Our Mission
Mission Statement:
St. John's Church shall act to inspire, teach, and support people in their journey to personally know, learn, and share the transforming message of believing, trusting, and serving in faith: Jesus.
To accomplish this objective, we shall:
- Establish an independent, unaffiliated church upon which all governance shall be directed primarily by the Holy Bible. St. John’s Church confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This Church serves God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit as representatives within His Holy Catholic Church. (To Learn more about the meaning of "Holy Catholic Church" visit the FAQ page or Contact Us.)
- Acknowledge that all people fall short of the glory of God and salvation comes only through repentance and forgiveness of sin by the shed blood of God's only son: Jesus.
- Act to fulfill the needs of our community through outreach programs.
- Act to minister and spread the Word of God to children and adults of all ages.
- Commit to furthering our knowledge of God’s Word.
- Welcome all with love, compassion, and kindness.
- Seek God’s will through prayer and meditation.
A Brief History
In 1896 on a hill above where the Sandy River flows in the Stony Mill community of Virginia, a few people gathered to offer children in the area a place to learn about the Gospel of Jesus. There wasn’t a building used for worship. To attend, most had to walk. People sat on wood slabs atop this hill surrounded by trees and pastureland. It was hot in the summer. It was cold in the winter. But people came. Why?
There was love in this place, but not ordinary love. This love was the type of love that was willing to sacrifice whatever necessary (mind, body, strength) in working to honor and share the knowledge and love of God. People gave their time, skills, and what little money they could spare to serve other people without expectation or want of anything in return. The result? People felt a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose. People felt the love of Jesus and lives were changed—saved.
The building that stands today was slowly pieced together through the years. The structure began as a simple brush arbor with the sole purpose of providing some relief from the intense summer sun. Eventually, trees on the property were cut, hauled to a local sawmill, and then returned to the land from which they originated. Their purpose was to be the new sanctuary that housed the people worshipping a shared Creator.
For many years, this church was affiliated with the United Methodist Church Conference. However, in July of 2023, we became St. John’s Church a non-denominated church with a desire to get back to the basics of scripture beginning with the two greatest commandments: Love God and Love others!
In many ways, we are like the few that gathered in 1896. We are a small group. Our mission is the same, but the challenges that we face in today’s world are different. Despite the numerous studies published on the overall decline in church attendance and decline in religious affiliation, despite living in a world that is forgetting God, rejecting Jesus, and becoming more divided, despite all the struggles, this small church stands. You may call us unrealistic, but we have a vision of serving this community in ways not yet seen from a church.
Long ago, this church started without walls. Today, our hope is to break down any walls that you may have built around your heart by teaching, living, and growing in the Truth. We invite you to become a part of our vision and to contribute your own ideas. Together we can share the Gospel with the lost and the broken.
Rev. 3:20 (NKJV)
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock."
MEet Some of Our Members
We are a small group of believers with a strong desire to share the message of Jesus.
Our services are designed to be informative with a focus on what it means to grow a relationship with Jesus. We teach from the Bible and primarily use the New International Version (NIV). Whether you are a lifelong Christian or just starting to explore your faith, we invite you to join us and discover the meaning of growing a relationship with Jesus.
These are some of our members. They are a part of our leadership team. They're also some of the friendly people that you'll meet when you visit.
- Jennie Finney - Lay Leader, Member
- Emma Austin - Council Chair, Member
- Katie Scarce - Assistant Treasurer, Member
- Howard "Pee Wee" Lynch - Administrative Council, Member
- Brenda Burnette - Council Secretary, Member
- Shawn Hawkins- Administrative Council, Member
- Don Payne - Administrative Council, Member
- Jason Austin - Worship leader & Treasurer, Member
Worship Service
What is a typical worship service like?
We are a small, country church. This is not a church to attend with the expectation of being lost among the crowd! You'll be greeted with love and friendly smiles. We welcome you as you are, and there are no expectations for you to dress a certain way. Also, please don't feel obligated to give money when we pass around the collection plate. This can make some people feel uncomfortable. Please don't feel this way. We realize there are many ways in which you can give to God including the option to make a donation through our website. We're simply thankful to have you worshipping with us in church!
The ultimate goal of our service is to join with you in humbly denying ourselves in the presence of Holy God. Worshipping Him is about coming together to learn, to love, to repent, to forgive, and to grow a personal relationship with Jesus.
This is not your grandma's church, as the saying goes, but it's also not a modern church. This is St. John's Church! This is becoming truth strong!
We hope you'll join us! We look forward to meeting you and beginning a new journey together.