THE VISION AND FORMATION (1999–2001)

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In 1999, Nanette Hilliard envisioned a ministry model built upon the pillars of service and worship. The first part of this vision was a faith-based non-profit entity - the service sector - designed to address the needs of at-risk individuals and communities through grants and private donations. The second part was a church that would be open to everyone. Its focus was radical inclusivity, facilitating the spiritual birth and growth of anyone who desired to know God.

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In November 2001, 14 individuals gathered at the home of John Mark Byrd in Virginia Beach to discuss creating such a place: a space centered on God that was both safe and holy. By the first Sunday of December, seven of those individuals began meeting in the lobby of the Family First office to pray for direction. Their music came from a portable CD player, and only part of the building had heat. Though they initially met only for prayer on Sunday afternoons, they soon included homilies and communion. One challenge remained: Nanette had completed seminary but had not yet been ordained.

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GROWTH AND AFFILIATION

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Nanette began a dialogue with Rev. Walter Snore of the United Church of Christ (UCC) to find a way to affiliate without dissolving the small worshiping group. While the process was expected to take a year, people continued to join them every Sunday. Although Nanette had not planned to officially "plant" a church until 2004, the congregation began its formation in late 2001. Through God’s power, the ministry model worked exactly as envisioned; the non-profit supported the church’s formation, and the group began to grow with support from members, non-members, and strangers alike.

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THE CINDERBLOCK BUILDING AND THE RAIN

 

The congregation eventually moved into a small cinderblock building on Broad Street in Chesapeake, Virginia. From there, they served the community through a food pantry, helped seniors with food and medication, and assisted uninsured individuals in obtaining prescriptions.

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The building, however, was in disrepair. They managed through the summer, but the winter heating was inadequate; if the front of the room was warm, the back was freezing. They remained there until a season of heavy rain arrived. It rained for weeks—both outside and inside. When water began leaking into the bathroom, the storage room, and finally the lobby, they knew they had to leave.

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THE NOMAD YEARS (2003–2004)

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Like nomads, the group moved from place to place. They met at the public library—playing their CD player quietly in a conference room—and later at Carver Elementary School. Eventually, Rev. Walter Snore referred them to Rev. Jim Luck and Christian Church Uniting, who invited them to meet in their space on a trial basis starting in April 2003.

In July 2003, Rev. Dr. Samuel Varner began guiding them through the formal process of joining the United Church of Christ. They were officially accepted into the UCC in October 2003. Due to the illness of Pastor Nanette’s mother, they postponed their Service of Installation until April 25, 2004.

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LEGACY AND INCLUSION​

 

During their time as The Great Awakening United Church of Christ, they worked tirelessly in the community. They went door-to-door delivering over 2,000 invitations, fed and sheltered the homeless, and partnered with the local Civic League to improve the neighborhood. The congregation grew from those original 14 members to over one hundred.

Through the power of God, they have kept the doors of worship open to all people, including the LGBTQ+ community. When they say, "Whosoever will, let them come," they truly mean everyone.

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ESTABLISHING A PERMANENT HOME

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Today, the congregation has grown to a membership of more than 200. Members travel from as far as Moyock, North Carolina, as well as Fredericksburg, Winston-Salem, and Hampton, Virginia. They gather to worship in an atmosphere of wholeness, unity, and holiness.

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In 2011, leadership recognized that the members desired a place they could truly call home. They were faced with three options: merge with another congregation, rent a new space, or purchase a building. While Christian Church Uniting opened a discussion for a merger, the two groups were unable to agree on terms that would bring them together as a single body. Furthermore, gaining broader use of the rented building was becoming increasingly difficult. After researching other rental options, the congregation discovered that renting would cost twice as much as purchasing their own property.

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FAITH & SACRIFICE

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In 2012, the congregation formally began searching for a building to buy. Members and friends rallied together to raise funds for a down payment, ultimately soul-searching and sacrificing to raise over $85,000 while still maintaining their regular ministry expenses. They prayed and worked in unison until, through God’s provision, they accomplished their financial goal.

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In 2013, they entered into a contract to purchase 1520 High Street in Portsmouth, Virginia, officially closing on the property in January 2014. The building required moderate renovations, but the process hit a major hurdle when the general contractor defaulted. In June 2014, the church terminated his agreement, and the members stepped up to complete the renovations themselves. Deacon Sam Armstead guided the project, while Terry Hill and her co-worker, David, worked day and night to transform the space.

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A NEW CHAPTER

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On the third Sunday of September 2014, the congregation moved into its new home. They continue to reach "the least, the last, and the lost," strengthened by a deepening faith in God. Their hearts and arms remain open to everyone God sends their way, and the church continues to be blessed with a growing community of babies, children, and youth.