Believers Centered On Jesus

Three years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, on December 11, 1773, Jeffersonton Baptist Church (JBC) was constituted and today stands as the second-oldest church in Culpeper County, Virginia. The same God who planted this church amid religious persecution over 250 years ago is not done with it yet.

In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, JBC entered a season of turmoil. The church had no lead pastor. Yet God was not done with His church. In November 2022, Jon Morton came as a guest speaker and was eventually called to be the senior pastor in April 2023. As the new pastor, Morton reminded the congregation that “the church had never been without a pastor, but that Jesus had been their Pastor Shepherd since He birthed the church in 1773.” The church began to refocus its attention on Christ, and God began building a renewed community of believers centered on Jesus.

As JBC celebrated its 250th anniversary, Pastor Morton exhorted the church to “love God, love people, teach the Word, and reach the world.”

God has shown that He is not done with JBC. Over the past few years:

• Worship attendance has tripled from 30 to over 90 in average attendance.

• Discipleship through small groups has been brought back to life among children, students, and adults, sparking growth throughout the church.

• 24 people have followed Jesus in believers’ baptism, with additional candidates currently awaiting baptism.

• More than 15 percent of JBC’s growing budget is designated for missions.

• A culture of personal evangelism and missions partnership has taken root, prioritizing the sharing of the Gospel with neighbors and the local community.

• Weekly and special prayer gatherings have become a driving force behind the church’s revitalization.

Pastor Morton has shared stories of spiritual transformation as God brought new life and new families to Jeffersonton. Recently, nearly an entire family was baptized through the faithful outreach of God's people during a Gospel event. Through consistent preaching and teaching of God's Word, a couple who had been living together followed Jesus in believers' baptism, and then united in covenant marriage. The husband is now being discipled into a leadership role within the church.

Thanks be to God that He is not done with Jeffersonton Baptist Church!

• Pray for this body of believers as God continues His work of revitalization among them.

• Pray that they will remain focused on making disciples and raising up new leaders to meet the challenges of a growing church.

• Pray that they will stay faithful in reaching their neighbors and as they seek new opportunities to advance the Gospel among the nations.