Seven families came together in January, 1996 under the leadership of Dana Hayden to begin Cornerstone Baptist Church, a church plant from Centreville Baptist Church. We have met in various places (business complex, movie theater, school) and have participated in many forms of ministry (BMX bike and skateboard events, pumpkin parties, Mexico mission trips, Habitat for Humanity). Our mission and heart: to reach out to young people and people not attending church.
Cornerstone first met in the Waterloo Square business center, with contemporary worship services and a relaxed atmosphere. Music has been mixed from electric and acoustic guitars to drums and keyboards to flutes and saxophones. Dramas, movies, and puppets are used as appropriate to illustrate the Sunday morning message.
Local ministries have always been important. Many members of Cornerstone support and participate in Fauquier County’s Young Life ministry. We’ve been actively involved in supporting Fauquier’s Habitat for Humanity affiliate, both raising funds and raising houses. A large project each year is supporting Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree ministry, connecting with the families of prisoners. Backyard Bible Clubs were supported throughout the community each summer. Large events such as evangelist David Ring, magician Toby Travis, X-Days (BMX bike and skateboard exhibitions) and Halloween Pumpkin parties have been provided by Cornerstone to create fun, positive events for the Fauquier County community.
Globally, Cornerstone has sent mission teams to Mexico and El Salvador. One year, 47 people, as entire families, went to Tijuana, Mexico in support of Amor Ministries to build homes for migrant workers. This has grown into an annual missions event. One of our members spent 9 months in India, paving the way for future ministry in that part of the world.
With a solid nucleus of 100 people, Dana left early in 2004 to re-enter the ministry of church planting. Mike Poff began as Cornerstone’s second full-time pastor in September, 2005 with a continued focus on reaching unchurched people with the love of Jesus Christ and a renewed emphasis on relational ministry and mentoring. As Cornerstone begins its second decade of ministry in Warrenton, there is a great spirit of optimism that many of these ministries will continue and new ones will form to meet the needs of this growing community.