Passion Community Church: Local church demonstrates Christ’s love and helps others through partnership with nonprofit organizations

Serving and spreading the gospel are two ways in which Passion Community Church has been ministering to the community ever since it started out as a congregation of only 25 people. Lead pastor Mike Kirby and executive pastor Jorshe Joseph have been leading the church as it has grown.

“When people come here, we don’t want them just to attend,” Kirby said. “We want them to be a part of our family.”

Joseph echoed the importance of community.

“(Church) is meant to be believers coming together in relationship with one another, … using the different gifts that we have for the building up of the body of Christ,” Joseph said.   

Only 15 years ago, the church was called Lynchburg Church of God. The church leadership changed the name to Passion Community Church to better convey what the church is about.

The word “passion” described not only how the church members felt about community, but how the church believed faith should be lived out.

In 2023, Passion had received a large amount of contributions to missionaries outside of the church through donations to missionaries, organizations devoted to missions and local outreach opportunities. 

“This year, our goal is to see that grow exponentially,” Kirby said. “We want to have an even bigger impact.”

Passion deeply cares for the people within the surrounding community. The church partners with Miriam’s House, Patrick Henry Family Services and Agape Center.

Passion works to further the mission of Miriam’s House by filling welcome baskets that will be donated to homeless individuals. Items like dish soap, toilet paper, laundry detergent and paper towels are packed into a trash can that is then given to an individual newly placed in a home.

“Miriam’s House’s mission is to end homelessness in Lynchburg,” Kirby said. “Most people don’t realize that homelessness is an issue in our city.” 

Patrick Henry Family Services works with families who have been torn apart by a lack of resources.

Agape Center works to establish practical long-term necessities. It carries out a process of mentorship or counseling with the households it serves.

Mental, emotional and spiritual needs are tended to as well.   

Passion encourages its members to participate in communities outside of the church by partnering with organizations like these.

“It’s important for our church body to have opportunities that exist outside of their lives and even outside of our church,” Joseph said. “There’s heartbreaking stories all throughout the city and the surrounding area of people that need the hope of the gospel.”

Passion Community Church firmly believes that Christians have a responsibility to help those in need.

“We as believers have a responsibility to not just be in our own lives and our own worlds, but to step outside to show people who Jesus is,” Joseph said.

Students interested in getting involved with the church can volunteer for one of the many CSER opportunities that Passion offers.

“We’re never more like Jesus than when we serve,” Kirby said. “We love giving them the opportunity because students will find out it’s through that act of service they feel connected to the body of Christ.”   

Passion Community Church can be reached through its website. The church holds 9 and 11 a.m. services every Sunday at 512 Breezewood Drive in Lynchburg.

Sowell is a feature reporter for the Liberty Champion