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Welcome to the website for the Patterson Avenue Baptist Church. We aim to make this site a fun, informative, and interactive place where people can become more aware of God’s amazing love and wonderful grace.
Cyberspace is a fun place to be, but it should never be a substitute for the joy of meeting and greeting in a more personal fashion. That is why I am writing this personal note of invitation. I am Bill Nieporte and have been pastor of this congregation since July of 2007.
Here at Patterson Avenue Baptist, we believe and teach that salvation does not come by our works, but has been completely accomplished through the Divine Grace offered us through Jesus Christ. Through our worship, study, and various ministries, our passion is to invite all people to join us in expressing trust in the sufficiency of God’s Grace.
PABC is a very young congregation with a very long and rich history. In1989, two historic Richmond churches (Calvary Baptist and Park View Baptist) united to become a new congregation. The new church is located at 4301 Patterson Avenue, becoming the Patterson Avenue Baptist Church. We are proud of the heritage we share as descendants of these two great congregations, but we are even more excited about our future.
We believe that God has placed us in Richmond in order to declare the Good News of God’s love for everyone we meet. Though we are blessed with a wonderful facility in which we gather for worship, fellowship, and study, we do not believe that CHURCH is merely bricks and mortar. Rather we understand CHURCH to be an expression and extension of God’s love to our community and world. CHURCH does not just happen in our building. It happens in the workplace, the neighborhood park, the school yard, and the grocery line. Basically, it happens wherever God actively loves people – and that is everywhere.
Our ministries aim to build connections of care to those in our community who may be dealing with big hurts or asking big questions, so that we might share with them the answer God in Jesus Christ.
Some of the ministries that have been birth in recent years include the creation of an active Youth and Children's Ministry, our involvement in local work that cares for the needy, homeless, and home-bound. Our educational/discipleship ministries have included Sunday School classes for all ages, a developing Small Group Missional Prayer Ministry, a top-notch music program, and more.
Our worship gatherings are all focused on celebrating the love of God Almighty. We believe that the greatest blessing of God’s grace is that we are now included in the family of God. Our worship services aim to be biblical, thoughtful, joyful expressions of praise for the God who includes us in His family.
I hope you will take some time and use this site as a way of getting to know a little bit about our church before making a visit. Look at the upcoming events on our church calendar. Visit our ministry pages and see what we are doing. Stop by our sermon archive page and listen to a few of our morning sermons. As you surf this site, you will be able to catch a ‘glimpse’ of what we are all about as a church.
How will you know if this is the right fellowship for you? There is only one way. You will need to make the choice to come and meet us in person. In fact, one visit will not be enough. Come and join us in worship over the next several weeks. Attend a fellowship gathering, a Sunday School class, or some other activity. Get a ‘feel’ for what God is doing here by talking to our staff or meeting some of our people. As you do, I feel certain you will experience the love of God Almighty and will get a sense of whether this is a place you can call home.
If you have any question, please feel free to send me an email at pastor@pattersonavenuebaptist.com, or call me at the church office at 804-355-6890.
Sincerely,
Bill Nieporte
Pastor, Patterson Avenue Baptist Church
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
When & where do you gather?
We meet each Sunday morning at 9:45 p.m. for Sunday School/Bible Study. This is followed by our Worship Gathering at 11:00 a.m. in our Sanctuary located at 4301 Patterson Avenue, Richmond, VA 23228. You’ll find a ‘Directions’ link off our main page.
Are visitors welcome?
Of course! In fact, the word ‘Visitor’ makes it sound like you’d be an outside looking in. Our hope and aim would to communicate the sense that you are our ‘Honored Guest.’ That said, we will not do anything to call you out or embarrass. We simply want you to feel welcome and included – because that’s what you are and will be.
Is there some sort of ‘dress code’ that I need to observe?
Goodness, no! Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. Some in our congregation will wear suits or dresses. Other dress much more casually. You’ll be welcome whatever you are wearing.
What are your worship services like?
On the First Sunday of each month we celebrate ‘Holy Communion’ (sometimes called ‘The Lord’s Supper’). This is a memorial to the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The worship style is slightly more formal, as we think the memorial nature of the meal calls for that. We do practice ‘Open Communion’ meaning that since God’s grace is given to all, then all who desire are invited to participate in this celebration.
On the Second Sunday of each month we celebrate a service we call ‘Family Praise.’ In this gathering, the music is more contemporary and the style aims to include all ages in the gathering. We encourage the entire family to sit together.
On remaining Sundays worship is fairly traditional – with hymns, prayers, scripture readings, special music, and a sermon by a member of our Pastoral Team.
Is there a Nursery provided?
A nursery for babies and preschool aged children is provided for those who need it on each Sunday except for the second Sunday ‘Family Praise’ gathering.
Am I expected to bring an offering?
We do collect a morning offering as a part of our worship gathering. This is a low-pressure occasion where we invite worship participants to given the ministry of the church as the Spirit leads. You can certainly participate in giving if you feel so inclined. That said, we see you as our ‘Honored Guest’ and have no expectations that you will give. Nobody will be ‘looking over y
our shoulder’ to see what or if you are giving.
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