Our History

Ox Hill Baptist Church began as a mission Vacation Bible School in the Chantilly area in the summer of 1958 thanks to the efforts of a small group of members from the First Baptist Church of Herndon, Virginia. The success of this outreach led to the establishment of a mission church that held its first worship service on October 5, 1958, in the Chantilly Fire House. In less than a year, the church purchased a house in the Ox Hill sub-division of Chantilly for use as a regular meeting place. The church called its first pastor, Reverend Grady Nowell, in 1960.

 

The mission church continued to grow, calling Reverend Thomas Anderson in 1964. On September 23, 1967, Ox Hill Baptist Church was officially constituted with 77 charter members. Ox Hill called Dr. Walter Farrar in December of 1958 to serve as its pastor. Throughout the 70s, Dr. Farrar provided the young church with long-term, permanent leadership, and oversaw remarkable growth and change. After land was donated to the church and a cornerstone was laid in 1970, a new church home was constructed and then dedicated on June 20, 1971. The church flourished under Dr. Farrar. Among the many good works, a Mother’s Day Out program was opened in 1978 and operated for 45 years. It closed in the summer of 2023.

 

Dr. Wallace Hale then served as pastor in the early 1980s. Under his leadership, the church purchased additional land and began focusing on international ministry opportunities.

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After Dr. Hale’s retirement and a search, the church called Dr. L. Dean Majette. Dr. Majette served faithfully for 33 years. Under Dr. Majette, the church’s reach expanded in multiple ways. The budget increased, more staff were hired, and the facility expanded. The church saw tremendous growth during the 1990s as it began two Sunday morning worship services, which ran for over 20 years. The church also had a thriving children’s and youth ministry with kids participating in weekly activities and yearly trips around the world. English classes were started in the early 2000s as more members of the international community moved into the area. These classes continue today with around 80 participants each week.

 

During this period, the Reverend Paul Brill was hired to serve as the Minister of Youth and Music but later became the Associate Pastor of Music and Worship, retiring in February 2024 after 34 years of service. The music ministry rapidly grew, having multiple choirs of all ages participate weekly; handbells were also introduced to the congregation and became a vital part of the music ministry. Often, the highlight of the year was the Christmas Cantata that would garner over 500 attendees between two services.

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Another milestone was the beginning of a Spanish-speaking church, Iglesia Rio Poderoso in 2010. The Reverend Wilson Maca still serves as the pastor of this congregation. Overall, Dr. Majette’s tenure at OHBC was one of steady, consistent leadership that provided the church with an opportunity to use its resources and gifts to flourish. The church found itself struggling in the 2010s with membership declining and many transitions. This culminated in the difficult pandemic years.

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However, our church looks to thrive under the leadership of our current pastor, Reverend Bradley Boberg, called in 2019. The church has worked to update its facilities and infrastructure, while also expanding its ministry to the local community and beyond. An emphasis has been placed on spiritual disciplines which has changed our approach to Sunday School and discipleship. The church also changed its organizational structure, updated its bylaws, and put forth a strategic plan that looks towards a brighter future.