sally@livingbyfaith.com to arrange a session anyway.
Sozo has become a wellspring of testimonies that the church shares widely. One woman writes, "I had a fear that kept me from leaving my home. I was a prisoner of that fear until Jesus appeared to me and brought healing to me. I now go everywhere and feel I have my life back. My husband is very happy." Pastor Sally Tomko oversees the Sozo work.
Sundays at Living Faith
The main Sunday gathering begins at 10:00 am in person, with an online stream following at 10:30 am on YouTube. Before the service, a prayer gathering called "Good Morning Holy Spirit" meets in the Sanctuary at 9:15 am. Pastor Bebette Williams leads this pre-service gathering, which is described as a time to set the atmosphere for the morning. A separate Prayer for the Nation time, focused on the country's government and leaders, is open to anyone with a heart to pray; Heather Craig coordinates that effort.
Small Groups Through the Week
Small groups meet on Monday evenings, Wednesday evenings, and right after the Sunday service. Sign-ups open with the new season in September. The church frames these groups as a way of seeking the loving Father, King Jesus, and the Holy Spirit through prayer, worship, the Word, sharing, and growing together.
The Union and The YAM
Middle and high school students gather for The Union, Living Faith's student ministry, on Tuesdays from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Young adults, branded as The YAM, meet monthly; Pastors Rafael Gutierrez and Jackie Gutierrez oversee those gatherings. The YAM connects through a dedicated hub for the next generation of leaders.
Women's Life and Men's Ministry
Tuesdays bring Women's Life into a morning rhythm at Town Square: 9:30 am prayer, 10:00 am coffee and connection, and a service from 10:30 am to noon. Guests enter through the Children's Town Square Entrance at door 10270. Christin Diaz coordinates, and women interested in joining can email her at Christin@livingbyfaith.com. Men's Ministry meets periodically on Saturdays; Pastor Abel Diaz leads the men and can be reached at abel@livingbyfaith.com.
What They Believe
Living Faith describes itself as a church family passionate about relationship with Father God and uncovering His design for their lives. The doctrinal summary covers God in three persons; the Bible as the divinely inspired, infallible, and authoritative written Word; and the full person and work of Jesus Christ - His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, crucifixion as a substitute for humanity, descent to hell, resurrection, ascension to the right hand of the Father, and promised return in power and glory.
Salvation is by grace through faith, with repentance and personal faith in Christ as the only path; heaven and hell are real, and personal faith in Christ's completed work is the only means of being saved. The church teaches water baptism for anyone who has accepted Christ as Lord and Savior and, following Acts 2:4, the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. The closing line captures Living Faith's calling: "The establishment of God's Kingdom on the earth - bringing heaven to earth - is the primary function of the Church in each successive generation."
Leadership at Living Faith
The pastoral team includes Nathanael Knight, Bebette Williams, Abel Diaz, Rafael Gutierrez, Sally Tomko, Gavin Lubbe, and Bill Hajtun. Supporting staff includes Christin Diaz, Grace Yum, Heather Craig, Linda Miller, and Jackie Gutierrez. A council of seven elders - Rodney Cash, Jody Naleppa, Samuel Boateng, Bill Mahoney, Reta Rodgers, Sandy Heid, and Bruce Thoen - provides spiritual oversight alongside the pastors.
Following Along Online
Sunday services are livestreamed at 10:30 am on YouTube, with recent sermons available afterward on the channel. The No Roof Podcast carries the church's teaching ministry beyond Sunday morning and can be found on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Online giving is handled through the church's Shelby Giving portal, and a Plan a Visit form welcomes first-time guests at livingbyfaith.com.
Anyone with general questions can email administration@livingbyfaith.com. Living Faith Church meets at 10266 Battleview Parkway in Manassas.