Beyond its red brick facade lies a story of unity. This is the story of Viers Mill Baptist Church. It is a church with a vision for all people. Viers Mill Baptist Church is a vibrant church. The church envisions a place where God is worshiped. It envisions a place where the gospel is proclaimed. This happens faithfully in the church and community. It happens throughout the world.
Viers Mill Baptist Church supports new congregations. Currently, it hosts three congregations. Fellowship Baptist Church is one. Rev. Emmanuel Jean-Phillipe is the pastor. This African-American congregation has met here since 1988. Its worship follows the African-American tradition.
Montgomery Chinese Baptist Mission is another. Rev. Luke Lau leads it. It originally ministered to the Cantonese-speaking population. Now worship is in both Cantonese and Mandarin. There is also an English service. This is for American-born Chinese.
Viers Mill Spanish Baptist Church completes the trio. Rev. Rolando Pérez Castillo leads. It offers vibrant worship for Hispanic immigrants. They come from the Wheaton and Rockville area.
Viers Mill Baptist Church is uniquely multi-ethnic. It is home to five congregations. These congregations speak four languages. They are not ships passing in the night. They are a fleet. The congregations meet at the same time on Sundays. They know each other well. They gather quarterly to worship together.
Robert Wilson was Viers Mill Baptist Church’s long-time pastor. He retired in October 2023. The church is prayerfully searching for a new pastor now.
The quarterly gathering is special. One such gathering was the last for Pastor Wilson. The combined congregations showed appreciation to Wilson and his wife. They thanked them for their service and faithfulness.
The service included remembering Sue Tilley. She served as music director for nearly three decades. She was involved in the music ministry.
Another special aspect was baptisms. Pastor Chen baptized three members. They were from Maryland Chinese Baptist Mission.
Members from each congregation read scripture. They read it in English Mandarin Cantonese and Spanish. Together they sang Amazing Grace. They sang Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. They sang the Doxology in their own languages. Viers Mill Hispanic Church offered special music. Pastor Rolando Perez-Castillo shared a sermon.
The service included communion. It ended with the congregations holding hands. They sang The Family of God in all four languages. After the service Maryland Chinese Baptist Church invited the Wilsons to a Chinese dinner.
The language congregations reach people they can’t otherwise reach. They do things that could not be done alone. Most started as missions of Viers Mill. Their members were members of the main congregations and families.
Viers Mill is blessed with a big building. Fellowship Church meets in their old chapel. Montgomery Chinese Church meets in a fellowship hall. Viers Mill Hispanic Church meets in a Sunday School room. Maryland Chinese Church meets in the main hall. The advantage is that people know each other. It creates good fellowship.
The community is ethnically diverse. Local elementary schools report many languages spoken. When the churches share flyers they list all congregations. This lets neighbors know about the different groups.
Through the years the church has had a food pantry. It has partnered with lower-income schools. They provide services and care. This includes supplying Christmas gifts. They’ve had English programs and hosted Boy Scouts. Covid has impacted those ministries. Yet the church presses on.
Viers Mill doesn’t rent space. All participate in the building’s operation. They are sister churches. They came as missions of Viers Mill. They evolved to stand alone. But they still work together. They meet four times a year for planning.
Viers Mill holds hands and sings Family of God. It’s not you and me. It is us. Viers Mill Baptist Church is a beacon of faith. It stands as a testament to unity in diversity. It is a true family of God.