New Life International at St. Andrews UMC Dedicates New Facility
Partnership with DevCo Contributes to New Facility
On Sunday, September 29, 2024, New Life International UMC held its dedication of a new church building. After six years, with the launch of New Life International at Fairfax (now New Life International at St. Andrews UMC), Pastor John Obeng and his congregation have a new building to worship, fellowship and serve the local community. How marvelous was the celebration! The church was packed with invited guests, members and leaders. The Rev. Dr. Sarah Calvert, former Northern Virginia district superintendent, and the Rev. Kirk Nave, current Northern Virginia district superintendent, were guest speakers.
For the Foundation and DevCo teams, it’s such a wonderful feeling to recognize that Virginia United Methodist Development Company (DevCo) played a vital role in financing the construction of this new building! Over the past three years, DevCo representatives have worked closely with Pastor Obeng, trustees and other church leaders in bringing this building project to a successful completion.
“This is more than just a building,” said the Rev. Dr. John Obeng, reflecting on the journey that led to this day. “This building is the fulfillment of years of prayer, planning and faithfulness. We thank God for providing us with this space, not just for ourselves, but for our community, and we are committed to using it to glorify God in all we do.”
He continued by saying, “It is a sacred space where the community can come together to grow in faith, support one another, and serve the world around them.”
The new facility can accommodate more than 300 worshippers and features modern amenities to enhance the worship experience, as well as spaces for children’s ministry, Bible studies, community outreach programs and fellowship events. The church leadership hopes the building will be a beacon of hope and love, not just for its members but for the entire neighborhood.
With the consecration of the new building, New Life International at St. Andrews UMC is entering a new chapter of its history, one filled with promise and opportunity for spiritual growth, outreach and deeper connection with the surrounding community.
DevCo is always available to help United Methodist churches within the VAUMC with construction projects.
We are your Partners in Ministry!
By Randolph R. Shelton, Vice President of Lending & Capital Development
Photos courtesy of VAUMC
