The coffee bar is open before and after services. Parishioners purchase lattes and hot chocolates and relax in the WCC Café. This is not your typical parish hall.
Washington Community Church is not your typical church.
Located in the Sacramento Center just north of Fort Belvoir, the church was founded by Pastor Steven Bradcovich four years ago. He raised money while serving in a parish in Michigan. Although the church started on a shoestring, it already has about 250 members.
“We have grown considerably since we’ve been there,” Bradcovich said. “It is my first church in America.”
Prior to WCC Bradcovich has helped to found churches all over the world. Before his travels, he graduated from Southeastern College of the Assemblies of God in 1982, double majoring in Bible and English education. He went on to the University of South Florida in Tampa for a master's degree in applied linguistics.
Bradcovich spent five years in Guatemala, where he met his wife, Zuri, and 10 years in the Soviet Union. The current congregation continues to support some of these churches and his goal is to open a new church every year.
The church attracts people of all races, cultures, ethnicities.
CONVINCED that half of his congregation had never been part of any organized religion before they joined WCC, Bradcovich thinks that he is doing his part to spread the Word of God.
“It is very Bible-oriented,” Bradcovich said. “The Bible is fundamental and applies to everything in life. We teach about family issues; it’s a constant education.”
Two services are held every Sunday and Bradcovich leads a Wednesday evening Bible Study.
While Bradcovich leads most of the Sunday services, Pastor Steve Mullins presides over some services. Mullins is the founder of The Kids Konnection in Washington, D.C., one of WCC’s missions.
Mullins said that the program works in six different neighborhoods, serving about 1,000 children. For Christmas they will distribute hats and books to the children.
As part of his sermon, Mullins said that when he was saved, he realized how powerful the early church was.
“They preached about the Risen Lord and the Resurrection,” he said. “They spoke about healings and rising from the dead.”
Mullins thinks that Jesus’ fame spread so quickly because of the supernatural aspects of his life.
“When the supernatural is going on, people want to be there. He had a magnetic personality and people wanted to be in his presence.”
After Hurricane Katrina, Mullins spoke about how The Kids Konnection partnered with WCC brought a truckload of supplies to help a friend.
“We gave him a truck and it made us feel good,” he said.
WITH THE DIVERSITY of the congregation, services are held in English but translated into Spanish. Bradcovich himself is a master linguist, speaking several languages.
“We want to reach out to young people—they are the future of everything,” said Bradcovich, whose five children are very much a part of the church.
Joseph Bradcovich helps out with the Café, along with Bryant and Bradley Davis and Vance Glover. The Café just opened a few weeks ago and Bradcovich is hoping that it will be another way to bring in new people.
A daycare center is also scheduled to open soon.
Another outreach program, Tae Kwon Do, is taught by church member Bryant Davis for a nominal fee. He said that they have about 30 students at any given time.
Davis found out about WCC four years ago after his children attended Vacation Bible School. Davis and his wife came to the final service and have been coming ever since.
“This is a wonderful place,” he said.