At the corner of Old Keene Mill Road and Spring Road in Springfield, Virginia, Springfield United Methodist Church has been a steady presence for more than seventy years. The congregation's mission - to know Jesus, to share his love, and to grow his church - shapes everything from Sunday worship to Wednesday night programs to the long-running Sandwich Ministry in the church kitchen. The church welcomes everyone without exception, describing itself as a place where people of every age, background, identity, ability, and family make-up are of sacred worth and fully invited into the life of the community.
From a School Auditorium to a Church on a Busy Corner
The story of Springfield United Methodist Church begins in a small rural community. In 1952, Springfield, Virginia was a cluster of farmland and forest with about 550 residents. By 1954 the population had swelled to nearly 3,000, and local families began to dream of a Methodist church that could serve the growing community spiritually and socially. In December 1953, thirteen faithful residents gathered at Garfield School to begin organizing one. Rev. George W. Harrison was appointed as the church's first pastor in January 1954, and on March 14, 1954 - Charter Sunday - 137 people joined the new church. It was the largest charter service ever conducted in Virginia at the time.
For more than a year the congregation worshiped in Garfield School. With no altar available, Rev. Harrison and a church member went looking for furniture and came back with a home bar from Hechinger's, which they transformed into the church's first altar. Rev. Harrison later joked that it may have been the first time a home bar had been converted into a Methodist altar. Land for a permanent home was donated by the Vernon M. Lynch family. Groundbreaking took place indoors on February 6, 1955 because of freezing temperatures, with soil placed in a flower box for the ceremony. By October 1955, the first church building was consecrated, with a sanctuary, classrooms, and offices. Springfield kept growing, and the church grew with it - a larger sanctuary, chapel, classrooms, kitchen, and fellowship spaces were added by 1960, and membership eventually peaked near 2,800 in 1969.
An Inclusivity Statement Written in Galatians
Springfield UMC places welcome at the center of its identity. The church's inclusivity statement affirms that all individuals are of sacred worth without regard to gender, gender identity or sexual orientation, ethnic background or national origin, age, physical or mental ability, marital status, economic condition, faith history, family make-up, or anything else that might divide God's family. By following Christ's example, the congregation works to make justice, inclusivity, and diversity a reality inside the church and beyond. The full welcome extends to people of all ages, all gender identities and expressions, all ethnicities and national origins, all abilities and mental wellness, all marital statuses and family structures, and all socioeconomic backgrounds and faith journeys. The statement draws on Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Congregation members describe themselves as gender diverse, neurodiverse, socioeconomically diverse, and racially diverse, and they intentionally call the church a brave space that welcomes LGBTQIA+ siblings.
Beliefs Shaped by Grace and Connection
The congregation lives within the United Methodist tradition and gives shape to that inheritance through six core values.
Grace is primary. Everything the church has from God is a gift, not an achievement, anchored in Ephesians 2:8-9.
Baptism is blessing. Infant baptism celebrates God's loving claim on a life, believer baptism and confirmation respond to that claim, and one baptism is sufficient.
God is triune. The one God has been revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - Creator, Savior, and Redeemer.
Holiness is personal and social. Following John Wesley, faith is deeply personal but never private; Christians are responsible for building one another up and loving their neighbors as themselves.
Communion is open. The Lord's Supper belongs to Christ as host, and everyone is welcome at the table. The bread and cup are not restricted by baptism or church membership.
Churches are connected. Springfield UMC is linked with other United Methodists locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally, and the church is part of the Northern Virginia District and the Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church.
Sunday at Springfield UMC
The hub of weekly life is the Sunday morning rhythm. Coffee and donuts are available before the service, and Divine Worship gathers in the sanctuary at 10:30 AM. Services last about an hour and include inspiring music with hymns and contemporary songs, prayer, Scripture reading, and Bible-centered preaching. Children's Church for ages 3 to 10 begins at 10:45 AM, when children are dismissed from the sanctuary for Bible lessons, music, crafts, snacks, and activities. The congregation is warm and welcoming; people attend in everything from jeans and sneakers to suits and ties. Visitors who would rather stay home can join the service online, with worship livestreamed on the church's livestream page, Facebook Live, and YouTube.
At 2:00 PM on the first Sunday of each month, a separate worship service is held at Greenspring Senior Living in the Garden Ridge Multi-purpose Room. This monthly gathering extends pastoral care and spiritual encouragement to older adults in the Springfield area and is one of the church's distinctive partnerships.
For adults who want to dig deeper, Adult Sunday School meets at 9:00 AM via Zoom.
Wednesday Night Live
Wednesday Night Live brings the church family together in the middle of the week. Beginning at 6:00 PM, the evening includes dinner, fellowship, Bible study, and activities for all ages, and Chapel Worship is offered at 7:00 PM. The program has become a vibrant midweek ministry, drawing together children, youth, adults, and seniors for shared learning and spiritual renewal.
Children, Nursery, and the Christian Weekday Program
Children are an important part of Springfield UMC. Nursery care is available from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM for ages 0 to 4, with attentive staff welcoming each child while parents attend worship. Children ages 3 to 10 gather weekly from 10:45 to 11:30 AM for Children's Church, and monthly fellowship events designed just for kids round out the calendar. Children regularly participate in worship, ministry events, and seasonal celebrations throughout the year. The Children's and Youth Choir, which rehearses after service in the Choir Room (Room 117), sings monthly during worship and presents an annual musical.
The Christian Weekday Program (CWP) extends the church's reach into the broader community. The preschool serves families with quality early childhood education and spiritual development, and its director oversees a full academic-year program. CWP is one of the church's most enduring ministries, serving generations of Springfield families.
Youth in Central Springfield
Youth in grades 6 through 12 find a place to belong through a unique partnership. Springfield UMC shares youth leadership with St. Christopher's Episcopal Church and Grace Presbyterian Church, the three Central Springfield congregations whose pastors plan meaningful gatherings, fellowship, and service projects together. The combined youth ministry gives young people in the area a wider community of peers and mentors. Locally, youth also serve in worship at Springfield UMC, taking on roles as AV assistants, lay liturgists, worship leaders, ushers, and acolytes. Monthly fellowship gatherings and bi-monthly service projects help youth connect faith with real-world impact.
A Joyful Sound of Music
Music has been central to Springfield UMC since a pipe organ was dedicated in 1960. The choirs, handbells, and instrumental groups draw from a deep tradition. The Sanctuary Choir leads worship each Sunday, rehearsing Thursday evenings in the Choir Room, and presents a special annual cantata. The handbell ministry, begun in 1982, continues to enrich worship as the Timbrel Ringers, who rehearse on Wednesday evenings. Dr. Linda Monson has faithfully served the congregation through music leadership since 1987, and Allan Weberg has served as organist since 1996. Mindi Riffer leads the handbell program. Music and Worship Arts at Springfield UMC includes choral music, handbells, organ, piano, and congregational singing - offering both traditional hymns and joyful contemporary worship for a blended musical experience.
Sandwich Ministry, ECHO, and Hands-On Outreach
Outreach is woven into the church's identity. Each Sunday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM, volunteers gather in the church kitchen to prepare sandwiches for neighbors in need. The Sandwich Ministry has been a simple but powerful weekly rhythm of service for years, and newcomers are welcomed into the work. Springfield UMC partners with ECHO to provide food, clothing, household items, and financial assistance to families in need throughout the Springfield and Burke area. For more than forty years, the church has hosted quarterly Red Cross blood drives, contributing over 2,000 units of life-saving blood to the community. Each year the congregation also assembles UMCOR relief kits filled with essential supplies for people facing hardship around the world, sent through the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Monthly community service projects and seasonal events round out the outreach rhythm.
Adults: Prayer, Small Groups, and Stephen Ministry
For adults looking to grow in faith and connection, Springfield UMC offers a network of prayer and small groups. A weekly prayer group lifts up the church, the community, and individual prayer requests in intercession and encouragement. Seasonal small groups gather around topics such as evangelism, missions, and spiritual growth. On the first Saturday of each month at 8:00 AM, the United Methodist Men's Breakfast brings men of different generations together in the Hospitality Center for conversation, fellowship, and spiritual growth. A monthly book club meets on the third Sunday at 4:00 PM in the Hospitality Center, and a Quilt Ministry gathers in Room 203 to stitch comfort into fabric and community.
Stephen Ministry is one of the most quietly powerful ministries in the church. Specially trained lay Stephen Ministers provide one-on-one Christian care during difficult seasons of life, walking alongside people experiencing grief, illness, loneliness, divorce, discouragement, job loss, or other challenges. They listen, pray, and offer steady presence. Training opportunities are offered throughout the year for those who feel called to serve in this way.
Recovery and Pastoral Care
The church building is home to recovery meetings that serve the wider community. A daily Alcoholics Anonymous meeting gathers in the Hospitality Center at 6:00 AM, and a NarAnon support group for family and friends affected by a loved one's addiction meets Wednesday evenings at 8:00 PM. Pastoral care is available through Pastor Mac and the Stephen Ministry team.
Practical Details for Visitors
Springfield UMC is at 7047 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, Virginia 22150, with free parking behind the building. Visitors entering the building should use the four doors on the right - the leftmost doors are for the preschool. A ramp entrance and handicap-accessible parking are available on the right-hand side of the building, and a lift chair makes the sanctuary accessible. Worship lasts about one hour. The dress code is "come as you are" - jeans and sneakers are as welcome as a suit and tie. Nursery care is available from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM for children ages 0 to 4. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and can be reached at (703) 451-2375.
Those who want to plan a visit can fill out an online visitor registration form to let the pastors know about accessibility questions or follow-up preferences. Visitors are welcomed at the door by greeters and ushers who are happy to answer questions.
Leadership
Pastor DeLishia A. Davis serves as Lead Pastor, bringing a passion for preaching, teaching, and community engagement. She is the author of Upgrade Your Life: 21 Days of Personal Transformation, Positioned for a Breakthrough, Echoes of Excellence: Black History and our Lives Today, and Sacred Shifts, and she has published songs, poems, and articles. Pastor Mac McKenney serves as Associate Pastor with a focus on pastoral care and youth and family ministry. Dr. Linda Monson directs Music Ministries. Allan Weberg is the organist, Mindi Riffer leads the handbell program, and Geneva Tatem coordinates children's ministry. Zaraider Ahmed serves as Interim Director of the Christian Weekday Program. Rania Talib and Darlene Griffith provide nursery child care, and Jean Hmara serves as Office Manager.
A Living Testimony at a Busy Intersection
For more than seventy years, Springfield United Methodist Church has stood at a busy corner in Springfield, but its identity has always been about far more than a building. From the improbable story of a home bar becoming a first altar to a daily AA meeting and a Wednesday Night Live that fills the building with laughter and learning, the church has continually adapted to serve the changing community around it. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the congregation kept its ministries alive through online worship and virtual meetings, and on Easter Sunday 2021 it joyfully reopened for in-person worship. Under Pastor DeLishia Davis's leadership since 2025, the church has experienced renewed momentum, consistent attendance growth, and an exciting spirit of revitalization. New ministries and community partnerships have strengthened the church's mission and expanded its impact. Guided by faith, strengthened by community, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, Springfield United Methodist Church looks ahead with hope and expectation - believing wholeheartedly that the best is yet to come.