Union Baptist Church in Hayes, Virginia, is known for Bible-centered teaching, blended worship, age-specific discipleship, and practical care for families. At 9254 Guinea Road, near Achilles Elementary, its Sunday rhythm begins with small groups at 9:30 a.m. and continues with worship at 10:45 a.m.; on Wednesday, children, students, and adults meet at 6 p.m. The church's central aim is to form a family that glorifies God by relying on His power, declaring the hope of Christ, and discipling every generation.
Depending on His Power and Declaring Christ's Hope
That three-part purpose shapes both the schedule and the life of the church. Union emphasizes God's power at work in believers, the hope found in Christ, and spiritual formation across every generation. Ephesians 3:20-21 provides the foundation: God is able to do far more than believers ask or think, and glory belongs to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through every generation.
Sunday school and small groups provide places to know people, study the Bible, encourage one another, and engage in meaningful discussion. Wednesday ministries carry that emphasis into childhood, adolescence, and adult life. The student ministry adds a strong outward emphasis, seeking to equip young people not only to grow in Christian faith but also to serve others so that Christ is visible in them.
Union's music and pastoral leadership includes Associate Pastor and Minister of Music Michael Lawhown, who holds degrees in music and Christian education and previously served as a senior pastor for 10 years.
Sunday: Small Groups at 9:30 and Worship at 10:45
At 9:30 a.m., people of every age gather for small groups and Sunday school. At 10:45, the congregation moves into worship, with childcare available for children from birth to 4 years old. The worship music blends contemporary songs with traditional hymns. The focus is to delight in and worship God for how amazing He is.
Preaching is usually expository. Union defines this as bringing out what is in the Bible text, often working through a series or a book from beginning to end and occasionally focusing on one topic. Connecting the text week by week is intended to give people the larger picture of Scripture and show how it applies to life.
Attire has a broad range. Some worshippers wear suits, some wear business casual clothing, and others choose more casual attire. The church's practical summary is that the most important thing to wear is a heart ready to meet God.
Classes shaped by age, interests, and relationships
The 9:30 classes make room for different kinds of Bible study and fellowship. They are distributed through the second floor, children's wing, fellowship hall, and small chapel.
- Home Builders welcomes individuals and couples of all ages for co-ed Bible study and frequent fellowship socials on the middle of the second floor.
- Bereans is a co-ed class for couples and individuals who enjoy deep dives and conversation. Its name comes from Acts 17:11, where people searched the Scriptures to test what they had heard.
- Fidelis serves adult women of all ages in Room 119 across from the chapel. Teachers rotate regularly and work to stay connected with class members.
- 25-45 Couples and Co-Ed gathers couples and people ages 25 to 45 in the northeast corner of the second floor, with younger adults also welcome.
- Action Class is for women and features active discussion, regular lessons, and a personal touch in Room 214 above the children's wing.
- Senior Men's meets in the back right of the fellowship hall for fellowship.
- Cornerstone welcomes men and women of all ages in Room 215 above the children's wing. The class studies one book of the Bible each quarter.
- Truth Seekers is for seniors in the small chapel to the left of the awning entrance, combining close Scripture study with insights from mature Christian men and women who remain young at heart.
- The student class for grades 6-12 emphasizes God, spiritual growth, support for students and parents, service, and fellowship.
- UBC Kids serves grades 1-5 in the children's wing and introduces children to Jesus while laying foundations for growth in the Lord.
The nursery opens at 9:45 a.m. for children from birth through kindergarten and again at 11 a.m. during worship for ages 0-4. During the 10:45 service, preschool classes are also available for children from birth to 4, and parents must stay on campus for any child under 5.
Wednesday Nights: Bible Lessons, Games, Crafts, and Service
At 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, each generation has a gathering designed for its own needs. UBC Kids serves grades K-5 until 7:30 p.m. with singing, games, crafts, theme nights, and Bible teaching. Preschoolers from birth to 4 have their own classes during the same hour, with parents or guardians on campus. The preschool rooms include toys and activities that help children learn about Jesus in an inviting setting.
Students in grades 6-12 gather for a mix of games, service activities, Bible study, fellowship, and road trips during the year. Their mission is to bring young people to a saving knowledge of Jesus, help them deepen their Christian life, and equip them to serve. The student gathering takes place on the second floor, immediately to the left of the stairs.
Adults also meet at 6 p.m. for Bible study and conversation about Scripture or specific topics. The goal is to move beyond a surface reading into deeper study while allowing conversation and shared understanding.
A Weekly Food Pantry Beside the Church
Union's food pantry serves families and individuals who have basic food needs, with each family able to receive food once each week. Distribution takes place Monday and Thursday from 9 to 10 a.m. The pantry operates from a trailer in the back parking lot beside the old Union Hall building, close to Achilles Elementary.
Volunteers collect food from area grocery stores and the food bank, load it for clients, and work directly with families on distribution days. New volunteers learn alongside experienced workers. Food and monetary donations are also accepted, making this a regular expression of the church's care for families in the area.
Snack Packs, Shoeboxes, and Mission Teams
The missions work extends across local, national, and international lines. Union raises funds for the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board, sends short-term teams, has helped raise up long-term missionaries, and joins local projects. Recurring efforts include making snack packs for local schoolchildren, assembling supply backpacks for children in Appalachia, and preparing shoeboxes through Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child.
The Snack Pack Ministry began in 2012 for students at Achilles Elementary. Each Friday during the school year, forty students receive a snack pack placed in their backpacks to help provide weekend meals. The program can be supported by sponsoring a child for the school year. The shoebox project gathers toys, school supplies, and hygiene items in gift-filled boxes for children in need around the world.
Union assigns a portion of its operating budget to the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia and the Southern Baptist Convention. Those gifts support work including disaster relief, seminary training, community outreach, church planting, and revitalization. Special annual offerings also support the International Mission Board, North American Mission Board, and Vision Virginia.
Beliefs Rooted in Baptist Faith and Message 2000
Union's beliefs align with Baptist Faith and Message 2000. The Bible is described as the supreme authority for faith and conduct, with all 66 books fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts. The church centers its doctrine on the Trinity: one living and true God in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus is affirmed as fully God and fully man, with his substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension, and continued intercession. Salvation comes through repentance and genuine faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, by the grace of God. The Holy Spirit convicts, regenerates, sanctifies, and empowers, and genuine faith involves Christ's lordship over life. The church is described as a unified spiritual body with Christ as head and as a community responsible to proclaim the gospel and make disciples.
Union also teaches that Christian conduct should be distinct from the world, that possessions should be handled as faithful stewardship, and that all people should receive compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Its beliefs affirm life from conception, describe marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and hold that sexual intimacy belongs only within that marriage. The two ordinances are believer's baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper. Baptism is an outward symbol of inward repentance and faith, while the bread and juice at the Lord's Supper symbolically remember Christ's death and the church's unity. The beliefs also include the personal return of Christ, bodily resurrection, final judgment, and eternal reward or punishment.
The Gospel and the Church Family
For Union, the gospel is Good News. The Bible's message is that all people have sinned and fall short of what God made them to be. Because God's justice requires judgment for sin, the penalty is death and separation from God. In God's love, He sent His Son so people could be forgiven and have eternal life. Jesus was born as one of humanity, died on the cross in the place of sinners, and rose again after three days, conquering sin and death.
The response is to repent, or turn from sin, and believe the gospel, receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior. Salvation is by God's mercy and love rather than human merit. The church also emphasizes that Christian faith grows within a church family rather than alone.
Membership is not required to attend worship, small groups, or ministries, while leadership roles in ministries and small groups are reserved for members. For those who choose to join, membership means committing to plant themselves at Union and use their lives and spiritual gifts to serve Christ's kingdom with the church family. The process includes salvation, baptism by immersion as a believer, the Discovering Membership Class, a meeting with a pastor about testimony and commitment, and affirmation by the church family. Pastors commit to helping members grow through prayer, counseling, and teaching, while the church family promises love, encouragement, accountability, and shared work in advancing Christ's kingdom.
Giving and Gathering Space
Online giving is available through Union's giving option. Undesignated gifts support the general operating budget voted on each year by church members, with portions supporting the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia and the Southern Baptist Convention. Active church members may reserve the fellowship hall, and weddings may be held under church policy with a minister approved by the senior pastor. The member making a reservation is responsible for the condition of the space and the nature of the event, and alcohol and dancing are not allowed.
Welcoming Visitors at 9254 Guinea Road
Children from birth through fifth grade may be registered for Sunday and Wednesday activities before visiting. During the 10:45 worship service, parents with children from birth to 4 can use the preschool childcare while remaining on campus. The main entrance is beneath the long awning for anyone arriving from the parking lot behind the church; inside, signs point right toward the welcome desk and coffee. If directions are not clear, church members are ready to help.
The 10:45 a.m. service is livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook through Union's live worship. The church office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be reached at 804-642-2332; the fax number is 804-684-3670.
At 9254 Guinea Road, Union Baptist Church brings together nursery, children, students, adults, and seniors for worship, Bible study, fellowship, and service, reflecting its mission to glorify God by relying on His power, declaring the hope of Christ, and discipling every generation.