Mount Ararat Baptist Church

Mount Ararat Baptist Church is a Baptist church located in Stafford, Virginia^[1]. Pastor Todd Gaston is the Senior Pastor of the church^[2].

History

Mount Ararat Baptist Church was founded in the fall of 1907^[3]. During that time, a few men banded together in an empty field and decided to establish a church. One of the men donated land, and together the men built a small building and a cemetery. During the early years of the church, the Baptist Church of Toluca, later renamed Mt Ararat Baptist Church only had part-time pastors^[4]. Because the quality of the roads were low, Sunday School only met from April to Christmas. In 1942, the U.S. Government bought extra land to enlarge the Quantico Marine Base^[5], and much growth began to take place within Mt. Ararat. Along with new members came the inevitable need for more space, and the original building was enlarged by adding an entrance and Sunday School classrooms^[6]. The first full-time pastor was called in 1953. This was an important event for Mt Ararat Baptist church; Soon after a full-time pastor was enlisted, a full schedule of Sunday morning, evening, and Wednesday evening services were held, and a choir was also established. Soon after this, the first parsonage was constructed, and the sanctuary was enlarged^[7]. Later in the 1970s, as long-distance communication became popular, housing development became more frequent surrounding the church area. Mt. Ararat responded to this by purchasing more land for recreation and parking, and adding a new Sunday School wing and a new parsonage. In the 1980s the church sanctuary was expanded. In the 1990s more space was needed to keep up with the pace at which new members were joining the church; new modular units were purchased to increase the space needed for Sunday school. Mt. Ararat continues to carry out their mission to spread the word of Jesus the Nazarene.

References

1. ^ "Mt Ararat Official website" (in N/a). 65 Toluca Road, Stafford, VA 22556: N/A. N/a. http://www.mtararat.org. Retrieved 17 January 2010. 
2. ^ "Mt Ararat Baptist Church". 65 Toluca Rd. Stafford VA 22554. http://www.mtararat.org/v2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72&Itemid=241. Retrieved 17 January 2010. 
3. ^ "Mt. Ararat Church History". 65 Toluca Rd, Stafford VA 22554: n/a. n/a. http://www.mtararat.org/v2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=178. Retrieved 17 January 2010. 
4. ^ "Mt Ararat Baptist Church". 65 Toluca Road, Stafford Virginia. http://www.mtararat.org/v2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=178. Retrieved 17 January 2010. 
5. ^ "Marine Corps Quantico Base Enlargement". Quantico, VA. http://www.mtararat.org/v2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=178. Retrieved 17 January 2010. 
6. ^ "Mt. Ararat Church History". 65 Toluca Rd, Stafford Va 22554. http://www.mtararat.org/v2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=178. Retrieved 17 January 2010. 
7. ^ "Mt. Ararat Baptist Church History". 65 Toluca Rd. Stafford VA 22554. http://www.mtararat.org/v2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=178. Retrieved 17 January 2010. 

External links

• Mt. Ararat's Official Website