The Vineyard finds its roots in the unique period of the 1970′s when a seeking generation met a sovereign movement of God. This more “anti-establishment” generation sought a living faith, marked by simplicity of structure, vitality of contemporary music, personal experience of God’s love, and an invitation to make a real difference in a lost world. As the calling and cause of Christ fell afresh, hundreds of thousands of lives captured what traditions had often lost. Building on the foundations of this fresh movement of God, in 1974 a fellowship began in West Los Angeles with Kenn and Joannie Gulliksen, which was led to take the name of the “Vineyard” (Isaiah 27:2-3; John 15:5.) God worked through many mistakes as well as successes as people were willing to take risks to become more like Jesus and authenticate the Good News of the Gospel. Several couples went out and began other Vineyards in California, with similar priorities of worship, relationship, healing, training, and giving.

In the early 1980′s John Wimber (located in Anaheim) became the spiritual father of this emerging movement of associated fellowships, and God imparted to John a vision for thousands of new fellowships as well as renewal to the larger church. As God’s Spirit continued to bless and shape this vision, John and the Vineyard’s ministry emerged into one of the largest and most long-standing ministries of renewal to the church worldwide in recent history. The official name of the Vineyard movement is The Vineyard, A Community of Churches. Currently, there are over 1200 Vineyard Churches in the United States and abroad. As the movement continues to emerge, the conviction remains that God’s desire is not primarily for us to build the Vineyard but to seek His Kingdom, to love the whole church, to bless what He’s blessing, and to cooperate with Him as He reveals Himself in the process.

Here in our own community, the Vineyard continues to mature as a spiritual family who share in the calling to glorify God and reveal His Kingdom. The church’s founding pastor, Jim Robb, along with his wife Beverly, moved to the area in the winter of 1987, following completion of his studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. Jim and Beverly began the process of gathering people to form the core of a new Vineyard church plant. They met in homes until they had their first public meeting at Fred Lynn Middle School.

Following an initial period of rapid growth, the new Vineyard community was able to renovate and lease a meeting space in the Woodbridge Shopping Center at Rte 1 and Occoquan Rd. They moved into this location in May of 1990 and it would serve as their church home for nearly 18 years. During this period, many people were introduced to Jesus and began a relationship with him. Many also grew in that relationship and were raised up to serve in various ministry capacities. Being a transitional area due to a high population of military and government workers, many were also sent out from here to minister in other areas in the U.S. and around the globe.

The year 2002 marked a major transition in the life of the church. In March of that year, Pastor Jim Robb died of a heart attack. A grieving people went through a difficult time in the months following the death of its founding pastor. The board and elders of the church began a pastoral search process resulting in the calling of Rick Frantz as the new senior pastor. Pastor Rick began serving in that capacity in July of 2002. Under his leadership, the church solidified a foundation of strong biblical teaching coupled with a renewed calling to serve the poor, the least, and the lost in our area. Pastor Rick resigned as senior pastor in April of 2006 to pursue a calling as a theologian to the larger church.

Upon Pastor Rick’s resignation, the church board immediately recognized Dan Davis as the clear choice to be the new lead pastor. Dan and his wife, Judy, had attended the church in the early 1990’s and had returned as the Associate Pastor in June of 2004. Pastor Dan has brought a strong emphasis on discipleship and building the Kingdom of God through the strengthening of relationships with God and with one another.

Under Pastor Dan’s leadership, the church has reached another major milestone in its history. In the fall of 2007, after a two year search for a building, we began the process of purchasing the former Covenant Presbyterian Church at 1550 Prince William Parkway in Woodbridge. We closed on the building on January 4th, 2008, and then began extensive remodeling / renovation work to make it our own. After much prayer and a lot of hard work, we held our first services in our “new” building on Easter Sunday, 2008. The purchase of our own church building was a big step of faith for our people but it also allowed us to experience God’s miraculous provision every step of the way. He exceeded our expectations at every turn demonstrating his faithfulness and blessing. We’re excited about the opportunity to be a blessing in our community as the newest “homeowners” in the neighborhood.

In that day-sing about a fruitful vineyard: I, the Lord, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it.  (Isaiah 27:2-3)

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  (John 15:5)