On Old Catlett Road, Central to Four Towns
Oak Shade Baptist Church sits along Old Catlett Road in the small community of Catlett, Virginia, and is positioned within easy driving distance of Manassas, Warrenton, Gainesville and Haymarket. Members often describe it as a place that draws worshipers from across this stretch of northern Virginia, with the church's own invitation reading, "We may not be a 'perfect' church, but we serve a PERFECT GOD." The motto that greets visitors carries the same conviction: Know Jesus Cares; Show You Care, anchored to 1 John 3:16-18.
A Pastor Since 1983
Senior Pastor Jesse Jones Jr. was called to Oak Shade Baptist Church in 1983 and has served as its pastor since August of that year, making him one of the longest-tenured clergy in the area. A native of Bracey, Virginia, and the eldest of fourteen children, he grew up in a family of deacons and deaconesses, was baptized at age seven, and later earned a degree in physics from Virginia State University followed by a master's in business management from Central Michigan University. Before entering full-time ministry he spent three years on active Army duty and four in the reserves, retiring as a captain, and then built a 32-year civilian career at IBM and Lockheed Martin before retiring in 2005.
His theological training came through Washington Bible College, Trinity Theological Seminary, and Andersonville Baptist Seminary. He taught biblical classes through Lancaster Bible College's Biblical Enrichment Program for more than two decades. During his tenure at Oak Shade he has overseen the construction of a new church edifice, completed debt-free, and has mentored a generation of ministers. Six of those he has trained have gone on to pastor churches of their own. He and his wife Beverly have three adult children, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
What Sunday Morning Looks Like
Sunday morning begins with Sunday School at 8:45 a.m., followed by Morning Worship at 10:00 a.m. The service is Christ-centered, Bible-based and family-friendly, with a music ministry that brings together an anointed mass choir, a youth and young adult choir, a male chorus, a praise team and a roster of musicians under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The choir's aim, in the church's words, is to "magnify the name of God" with both excellence and sincerity.
The Nursery Ministry introduces infants and toddlers to Christ through simple, age-appropriate activities grounded in Proverbs 22:6, and parents of very young children can place them in the nursery during the service. The mission of the youth ministry is to prepare young people "spiritually, morally, culturally and academically," and Youth Church gathers on the second and fourth Sundays.
Wednesday Nights and Saturday Mornings
Midweek life at Oak Shade centers on Wednesday nights, when Prayer Service and Bible Study meet back-to-back at 7:00 p.m. The Men's Fellowship gathers on the first Saturday of every month at 8:30 a.m. for biblical training, fellowship and service projects. The Young Adult ministry meets on the first and third Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. for Bible study and frank discussion of the issues young adults in the community are facing. A Women's Bible Study also meets weekly, and a Lancaster Bible College-affiliated study is part of the rotation. Singles are encouraged to be "Complete In Christ," with the Singles ministry framing singleness not as a waiting room for marriage but as a calling embraced by Jesus and Paul.
The Missionaries Center Across the Road
One of the most distinctive expressions of the church's outward focus is the Oak Shade Missionaries Center, located on Route 28 directly across from the church. The center is open on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon and gives away, free of charge, clothing, food, furniture, dishes, shoes, pocketbooks, belts, toys and other household items donated by the church and its friends. The Missionaries ministry also sends cards and makes weekly check-in calls to members on the prayer list, to widows and widowers, and to anyone in need of assistance. Beyond the center, the church maintains a Prison Ministry and a Transportation Ministry that helps members and neighbors without rides get to services.
A Working Kitchen and a Welcoming Team
The Kitchen Committee Ministry takes seriously its role to "feed physically and spiritually." Members of the team cook and serve meals for church events while singing and playing music as they work, creating an atmosphere of praise around even the most ordinary task. Ushers, the Audio Visual team, and a Music Ministry Portal keep services running smoothly and help the congregation participate, while online services and live broadcasts extend the church's reach beyond Catlett through the church's Facebook page.
What Oak Shade Believes
The church teaches the plenary, verbal inspiration of the original sixty-six books of the Bible, holding Scripture to be the full and complete revelation of God's will for humanity and the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. Oak Shade confesses one God eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - co-equal in power and glory. The church affirms that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became fully man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Salvation is taught as the gift of God, brought to humanity by grace and received through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose substitutionary death and resurrection accomplished complete redemption.
The Plan of Salvation
Oak Shade walks seekers through a four-step gospel outline: recognize God's plan of peace and eternal life (John 3:16), realize the problem of sin and separation from God (Romans 3:23), respond to God's remedy in the cross and resurrection (Romans 5:8), and receive Christ as Lord and Savior (John 1:12). Anyone wanting to pray is invited to admit sin, repent, believe in Christ's death and resurrection, and invite Jesus Christ into their life through prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to take control.
Getting Involved and Giving
The church supports a wide array of ministries beyond those already named, including Women's Ministry, Singles, Young Adult, Youth Group, Nursery, Audio Visual, Ushers, Kitchen Committee, Music Ministry and the Missionaries Center. Worship services and Bible studies are streamed online, and giving is available through an online service. Visitors who want a place to start are welcome to come as they are, sit in on Sunday School at 8:45 a.m. and stay for worship at 10:00 a.m., or join the Wednesday Prayer Service and Bible Study at 7:00 p.m.