A Half-Century in Dulles
Temple Baptist Church has stood at 45825 Russell Branch Parkway in Dulles, Virginia for 50 years. The congregation marks that milestone with a single-sentence mission: "celebrating 50 years of faithful service to the Lord." Independent Baptist in conviction, Temple Baptist describes itself as "Biblicists," underscoring that the Bible, not any human creed, is its rule of faith and practice. On any given Sunday a crowd gathers for Sunday school at 9 a.m., morning worship at 10, and an evening service at 5:30, while nearly 100 missionaries worldwide are underwritten by the church's missions giving.
A Bible-Only Foundation
Temple Baptist holds to historic Baptist distinctives. Salvation, the church teaches, comes only through the merits of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for sin. The Bible is the only rule of faith and practice, and Baptists maintain that there is no creed but the Bible. Two ordinances mark the church: believer's baptism and the Lord's Supper. Membership in a New Testament church is described as a two-step sequence of regeneration first and immersion baptism second, and the church is organized around a pastor and deacons. The priesthood of every believer is also affirmed, meaning each person has direct access to God and the right to interpret Scripture under the Spirit's guidance.
Fundamental tenets the church affirms include the inspiration of the Bible, the creation of man by God, the incarnation and virgin birth of Jesus Christ, His identity as the Son of God, His atonement through the shedding of His blood on Calvary, His bodily resurrection, His power to save mankind from sin, and new birth through regeneration by the Holy Spirit. The motto verse above it all: "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." (Psalm 34:8)
A Sunday Rhythm
Sunday begins with Sunday school for every age at 9 a.m. Children from three years old through sixth grade meet in graded classes; teens gather with Pastor Andrew Schreiber; adults break into classes such as F.O.C.A.S., Rooted Together, Striving to Thrive, Firm Foundation (led by Pastor Branden Lawrence), Victorious Living (led by Pastor David Pittman), with a New Members Class on the way.
Morning worship follows at 10 a.m. and runs about an hour. Children's Church runs alongside it for ages three through third grade, with Bible stories, songs, games, crafts, and snacks. The evening service begins at 5:30 p.m. and wraps about 6:30, with choir and orchestra carrying the singing alongside congregational hymns.
Wednesday Nights
Midweek brings several streams. A Wednesday Visitation Supper fills the 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. window for fellowship. AWANA Clubs then take over the gym from 7 to 8:15 p.m. during the school year, teaching Bible verses through games and rewarding children from age three through sixth grade. The adult Bible study meets at 7:15 p.m. in another room, while teens gather the same evening for mega-night, teen visitation, a shared meal, and a service the church calls Teen Time.
Children, Teens, and a Christian School
Children's ministry starts in the nursery, where infants through wobblers and trotters (up to 36 months) are cared for during services so parents can focus. AWANA and Vacation Bible School fill out the year for school-age kids, with a free week-long summer VBS closing on Friday night with a carnival complete with inflatable rides.
Teenagers meet under Pastor Andrew Schreiber and his wife Ellie, supported by a team that includes Chase and Hannah Lund, Nathan and Erica Gardner, Sam Moore, and others. The teen Sunday school class meets at 9 a.m., and Wednesdays bring a full program of games, visitation, and Teen Time. Sports are part of the offering, too: girls volleyball, boys soccer, and boys basketball compete against other Christian schools, with no charge for uniforms, transportation, or home-game gym admission. Temple Baptist Conquerors merchandise is sold through an online spirit-wear store, and the teams display the school's name proudly on jerseys and warmups.
Across the parking lot, Temple Baptist School runs as an accredited Christian school serving grades K3 through 12. The program emphasizes solid academics and character built on God's Word, with small class sizes and teachers who treat their work as a ministry. Longtime high school teacher Lance Listh now serves as the school's administrator.
Men, Women, and the Wider World
The men of Temple Baptist meet at 8:30 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month for a free prayer breakfast prepared by a crew of cooks, then break into small groups to pray. Joshua Clubs put five or six men together to study and memorize a passage of Scripture, usually before the Sunday evening service. Periodic Men's Nights Out head to Mission BBQ or a local burger spot for fellowship. Construction missions trips send teams each year to assist missionaries the church supports; past destinations include Uganda, Bolivia, India, Ivory Coast, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic.
Ladies gather on Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m. for Patterns, a Bible study led by Janet Pittman with coffee, breakfast, fellowship, and nursery care. Heart in Hands prepares meals for new mothers and those recovering from surgery. Periodic Ladies Nights Out head to a restaurant or a shopping excursion.
Music ministry runs through the choir that sings each Sunday morning, the church orchestra (brass through strings), piano specials, and ensembles for vocalists.
Joining from Anywhere
Senior Pastor Bryan Baggett has served more than three decades in missions, church planting, and pastoral ministry, including years as a missionary pilot in Venezuela, and now shares the Gospel at Temple with his wife Kris. Pastor Branden Lawrence has been at Temple for over 20 years and serves as assistant pastor along with the missions, music, AWANA, and VBS portfolios. Pastor Andrew Schreiber oversees the youth ministry.
Services are broadcast through Facebook Live, YouTube, and Sermon Audio, where an archive of past messages with downloadable notes and transcripts reaches back through years of preaching. Listeners with limited internet access can dial 712-432-3410, choose option 2, and enter church code 48127 to catch the live audio.
Tithes, offerings, and missions contributions are accepted online, supporting nearly 100 missionaries worldwide. The church's address is 45825 Russell Branch Parkway, Dulles, Virginia 20166, and the office can be reached at 703-437-7400 or churchoffice@tbcva.com.