Southview Community Church

To complete this year’s Easter series and transition to the upcoming messages about the early Christian Church in Acts, Pastor William Attaway outlines the events in the last chapter of John. Here, Jesus comes to restore the Apostle Peter to relationship with Him and to renew his calling to follow Him, despite Peter’s past failures. In so doing, He sets a model for us.

As the conclusion to this year's Easter series, Pastor William Attaway uses the story of "Doubting Thomas" in John 20:24-31 to encourage members of the church that it is safe to express doubts to Jesus. Just like with the apostle Thomas, Jesus already knows all our doubts and is ready to answer them.

Pastor William Attaway continues the Easter series with Jesus' visit on Sunday night to the apostles in the locked room. Jesus takes fearful people like them and us and reconnects us to Himself by the power of His peace, so that we also can forgive and love others.

Continuing the story of Easter, Pastor William Attaway describes the encounter between Jesus and several of His followers on the road, after His first reappearance to Mary at the tomb. These male followers had not believed Mary because they were still blinded by their dead hopes of who Jesus would be and what He would do for them. Pastor William encourages the church to do what Jesus Himself did and clear away false hopes with words of truth from the Bible.

Pastor William Attaway unfolds from John 20:1-18 the account of Mary Magdalene's meeting the risen Christ for the first time. At first, blinded by the grief of Jesus' recent crucifixion and death, Mary could not see Him standing alive right in front of her. She could not see that God had made a new creation for all of us.

On Palm Sunday two millennia ago, the Jews in Jerusalem celebrated the entrance of Jesus with tremendous jubilation and honor. Pastor William Attaway, just back from sabbatical, explains what they were expecting from Jesus, in contrast to the salvation He was about to bring.

Sometimes God asks us to give up the very thing He promised. Pastor Brad Russell from Dulles Community Church takes us through Genesis 22, the story where God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, then provides a ram at the last second. Pastor Russell explains how this story is a foreshadowing of God actually sacrificing His own Son, Jesus, for us.

Pastor Dee Whitten illuminates the story of Barnabas, a follower of Jesus who used the qualities built in him by the Holy Spirit to encourage, enliven, and bring together the early church.

Visiting speaker Priscilla Shi shares from Matthew 6:6, exhorting the church to open their hearts to the Lord individually and personally, in secret.

Speaking from 2 Peter 3:1-2, visiting pastor Danny Chung challenges the church to grow in all areas of life by building sweet relationship with Jesus through regular discipline in reading His Word. Danny Chung was born in Seoul, Korea but moved to Toronto, Canada where he spent most of his life. He then moved to VA about 13 years ago with his wife Angela and their now two teenage daughters. He is currently serving as the lead pastor of Bridgeway Church that was founded just over 8 years ago.

Visiting pastor Brad Russell from Dulles Community Church goes through Luke 5, encouraging the church to turn their attention to the voice of God. We have a Heavenly Father that will never stop trying to speak love and life into our lives, and Pastor Brad encourages us to lean in and listen.

Visiting pastor Steve Kane speaks from Jeremiah chapter 25, encouraging God's people to listen to His words and follow Him into life's adventures without fear.

Visiting pastor Steve Kane used the metaphor of reading a hard-copy, classic map to encourage individuals and parents to set their eyes on the goals God wants for them and their children and then to trust Him with the process. After the sermon, Southview celebrated a baby dedication.

Leaders of some of Southview Community Church's ministry teams related their personal testimonies of coming to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and their paths to their current positions. Speakers included: Jasmine Latour, Hospitality Team Lead; Jenna Kirkhart, Family Ministry Director; Macy Puryear, Student Ministry Director; and Marshall Kregg, Small Groups Coordinator.

Visiting pastor Brad Russell from Dulles Community Church preaches from 1 Samuel to encourage the church to listen for God's constant, persistent voice and to respond in faith.

This week, Southview introduced our new group of Elders to the church community and gave them the opportunity to introduce themselves and discuss spiritual gifts. The new elders are: Nadine James, Dan McLuskie, Carl Blackmon, and Megan Kime.Southview recognizes Elders as men and women who possess gifts of leadership, are giving of themselves in service to the Church, and who are called to serve in this capacity. They are to care about and pray regularly for the spiritual and physical well-being of attendees, our leaders, and our community.

Guest speaker Priscilla Lisi Shi shares about the power of Jesus and the truth of His words, as proved in her own life.--Priscilla Lisa Shi is a gifted storyteller, speaker, prayer minister, Bible study teacher, and missionary. She is passionate about creating moments for people to encounter the living God through prayer in various settings at conferences, by teaching Bible studies, and through teaching and competitive sports. She has an older bunch: her sons, 17-year-old son Jalen; 20-year-old nephew Semisi; and 18-year-old brother Jaden, who are the absolute joy of her life. She and her husband, Jeff, live in South Riding with their younger bunch: Cloe, 2.5 years old; and Zoe, 4 years old.

Bryan Jones, Executive Director of the NorthStar Church Network, asks the church four key identity questions to start the year.

Merry Christmas from Pastor William and the rest of us here at Southview Community Church.

The magi come to see young Jesus, the King of the Jews, and have to navigate around wicked King Herod first.