First Baptist Church of Herndon

Meet FBCH

Linda Soller | Jun 28, 2012

Wow you are back, so glad you gave me a second chance. This week I wanted to introduce First Baptist Church Herndon (FBCH) to help you understand our family and the place that embraces folks like me. FBCH is over 100 years old. We sit at the corner of Elden and Monroe streets in Herndon,VA.The stones on our sanctuary were removed from the original structure during renovation and reused, a tribute to building a future without losing site of the past. More than once there has been discussion as to whether we should stay in this spot, in this town which is no longer a small community. There were pros and cons to staying and to moving to the outskirts of town, but when push came to shove, we felt we belonged here in the heart of Herndon doing our best to serve God and our community. The physical space is limited, and we are surrounded by the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We hardly ever get through a service without hearing the fire trucks go past and if there is an evening service we can see the street light changing through the stained glass window, sort of like a free light show.

We are not a huge congregation. We have had growth spurts and times of declining numbers, but here we are. I personally can not imagine what it would be like to go to a church where the congregation did not experience those things. All churches face challenges. Besides the church is not the building or the parking lot, it is the people inside. If you go to a church you most likely go because of how you feel when you are there and when you leave. If you don’t go to a church it may well be because of the way a church once made you feel. Our church is not for everyone, but it is for anyone. This week when you drive through your community, taking care of whatever it is you do, look at the church buildings you drive past and try to imagine the faces inside. Those people have names, have families, have problems, have sorrow, have joy, they are just people. People like you. Have a good week! 

Linda