Monument Heights Baptist Church is located at 5716 Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia, and is known for Bible study, Sunday worship and hands-on ministry across generations. Sunday Bible study begins at 9:30 a.m., worship begins at 11 a.m., and the church's ministries extend through children and youth programs, small groups, music, missions and service for local families and people experiencing homelessness.
Sunday Classes at 9:30, Worship at 11
Sunday begins with Bible Study Classes at 9:30 a.m. In the Children's Wing, children are grouped by age, with classes for ages 0-3, Pre-K through first grade, and grades 2-5. Adults gather at the same hour in several classes. New Beginnings, led by Gayle Childers, carries on the heritage of the Dorcas and Loving Well classes and uses Bible Studies for Life. Julia Killian leads Seekers, a class for women and men that studies verse by verse. Mike Council and Bob Thompson teach Joy with the Formations curriculum, while Jon Holste leads Fellowship for a book-by-book, verse-by-verse study without a printed curriculum. Worship begins at 11 a.m. and can also be watched online.
A Children's Wing Built for Learning and Safety
The church gives its children's work three purposes: to lay foundations for children to accept Jesus Christ as Savior, to guide them in developing Christlikeness, and to prepare them for a life of service. During a designated portion of worship, children ages 4 through fifth grade are invited to Children's Worship in the children's wing. They play games, sing songs, and receive an age-appropriate lesson that mirrors the sermon. They also learn a classic hymn that will be sung in the sanctuary later, bridging Children's Worship and the main service.
Safety, Fun and Truth
Background checks are run on every volunteer and teacher every five years, and two adults from different family units are present with children whenever they meet. Games, crafts and creative stories help make the setting fun, while age-appropriate lessons about Jesus and the Bible are intended to help children understand God's love and plan for their lives. This approach joins parents and families as the church seeks to raise children and youth in the faith and equip them for Christian life.
The Gathering: One Midweek Hour Across Generations
The Gathering meets Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Youth Suite. It is designed as more than another class: all ages are grouped into houses for fellowship, relationships, growing knowledge and passion for God's work, and direct pastoral care. Hands-on missions projects are part of the format. Once each quarter, the group packs more than 100 lunches for people experiencing homelessness.
Study Groups and the Tuesday Book Club
Youth Bible studies meet weekly on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. On Tuesdays at 10 a.m., the Ask Anything Bible Book Club studies the Scriptures from the Sunday sermon with the pastors. Each week stands alone, so someone can join at any point. The Fisherman Class also meets weekly on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room. It is open to men and uses the Bible Studies for Life curriculum. These classes, together with the adult Sunday groups and Wednesday study, make regular Bible study part of the church's rhythm.
A 9 a.m. online prayer gathering runs Sunday through Friday through Google Meet.
Mission Groups Put Learning to Work
The Women's Mission Groups gather once a month to learn about local, national and world missions. They sponsor church-wide mission projects and support missionaries. The Green Abell Group, named for two missionaries, meets on the second Monday at 2 p.m. in the Conference Room and often shares lunch before the gathering. The Kim Wyatt Group, named for missionary Kim Wyatt, meets on the second Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Conference Room and focuses on missions and service in the community.
Charistix Chix meets on the third Friday at 10 a.m. in the Choir Room. Women with sewing, crochet or knitting skills make prayer shawls, walker bags, pillowcases for children in hospitals and other useful items. Past projects include blankets and pillowcases for medically fragile children, a church-wide collection of bicycles and helmets for children at the Northside Outreach Center, and a collection of formula for the Pregnancy Resource Center.
Food Collection supports the Grace Box with lunch-to-go tuna salad kits and Mt. Moriah with nonperishable lunches. A Monthly Men's Breakfast, a First Sunday Lunch and a Monthly Women's Breakfast add regular times for food and fellowship. These ministries place mission work in the congregation's calendar alongside the quarterly lunch project for people experiencing homelessness.
Choirs, Handbells and Sunday Mornings
Minister of Music Suzanne White began as a preschool children's choir director and later worked with older children, youth, adults and instrumentalists through special musicals. She founded the church's adult handbell choir in 2007. Kay Williamson serves as organist. She earned a BA in Organ Performance from Longwood University and has also studied at the University of Richmond; before joining the church, she was Director of Music and Organist at Bainbridge Street Baptist Church and an accompanist for vocal students at Virginia Commonwealth University. Lifelong member Robin Lipps serves as pianist, accompanying youth choir and Sunday morning worship and playing for special performances.
Pastors Rooted in Teaching and Care
Lead Pastor Jon Holste first came to the church as a member before joining the staff. He holds degrees from the University of Virginia and an MA in Christian Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, was ordained at Falls Baptist Church in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and says he loves to study and teach the Bible and live life together with God's people. Associate Pastor Nicole Patteson is a Richmond native who earned a BS from Radford University and an MDiv from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Her work in parachurch and nonprofit organizations and as a preschool teacher shaped her earlier ministry with youth and children.
The church's office telephone is 804-285-3256, with office hours Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Monument Heights Baptist Church is centered on learning the Bible, worshiping Jesus Christ, forming children and youth in faith, caring across generations, supporting missionaries and meeting practical needs. Its schedule joins Sunday worship with Bible study, fellowship, music and service, giving the church a clear identity that reaches from its rooms on Monument Avenue into local communities.