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2002 

Our StoryIt all really started in 2002 as I had been pastoring the youth at Troutman Baptist Church in North Carolina. Upon some deep reflection, I realized that I had spent many years as youth pastor, associate pastor and served in almost every ministry in the church besides women's ministry, (for good reason), and I had never found the type of pastor I had been longing for. I realized that this was my calling. GOD had called me to become the type of pastor that youth pastors, associate pastors and leaders in churches needed themselves.

At once Lori and I stopped working for Troutman and began to pray about planting a church for the Vineyard. We fell in love with the Huntersville, NC area and felt that this was the place we could go and easily start a new church. With my new mentor, Johnny Crist's approval, we started to pray about the next steps for starting a Vineyard.

Six months later, Lori and I ministered at a conference in PA. At the conference, GOD came and by the end of the first night, the students fell in love with Jesus again and the entire group had revival. All were face down on the floor weeping until 3 am, seeking GOD's face, repenting of sin and confessing to each other. GOD had come and we couldn't stop it. The rest of the week, it snow-balled and we couldn't stop those now on fire students.

The next week the churches in MD, VA and PA were calling and asking us to come speak and minister. The fire that exploded in those students had affected their home churches and they were stirred.

To make a long story short, that's what brought us to MD. We came to serve a local church in the area as pastor for a one year term before we started our Vineyard. 

2003

 The Tapestry Begins

In Spring 2003, as the date to return to Huntersville approached, I began to spend all of my time in my prayer closet in the mornings praying for GOD to allow Lori and I to stay in the DC metro area. We had fallen in love with the people and the area and knew that GOD had to have something in store for us here. After two weeks, I received a call from Johnny. He stated that the Vineyard had a conference and at that conference, pastors of larger Vineyard churches took challenges to go to the yet untouched cities in the US and start new churches. One of those pastors had stepped up to the call and said that he was called to North Carolina! Not only that, but Huntersville. And not just Huntersville, but they planned to start the work the EXACT date Lori and I had felt let to start!

GOD had answered and we knew it was time to start planning the Tapestry. It was then we chose the name. The name "the Tapestry" came after many days of prayer and one long planning meeting. I liked the word mosaic, however, we found out that there was a church in California named mosaic and I wanted us to be unique. It was Lori's dad that suggested the name, "Tapestry." When Lori repeated it on the phone, I KNEW THAT WAS IT! We started the paperworlk immediately.

2004

By January 2004, we started our trial events and had some response, but it still wasn't what we needed to plant. 

By May 2004, we had finished the IRS paperwork for the Tapestry.

June 6, 2004

Then we took the leap. Expecting a large turn out, only 3.5 people came. (One came late and lived in NY, so we knew they would not stay). However, they did!

November 17, 2005

We officially became a Vineyard. We had always aligned with the Vineyard and Johnny sent us out as a Vineyard church plant, however, we officially finished the church planting process and were accepted by the AVC.

2007

And not only that, but the Tapestry has grown to almost 20 leaders and a large and growing two services in Bethesda and Rockville. We have sent missions teams to Mexico, Cambodia, Nepal and India. We have a growing outreach ministry called GSF, we have worked in inner-city DC and interned with the Senate. The day workers have been fed and clothed in Tacoma Park and we have now started a children's ministry and youth ministry. We purchased 50 acres of land and placed into a Natural Reserve, only developing 10 acres for a retreat center that will fit in the natural habitat. The rest of the 40 acres will be placed into trust and saved for future generations. The Tapestry is getting really fun! And this year, there's only more to come.

2008 - Future

The FutureWe are now looking for our own facility and we have plans to grow many more new ministries in the near future. Not only do we have a site redesign which you see here, but a whole new, more mature vision plan for the next five and ten years. We have teams going to Mexico, Tajikistan, and Bhutan. We have new reltionships in inner-city South East DC and opportunities to record music and host seminars and events for our church family! And don't forget the fun stuff. We have tons of fun planned. This year is the year we will LIVE life to its fullest!

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