Our church vision is for every member to be conformed to the likeness of Christ. 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.' (Luke 9:23)
Our Church's Mission Statement: The mission our church is fourfold: Glorify God (Mark 12:30), Love People (Mark 12:31), Make Disciples (Matt. 28:19-20), and Pray (1 Thess. 5:17).
We cooperate with . . . NorthStar Church Network, an association of Baptist congregations in the greater Northern Virginia area. Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Through the Cooperative Program of the SBC, Lake Ridge Baptist Church is part of a worldwide mission program that includes over 9,000 ministries.
Please click on a staff member's name to send an email.
Click here for a listing of our Council, Committee Chairpersons, and Deacons.
Terry Larkin
Terry Larkin, Interim Pastor Chaplain Terry Larkin is serving as Lake Ridge Baptist Church's Interim Pastor while we search for a head pastor. Terry is an Army National Guard Staff Chaplain and we are pleased to have him on staff.
Neil has been a member of Lake Ridge Baptist Church since 1999, when he came to Northern Virginia from Stuttgart, Germany, where he was a missionary from 1992-1998.He attended Western State College in Gunnison, CO and then received his Masters of Art in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He enjoys the people of Lake Ridge Baptist Church, however having lived in Denver, CO, and Fort Worth, TX, Neil's least favorite part of the DC area are the crazy drivers.His favorite authors includeLouis La'mour, T. Davis Bunn, John Macarthur, and he likes Brother Lawrence's book Practicing the Presence of God.Neil is one of five children and has a twin sister.He is most comfortable in early morning in his new front room, drinking coffee, and watching the sun rise from the east.
Neil Newcomb
Mark Andrist
Mark Andrist, Minister of Worship Before coming to Lake Ridge Baptist Church in June 2006, Mark Andrist, a gifted musician, had been Associate Minister at Tabernacle Baptist Church and a faculty member of Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA. Mark has lived in Kentucky, Texas, and Colorado, as well as Japan, England, and Germany. Mark says, I work for those moments when the presence of God surprises us in a worship service; or when a teenager says, 'Got a minute?'; or when I hold the hand of a woman who has lost her husband.
Mark has been married to his wife, Valorie, for over 25 years, and they are the proud parents of Sarah, a college student. His favorite books include: The Chosen by Chaim Potok, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and The Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Mark and Sarah love the National Gallary of Art in Washington, DC, as well as the newly reopened Museum of American History, but his least favorite part of Northern Virginia is that everyone is too busy - "it's completely nuts."
Sherry has been LRBC's Minister to Children since 2007, but has been a member of Lake Ridge Baptist Church since 1995. Sherry worked as a 6th grade teacher for the Fairfax County Public School System before becoming a stay-at-home mom and church volunteer. Sherry says, God equipped me through so many life experiences and volunteer experiences. I have always had a desire to help families grow in Christ and this position allows me to serve them.
Sherry and her husband David, of 15 years, have three children: Nicole, Benjamin, and Stephen. Sherry comes from a long line of Christian servants. Her father is a minister, her mother is an ordained deacon, her stepfather is an ordained Anglican priest. Her extended family were/are missionaries in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Morocco. Sherry sings, scrapbooks, water skis, bikes, and roller skates, but is most comfortable at home in her kitchen. Sherry is also active in her kids' school PTO.
Bill and Audra Skiba were named Lake Ridge Baptist Church's Interim Ministers to Students in August 2008, and have been members at LRBC since 2004.
They met in the marching band at Western Michigan University. Both of them have music degrees; and Bill has a Masters of Music Performance from the University of Michigan. Bill is currently in the Fife and Drum Corps at Fort Myer, VA.
Bill and Audra are working in ministry because "someone asked us to!" They were involved with the youth program at their church in Michigan before their move to Northern Virginia and haven't looked back. Their least favorite part of this area? Audra: TRAFFIC! Ugh. Bill: DITTO! Audra's favorite part of LRBC is the way that the people here rally around each other in good times and in bad. I've been rallied around and I've been the 'rallier' and the way that God uses every situation to His glory is incredible.
The Skibas, who have been married 13 years, have one son, Michael, who attends LRBC's Mother Day Out Preschool. They also have a Springer Spaniel named Conner.
Susan Gleaton, Mother's Day Out Preschool Director Susan Gleaton has been the director at LRBC's MDO preschool for more than 20 years and a member of Lake Ridge Baptist for more than 30 years. She has stayed at LRBC so long because she loves working in a Christian environment and loves the people she works with; and she loves the sound of children! Susan also works a second job as an office manager for a group of local psychologists.
Susan and Vernon, her high school sweetheart and husband of 37 years, are the parents of two grown children and the proud grandparents of Jacob, Hope, Ty, and Ella. Susan grew up an "Army brat" and was in 10th grade before going to a school for two consecutive years. She loves to read, but has to wait until summer to get most of it done.
Susan Gleaton
Leslie Tufarolo
Leslie Tufarolo, Financial Secretary Leslie Tufarolo has been a member of Lake Ridge Baptist Church for 12 years and came onto the staff in January 2007. She graduated from the University of Mary Washington with her B.S. in Mathematics, was a programmer for UNISYS Corp, and was a Computer Specialist for the Federal Government. She's lived in Southern California; Seoul, S. Korea; and Stuttgart, Germany.
Leslie and her husband, John, have celebrated over 20 years of marriage. They have two daughters, Chelsea, a college student, and Jenna, who is in middle school.
Kassie Koutnik, Administrative Assistant Kassie Koutnik has attended Lake Ridge Baptist Church for three years. Before working for the church, she loved her job as a stay-at-home mom for her two boys, Tanner (5 years) and Wyatt (3 1/2 years). She has also held positions as manager, administrative assistant, and receptionist in companies in Virginia and Montana. She likes that Lake Ridge Baptist has a personable feel and that "everyone knows your name."
Kassie embroiders, rides horses, enjoys fishing and farm and considers herself a country bumpkin at heart. She and her husband, Jeremy, have been married for seven years.
Nancy Pohlmeier has been a member of LakeRidgeBaptistChurch for 5 years and began working in the church office in 2009.Before working at LRBC, Nancy has been a substitute teacher, librarian, office worker at an elementary school, and aerobic instructor and has lived in various parts of the country, including California, Alabama, Ohio, and Texas, and in Germany. Nancy says, I thought that working in this church with these people would be a major blessing in my life.And so far, I feel I was right about that.
Nancy has been married for 19 years to her husband, Mark, who is in the Air Force.Nancy and Mark have a 15 year old daughter, Kara.Nancy is drawn to the war memorials in Washington, DC since her father also served in the military.She also has a special empathy for those that are at the mercy of others, such as children and animals that need help.
Paula Lowery, Kitchen Coordinator
Paula Lowery has
been a member of Lake Ridge Baptist Church for 33 years! She was born in
Bethesda, Md. and spent her childhood as a Marine kid following her dad to
California and North Carolina and lived twice with her grandparents in western
Nebraska while her dad was overseas. She even attended a one-room school
house for 4th grade! Her family moved to Northern Virginia in 1963
and she now considers herself a native Virginian!
Besides being the
Kitchen Coordinator, Paula also co-teaches a Ladies Sunday School class at
LRBC. She has raised four children: Kristen, Kari, Kendra and
Randy. Paula says, Our lives revolved around the church and the
love and support we found there. That's also the reason I love the
kitchen and fellowship ministry. Food is at the heart of a family --
breaking bread together is a universal sign of peace, harmony, and
welcome. She loves reading historical novels, photography, and her
grandchildren. She says, What makes me laugh is hearing all of them
running for me shouting Gamma, Gamma! Paula feels that God has blessed
her beyond understanding with these little gifts of love.
Paula Lowery
Samantha Allen
Samantha Allen, Website Administrator Samantha worked in the Lake Ridge Baptist Church office for 5 years and is now managing LRBC's website from home. Before working for the church, Samantha was employed by Prison Fellowship International as the Executive Assistant to the President. She graduated from Gordon College in 2002 with a degree in English.
Samantha has been married for 9 years to her husband, Brian, and they have a son, Tyler, and a daughter, Layla. Tyler is a graduate from LRBC's Mother's Day Out Preschool. Samantha enjoys sports, especially basketball. Samantha and Brian are regulars at Nationals Park cheering on the Washington Nationals baseball team.
Website last updated February 17, 2011
Lake Ridge Baptist Church 12450 Clipper Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22192 703-494-8413
