We have a strong sense of calling. Out of the 1.8 million people who live here, hundreds of thousands of them have no affiliation with a church. We specifically want to help them experience God’s grace through a life-giving church like Lifepoint.

For the churches that are already doing good work in the region, we hope to work alongside them to see the entire community blessed in tangible, powerful ways.

More personally, we just have a deep love for people here. Jessica grew up in Hampton Roads and still has family living here today. Having roots in Newport News, Hampton, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake, and having gone to church in Norfolk, we understand the interconnectedness of the region. We’re at home in the culture and among the people.

Why start in Norfolk?

We love Norfolk and believe God wants to do something very special here. We want to contribute to its beauty and we want to help bring healing to its brokenness. Consider…

It’s beauty

• Norfolk is the cultural hub of Hampton Roads
• It is home to approximately 100,000 active-duty military personnel
• It houses the largest US Naval base in the world
• It is a headquarters for several Fortune 500 companies
• Close to 50,000 students are enrolled in colleges in the Norfolk area
• It is an ethnically diverse community, scoring 95 out of 100 for racial diversity (bestneighborhood.org)

It’s brokenness

• Two out of three residents have no active religious affiliation
• Homelessness has doubled since the start of the Covid pandemic
• 14% of residents live beneath the poverty level
• The unemployment rate is double the commonwealth average
• Due to the number of military personnel, many residents live with PTSD and need ongoing support