From a Vacation Bible School to a Neighborhood Church
Ox Hill Baptist Church traces its roots to the summer of 1958, when members of First Baptist Church of Herndon drove into Chantilly to lead a Vacation Bible School. What began as a small neighborhood outreach became a new mission church when the first worship service was held at the Chantilly Firehouse on October 5, 1958. Less than a year later, the young congregation purchased a house in the Ox Hill subdivision, giving it a permanent place to gather.
On September 23, 1967, the church was officially constituted with 77 charter members, some of whom are still active today. The 1970s brought steady growth under Dr. Walter Farrar's leadership, including a newly built sanctuary dedicated in 1971. In 1978, the church launched its Mother's Day Out program, which served families in the community for 45 years.
Through the 1980s and 1990s, the church expanded in size, staffing, and outreach under Dr. L. Dean Majette, who served from 1984 to 2016. During his tenure, the church launched two Sunday morning worship services, grew its children and youth ministries, and began English language classes in response to the area's growing international population. In 2010, OHBC helped establish Iglesia Rio Poderoso, a Spanish-speaking congregation that continues to share the church's sanctuary.
After Dr. Majette's retirement, Rev. Bradley Boberg was called in 2019, leading the church through the COVID-19 pandemic and the expansion of online worship. In 2024, following Rev. Boberg's transition to denominational work, Dr. Jeff Willetts was called as Transitional Pastor, joining a revitalized ministry team.
A Sunday Morning in Chantilly
Sunday at Ox Hill begins at 9:40 AM with Bible study for all ages. Children meet downstairs in the children's wing while adults gather upstairs. Nursery care is available from 9:40 AM until noon for children ages 4 and under, in Room 113 on the lower level.
Worship begins at 11:00 AM in the sanctuary on the upper level. The service lasts about an hour and follows a traditional style that the church describes as thoughtful, Scripture-centered, and grounded in tradition, with moments that connect faith to everyday life. Greeters stand near the sanctuary entrance to answer questions, and dress runs the gamut from casual to business. The church's invitation to newcomers is simple: come as you are.
Children aged 5 and older are encouraged to attend worship with their families. Activity packets are available, and a children's sermon is delivered each week. At 3:00 PM, the sanctuary fills again as Iglesia Rio Poderoso gathers for its Spanish-language worship service, a congregation that has called Ox Hill home since 2010.
The Building on Elmwood Street
The church stands at 4101 Elmwood Street in Chantilly, with the sanctuary and adult classrooms on the upper level and the children's wing on the lower level. Visitors can park in any open space along the sides and back of the building. Handicap-accessible parking is available on the left side, facing the front, and along the back.
The sanctuary is best reached through door 1, by the big white columns along Elmwood Street. For the children's wing, the easiest entrance is door 8 at the car overhang driveway. Adult Bible study classrooms are accessed through door 1, then to the right through two sets of double doors.
Children, Youth, and Young Adults
Families are woven into the life of Ox Hill Baptist Church. Children's Church is offered during the worship hour, a children's sermon is delivered each week, and activity packets are available for younger worshipers. The church regularly hosts seasonal events such as Vacation Bible School, along with ongoing activities for kids and families throughout the year.
Youth and young adult ministry is led by Rev. Brenda Hafer, who serves as Associate Pastor for Children, Youth, and Young Adults. The church's NextGen ministry brings together middle schoolers, high schoolers, and young adults for fellowship, study, and service, with events posted on the church calendar.
Iglesia Rio Poderoso: A Spanish-Speaking Family of Faith
Since 2010, Iglesia Rio Poderoso has worshipped in Ox Hill's sanctuary on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 PM. The congregation was planted by Ox Hill to serve Spanish-speaking neighbors across Chantilly and the wider Northern Virginia region, and it continues to grow as a distinct worshipping community within the church's shared space. The service is held entirely in Spanish.
English Classes and a Free Health Clinic
Ox Hill Baptist Church has been offering English classes since the 1990s, responding to the area's growing international population. Today, the ESL program serves adult learners from Chantilly, Centreville, Herndon, Reston, Fairfax, and surrounding Northern Virginia communities.
The program has two weekly formats. Thursday mornings bring informal conversational English groups from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, with snacks and coffee provided, for a $10 fee. Thursday evenings offer structured ESL classes from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM in three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The evening program runs September through May, with a $50 yearly fee that covers textbooks, materials, and snacks. A 15-minute snack break is held at 8:00 PM. Classes meet in Rooms 204-210 on the upper level, under the direction of Scilla Trinidad.
The church also hosts the Himalaya Free Health Clinic, a partner organization that provides quality care at no cost to uninsured residents of the community. Services include specialty referrals, counseling, patient education, social services, and screening and registration for public health insurance.
Community Partners on the Campus
Ox Hill Baptist Church opens its doors to several partner organizations. Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held on the campus, along with All Ages Read Together, a children's literacy program. The church also organizes Adopt a Highway cleanup days as a way of caring for the surrounding community.
What the Church Believes
Ox Hill Baptist Church describes itself as a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship congregation rooted in Scripture and centered on the love of God revealed through Jesus Christ. The church values thoughtful faith, honest questions, and growing together over time.
The church's mission is shaped by four commitments:
- Praise God above all else.
- Proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.
- Prepare disciples to use their God-given gifts.
- Provide hope, healing, and help to a world in need.
Six core values shape the church's life: Authentic Worship, with the conviction that meeting God brings change; Spiritual Formation, treating the Bible as authoritative in matters of faith and practice; Mission Mindedness, sharing the gospel in both words and actions; Joyful Generosity, giving freely of time, talent, energy, and financial resources; Community Engagement, welcoming opportunities to journey with neighbors beyond the walls of the building; and Nurturing Relationships, fostering lasting fellowship and celebrating the diversity of God's creation.
Leadership and a Pastoral Transition
Ox Hill Baptist Church is in a season of pastoral transition. Dr. Jeff Willetts serves as Transitional Pastor, working alongside a revitalized ministry team that includes Rev. Brenda Hafer as Associate Pastor for Children, Youth, and Young Adults, Rachel Harrington as Minister of Music, and Rev. Wilson Macá as Minister of International Ministries. The church is actively searching for its next Senior Pastor.
Earlier pastors include Rev. Grady Nowell (1960), Rev. Thomas Anderson (1964), Dr. Walter Farrar (1970s), Dr. L. Dean Majette (1984-2016), and Rev. Bradley Boberg (2019-2024).
Events, Space Rental, and Giving
Ox Hill hosts a wide range of church events and community gatherings, from worship services and family activities to support groups and seasonal celebrations. The church calendar lists youth events, kid and family events, fellowship and social gatherings, and holiday services. The campus is also available for rent to community groups, non-profits, and private events, with meeting rooms, classrooms, a kitchen, and a sanctuary for gatherings of various sizes.
Online giving is available through Realm Giving, and gifts can also be made by check, cash, stocks, mutual funds, or estate planning. Sunday worship is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, with archived sermons available for later viewing.
Visiting Ox Hill Baptist Church
The church office is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 3 PM, with a lunch break from 1 PM to 2 PM, at 4101 Elmwood Street in Chantilly, Virginia. Visitors can reach the office by phone at 703-378-5555 or by email at info@oxhillbaptist.org. Ox Hill Baptist Church welcomes first-time visitors, families looking for a community of service, and neighbors seeking a bilingual worship home in Northern Virginia.