Mountaintop Dinner Experience: A Fresh Expressions Snapshot

“We would not be here without all of the faithful servants who show the love of Jesus each dinner/event.” —Mountaintop Dinner Experience Team Member

In Manassas, Virginia, where diversity meets disparity and community needs often go unnoticed, Mountaintop Church is quietly reimagining what it means to be the church. At the heart of this movement is the Mountaintop Dinner Experience—a weekly Fresh Expression of church where free meals, joyful presence, and heartfelt connection turn an ordinary gathering into something sacred.

Since its launch in June 2021, this Fresh Expression has served over 1,500 meals, gifted 1,200+ Toys for Tots, handed out 180 Thanksgiving boxes, and celebrated 51 salvations and renewals. But perhaps its greatest accomplishment is harder to count: creating a space where people feel seen, known, and loved—many of whom would never step into a traditional sanctuary.

Born from Listening, Grown Through Love

The Dinner Experience began not with a program, but with a posture: listening. In the midst of the pandemic, Mountaintop Church experimented with virtual dinners to build connection. But the real transformation began when those gatherings moved offline and into shared physical space.

Each week, volunteers set the table—not just with food, but with kindness, laughter, and spiritual curiosity. As one leader shared:

“We want it to be an unforgettable experience—where faith and fun go hand in hand, and everyone feels like they belong.”

This Fresh Expression was born from a desire to meet the community where they are. In Manassas, nearly 44% of households speak a language other than English, with many families navigating food insecurity, loneliness, or disconnection from traditional church life. Mountaintop’s response was intentionally bilingual and deeply relational—making space for both English and Spanish speakers, and extending radical hospitality to all.

More Than a Meal: A Movement of Belonging

The impact of the Mountaintop Dinner Experience is both tangible and transformational. Guests are not just recipients—they’re participants in a growing, grace-filled community. Children play freely. Strangers become friends. And every meal becomes a moment of dignity and welcome.

“We were able to bless over 100 families in need,” shared a leader after their fourth annual Christmas party. “Helping to make their Christmas joyful and memorable.”

These meals are not charity—they’re incarnational mission. As John 1:14 (MSG) says, “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” That’s exactly what this team is doing—week after week—bringing the gospel to life at tables of grace.

And it’s not only the guests who are changed. Volunteers frequently share how this ministry has deepened their own faith, expanding their understanding of what it means to follow Jesus in everyday, relational ways.

A Living Expression of the Fresh Expressions Journey

Mountaintop Dinner Experience is a textbook example of the Fresh Expressions Journey:

• It began with listening to the real needs of the neighborhood.
• It continued through loving service, rooted in relationship rather than programming.
• It blossomed into authentic community, not just attendance.
• And it now gently invites participants to explore discipleship through presence, story, and shared faith.

“Jesus performed much of his salvific work from a dinner table.” – J. Crossan

This work reflects the heartbeat of the Dinner Church Collective and the broader Fresh Expressions movement—that church can happen anywhere, and that spiritual awakening often begins not in sanctuaries, but at supper tables.

This Is Doable—And It’s Needed

What makes the Mountaintop Dinner Experience especially inspiring is how replicable it is. It didn’t begin with a huge budget or a perfectly crafted plan. It began with a few people who asked, “Who’s hungry—for food, for friendship, for hope?” and took the next faithful step.

As Romans 12:13 urges: “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” This is exactly what Mountaintop is doing—and it’s something any church, in any community, can do.

“People are not targets to get into church but creatures beloved by the Creator.” – Dave Male

The Mountaintop Dinner Experience offers a simple but powerful blueprint: Start with a table. Make space. Serve with joy. Listen deeply. Love well.

Maybe your community doesn’t need a new service—maybe it needs a new kind of gathering. One where church looks more like dinner than a directive. One where people feel like they’re finally home.