I am excited to welcome aboard Amelia Sipress to the MBC Loudoun staff team! She will be serving part time as our Associate Director of Ministry Teams. Amelia hails from Canada – London, Ontario, to be exact. So you can probably guess that she loves to watch hockey and loves the Toronto Maple Leafs… and spells favourite with a ‘u.’ Speaking of favourites, her favourite bible verse is Philippians 3:8.

Amelia accepted Christ when she was 4. After high school, she attended a one-year Christian internship in Texas called The Honor Academy. Her internship helped prepare her for ministry… and introduced her to her partner in ministry, her now husband, Tristan. They attended college near each other in Canada, where Amelia earned her Bachelors of Sociology from King’s University College (affiliated with the University of Western Ontario).

Tristan and Amelia love the mountains – Amelia thinks there is something about the beauty of them that draws her closer to the Lord – so they prayed for a job opportunity in Washington. Then Tristan got a job offer from McLean Bible Church – not quite the Washington they were thinking of! We are blessed that God answers prayers according to His plan, and we are excited to have Tristan as our audio engineer, and now Amelia as our Associate Director of Ministry Teams!

… and their dog, Makita (yes, named after the power tool!).

Welcome, Amelia!

Question: Briefly tell us how God called you to ministry.
Answer: Shortly after putting my faith and trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in 2004, God started speaking to me through my quiet times and several major life events. One example of a life event is my wife (AnnieLaurie) and I went on a mission trip to Argentina in 2006 and led a mission team to Indonesia in 2007 and on both trips I had the opportunity to preach a sermon, which earned me the nickname “Pastor” with the locals. I had never thought of myself as a pastor, but those experiences definitely planted a seed in my mind. Through a series of life events like these God helped me recognize my full-time calling to ministry and I began seminary classes in January 2008.

Question: What is one of your favorite ministry memories?
Answer: I have two events that quickly come to mind. The first event is God used me to lead my father to Christ shortly before he passed away from cancer in 2007. Second, but also related to my dad was delivering the eulogy at my father’s funeral. I know this sounds weird because it’s my father’s funeral, but over 500 people attended my dad’s funeral and the Lord allowed me to present the gospel message to all of these folks, many of who were not believers in Jesus Christ and had never heard the gospel. Praise God that many fruitful conversations were born out of this experience. I know that God was glorified and my dad would have been extremely happy that I shared the gospel message with his friends and our family.

Question: What is your biggest hope for the ministry of MBC Loudoun?
Answer: My biggest hope for the ministry at MBC Loudoun is that we strive to be a body of believers that seeks to serve others before ourselves (Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45), that our words are backed up with loving actions and that we do not come to church to just “sit-and-soak” every Sunday (James 2:14-16). But most importantly, that everything we do is for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).

Question: What are you most looking forward to this year?
Answer: Getting to know the MBC Loudoun church family and learning how I can encourage, equip and enable my brothers and sisters to live fully devoted lives for Christ.

Question: What is on your reading list?
Answer: I’m actually looking for a new book to read. Got any suggestions? I just finished Jonathan Edwards’s biography by Iain H. Murray which I highly recommend as Jonathan was a man who did not waiver in his faith, no matter the personal cost.
I also recently read a book edited by Thomas K. Ascol, called “Dear Timothy: Letters on Pastoral Ministry,” which has really helped me prepare spiritually and mentally in making the transition into full-time ministry work. This is a book of letters sent to a young pastor starting out his ministry in which much wiser men provide their expertise, guidance and advice on specific areas of the ministry (e.g. – How to love your flock, training other men, etc.) in the hopes that the young pastor won’t make the same mistakes they did.

Question: How can the MBC Loudoun church family be praying for you?
Answer: Excellent question. A personal request would be that my wife and I are expecting our first child in October so if you could pray for the baby’s future salvation and health that would be greatly appreciated. Also if you could pray that we make a smooth transition into full-time ministry and that I would rely on the Lord for everything and never fall into the trap of doing things in my own strength (John 15:5).

Question: Which team did you pick to win the NCAA Basketball Tournament?
Answer: THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES, who else? ? I was actually born in Columbus, Ohio. Even though I grew up in Northern Virginia, I have been a Buckeyes fan since a young age. I would have gone to OSU, but my folks told me if I stay in state for school they would pay my tuition, but if I go out of state I would have to pay my own tuition. I chose the free tuition.

Connect with Brian
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/brnwltrs
On Twitter: www.twitter.com/brnwltrs
On his blog: www.brianwaltersblog.com

I have been a part of the MBC community for the past seven years, but never would have thought that I would have ended up in the Future Leaders Program. Looking back I can see clearly the steps that God led me through to get here. I graduated as a Nutrition and Dietetics major from Messiah College with no desire to do anything related to my field. My only direction was that I wanted a job in an organization with a mission I could get passionate about and that I needed to find one fast, as I was getting married in a month. After endless job searching with no success, I heard about an opening at MBC Loudoun with Kid’s Quest and decided to apply. It was quite a whirlwind, but God’s timing is so perfect. I was offered the job the day before my wedding and started two days after my honeymoon, which is when I found out that I was going to be a part of the Future Leaders program.
I am so grateful that I get to work for this church in a ministry that I love, while being a part of a community of believers who love the Lord and who are eager to learn more about Him. Kid’s Quest has been a great ministry to work with. I love seeing how God blesses the efforts of those who earnestly teach the truth, even to little ears. It is awesome to watch children developing their faith and I can now see first hand the importance of teaching children about God while they are very young. The opportunity to be a Future Leader has been incredibly encouraging and challenging so far and I am looking forward to all that I will learn this year.

Kim McCullough, Kid’s Quest Operations Coordinator

Kim works with a variety of areas to ensure Kid’s Quest runs smoothly, including working with the website, Fellowship One, KQ greeters, and other operational needs.

Jerry Hite, Saturday Elementary Coordinator

Susan Hite, Saturday Preschool Coordinator

Susan and Jerry Hite join our Kid’s Quest staff team part-time working with our Saturday evening Kid’s Quest programs. Jerry oversees our Elementary program, and Susan works with our Preschoolers.
Jerry and Susan have been married for 29 years. They met while serving as volunteer leaders in the youth ministry at Barcroft Bible Church in Northern Virginia. Jerry has been involved in serving in children’s ministry in local churches since 1993 and came on staff with MBC in 2004. Susan was his first recruit in Kids Quest but was soon hired to serve on staff in Preschool. Jerry and Susan have both recently celebrated their 5th anniversary here at MBC. God has blessed them with two boys. Jason Hite who just graduated from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in 2008 lives with his wife in Lynchburg, VA and Timothy Hite, who is attending NOVA Community College and lives at home.

Welcome Kim, Jerry and Susan!

Recently, Susie Battle of MBC Loudoun interviewed Mike Reed, the Director of Student Ministries at MBC Loudoun. Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

SB: I hear you’re going to seminary?

Mike: I originally planned on going right before Loudoun opened, but when that happened, I thought I should get my feet set out here, then pursued school more. I just got started this summer. One class down, like ten hundred to go!

SB: You invest so much in your kids and work crazy hours, and now seminary as well! How do you juggle it all?

Mike: The Holy Spirit. God’s strength. When we are weak, he is strong, definitely. I live by Philippians 4:13. It used to be on my headgear when I wrested in high school. I would think, “I’m going to beat you today, not because I’m strong but because the Lord is strong.” It unfortunately didn’t always turn out, but it’s the principle that’s important.

SB: What do you do when you’re not working?

Mike: Run. Work out. My wife and I did a half marathon last year, a 10k in June, and a couple of 5ks in Ashburn. My wife and I enjoy coffee dates and reading the Bible in coffee shops. We jump around – we’ve read through James and Ephesians. It’s good time to talk through thoughts for Sunday. We also ride road bikes and hope to do a triathlon in future – a sprint one. We really enjoy throwing the football. She has quite an arm. You’d be shocked.

SB: You have a knack for sharing the Gospel any time anywhere. How did you develop that habit?

Mike: I looked at the early church and the way they live, and I looked at my own life. I felt like they were two completely different lives. I want to experience the Christian life the way the early church did. It just took a couple of times [of sharing the Gospel] – it’s just the first time that is the big hurdle – but once you get in the habit of doing it, it becomes a habit like anything else you do. Also, I felt like I was justifying not doing it by thinking you had to have a spiritual gift of evangelism. But the more I read Matthew 28, the more I felt like the Lord commands it. I’m commanded by the Lord to share my faith, so I lived up to it.

Another thing is hands down the happiest people I know are the people who share their faith openly weekly. If you want to be happy as a Christian, share your faith.

SB: Anything else you’d like to share with the people of MBC Loudoun?

Mike: I had a great devotional today. I dare people to pray through Proverbs 30:7-9. There are only 2 things David asks the Lord for in his prayer: keep lies far from me, and don’t give me poverty or riches, only my daily bread. He basically says, “Lord, help me to live paycheck to paycheck. Don’t give me too much because then I won’t depend on you fully during the week. Don’t give me too little that I desire to steal.” If I were to ask the Lord for only two things, I don’t know that I would pray that.

Recently, Susie Battle of MBC Loudoun interviewed Mike Reed, the Director of Student Ministries at MBC Loudoun. Read Part 1, Part 2

SB: What excites you most about what God is doing in the Rock?

Mike: He is literally changing lives. We’re really seeing 2 Corinthians 5:17 new creations – not just kids who say they believe in God, but disciples who are actively displaying those attributes. It’s really cool. The Bible says believers are a brand new person, and we can really see that in these kids. It’s a challenge seeing immediate fruit in kids’ lives, but it’s cool to see them embracing God.

SB: And you get to disciple these kids!

Mike: If a kid asks me to meet, I’ll never tell them no. If I see potential in a kid, I definitely pour into him. I also look for kids who seem off the deep end. Those are really fun challenges.

SB: You’ve preached over 100 sermons. Which ones have been most challenging for you personally?

Mike: Definitely when we taught through the book of Galatians last year. It really made you examine if you were doing the daily duty of a Christian because you felt like you were gaining favor in God’s eyes or just out of a response of gratitude for the mercy and grace He’s shown you. It made you examine if your salvation is through works or through truly relying on Christ. The whole series was called “Grace in Galatians.” I think it can be a real challenge to accept God’s grace because we’re taught we have to earn everything in life. It’s hard for us to understand that by doing nothing, God is crazy about you. God just walks up and hands it to you.

The kids all say that was their favorite series. We were in the café then, and kids were standing in the back.

SB: Oh yes, the days of the café! Are you enjoying your new space?

Mike: We can breathe! We don’t have to bring in the stage every week and look at PPT on a TV screen that kids have to squint to see. It’s really great.

SB: I hear you have amazing volunteers – really consistent and devoted.

Mike: Very devoted. They come to everything. They go to a regular service and the Rock service every week. Rich runs sound for both services every week as a volunteer. Our volunteers are amazing. Our House Group Bible Study volunteers come every Sunday and every Thursday. They’re amazing.

SB: Do you have any advice for parents of teens?

Mike: Don’t only tell students what to do as spiritual disciplines. Live them out. They will make much more of an impact by watching you do it than hearing you tell them to do it.

Recently, Susie Battle of MBC Loudoun interviewed Mike Reed, the Director of Student Ministries at MBC Loudoun. Read Part 1

SB: So how end up here at MBC Loudoun working with teenagers?

Mike: It’s pretty ironic. I was on staff with Prison Fellowship doing finance. My office was actually two doors down from my current office. My younger brother started attended the Rock at Tyson’s. They announced a mission trip for the summer of 2005, and he thought I should be a leader. So here I was – I didn’t know anyone at MBC – yet here I was chaperoning a Rock mission trip. It was a blast.

When I got back, Dale [Sutherland, Director of Student Ministries at MBC Tyson’s] asked if I was interested in coming on staff because he loved seeing me with the kids. I was on staff at Tyson’s for 3 years doing discipleship, campus ministry, events, finance (managing the budget), and I started teaching every couple of weeks.

Then one day I was the best man at my best friend’s wedding. We were out on the golf course, and I got this phone call asking me if I would like to go out to the Loudoun campus as the Director of Student Ministries. I hung up the phone and didn’t really think about it. I hit some balls, and then it really hit me!

SB: So we should thank your brother for bringing you to MBC! That’s really cool. You must have a great relationship with your brother.

Mike: Really good.

SB: He respects you?

Mike: Yes.

SB: Do you have other siblings?

Mike: I have a younger sister, Jen, and an older brother, Brian. He’s been in a band for 8 years. My two younger siblings, Steven and Jen, are in school at VT.

Recently, Susie Battle of MBC Loudoun interviewed Mike Reed, the Director of Student Ministries at MBC Loudoun.

Susie Battle: That’s a really good picture of you and your wife.

Mike Reed: That picture is from the day we got engaged. It’s an amazing story. We went down to the beach, and I washed her feet. I buried her ring in the sand – under like 3 feet of sand. Right as she dug it up, a lady walked by. She was the only person on the beach, and it just so “happened” to turn out that she was a professional photographer. So she took this amazing picture. You know the really cool part? Her husband had proposed to her on that same beach 10 years ago that day. They come back every year for a week to celebrate.

SB: That’s a really cool story. How did you meet your wife?

Mike: In college at Messiah. It was my junior year and her freshman year. I was studying in Athens, Greece, and she was new to school. She became friends with all my friends, so when I came back they introduced us. I wasn’t about dating younger girls, so I just looked at her as a friend… and the Lord clearly changed my heart.

SB: That’s awesome. And I hear the Lord is providing an amazing place for you and Kristen to live?

Mike: Yes. We move into a new place in Brambleton the second week of August.

SB: What most excites you about your new place?

Mike: We’re really excited about more room to host the volunteers and kids. Right now our place is like sardines – we can have like 5 kids over!

Marvin Haines is the Network Services Manager at MBC Loudoun

How did you meet your spouse?
I met Michelle when I was in 6th grade. We started “going out” when I was in 8th grade. We have been together ever since. She will tell you we weren’t together for a couple of weeks when I was interested in another girl but we won’t go into details about that here!

What are some key marriage tips you’ve learned?
Marriage takes a lot of teamwork. It is not a one man show. Sure there will be disagreements but the goal is to work them out in whatever way possible.

What are some key parenting tips you’ve learned?
Give the mom a break! Moms put up with a lot of stuff that us dads never see being at work all day. Sometimes mom just wants a break from the kids.

What are some of your favorite places in Loudoun?
We have only lived in Loudoun about a year and a half. One of our favorite places to go is Vintage 50 in Leesburg. We love the food there and the environment. We also love the Farmers Market in Leesburg as well.

What is your favorite place to eat?
Home! My wife is quite the gourmet cook. Her passion is cooking and she is amazing at it. I tell her I can’t wait to come home from work to see what she has made for our dinner.

Marvin Haines is the Network Services Manager at MBC Loudoun

What did you do before MBC?
I grew up in Bridgeport, WV for during my young years in life and went to school there until the 6th grade. Half way through my 6th grade year my dad took a job in Roanoke, VA where I stayed until I moved to Northern, VA to attend college. In Roanoke I attended Roanoke Valley Christian School where I met my wife Michelle.

Where did you go to college? What did you study?
I went to George Mason University and received a Bachelors Degree in Decision Sciences and Management Information Systems. I also minored in Music.

What do you do when you’re not working?
I love working around the house, being a dad and husband. I love cars, golf and music. I am a very active trumpet player around the DC area when not working (lately there has not been much free time). I play in several musical groups at MBC and a few brass groups at times. I also volunteer for the National Trumpet Competition that is held at George Mason University each year.

What are your spiritual gifts?
Administration, Service and Giving. It is amazing how these three gifts fit me so perfectly!

Who are some people God has used to impact your life?
My wife Michelle has had a huge impact on my life. I met her soon after we moved to Roanoke, VA. At the time our parents became really good friends. Who knew that I was going to end up marrying her! Also my parents and grandparents had a wonderful impact on my life growing up and still do to this day.