What if we could get out of the four walls in our traditional churches and into our communities and neighborhoods to share the love, compassion, graciousness, and mercy of Jesus?”
That was the question that launched an entire movement in Powhatan, Virginia. What began as a stirring in our hearts—What if, Lord?—has grown into a multi-site Dinner Church ministry reaching people with the love of Jesus in parks, fast food restaurants, and homes, in both the U.S. and Nigeria.
Taking Church to the People
What if we became the hands and feet of Jesus—praying, eating, fellowshipping, and sharing one of the 460+ stories of Jesus with people who may never walk through a church door?
“What if you could take Jesus closer to those who wouldn’t even think about walking into a Sunday morning service?”
Instead of waiting for people to come to us, we wondered: What if we brought Jesus to them—while also continuing our traditional Sunday gatherings? It turns out, we can do both. And when we do, the church begins to look more like the one in Acts: breaking bread, sharing stories, and praying together.
A Table Set for All
Scripture is filled with stories of Jesus around a table. When we follow His example, something powerful happens: strangers become friends. At the table, backgrounds, cultures, and life stories don’t divide—they connect.
“The table becomes comfortable, natural, and authentically a place of engagement.”
In 2018, we launched our first Dinner Church with guests from the Graceland Food Pantry. We trained 23 volunteers, began with 10 attendees, and today regularly welcome over 85 people. Even during the pandemic, we pivoted to drive-thru meals, offering food, printed Jesus stories, reflective questions, and personal prayer.
A New Church is Born
These table gatherings mirror the early church of Acts 2:42: they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to breaking bread, and to prayer. Many of our guests now call Dinner Church their church. Most had no prior church connection—but now, they testify to lives changed by Jesus.
One man named Jim, a former motorcycle gang member battling terminal cancer, came seeking healing. Before we prayed, I asked, “Have you ever met the Healer, Jesus?” He said yes—and met his Savior that night. He passed away shortly after, healed in the deepest way possible: with a heart made new in Christ.
“He became a new man that night and had a new life in Jesus.”
Expanding into New Spaces
In 2024, construction on our Graceland fellowship hall forced us to relocate our gathering. We moved to the Powhatan Fairgrounds—15 miles away—and found that it opened new doors. A second Dinner Church began to flourish there, welcoming over 70 attendees, many of them new families.
Soon after, we asked a “what if” question at the local Burger King, where we already had two weekly devotionals. The manager responded with a resounding yes. Today, we’re three months in, with around 30 people gathering for Dinner Church in a fast-food dining room. Even the employees have been blessed by hearing the message of Jesus.
“God is definitely at work outside of the four walls—even in a public place like Burger King.”
The Ripple Effect: From Virginia to Nigeria
Our weekly house church, hosted by a Nigerian family in Powhatan, has helped birth two Dinner Churches back in their homeland. One meets weekly in the family compound with around 25 people. The other—an enormous Community Dinner Church—rotates monthly among villages and sometimes draws up to 1,000 people.
“On one occasion, 200 people came to faith in Jesus Christ at a single gathering.”
Bishop Joseph, a longtime ministry partner in Nigeria, reports salvations, physical and spiritual nourishment, and growth in faith communities. He shares Welcome to Dinner Church by Verlon Fosner to equip others to plant their own.
Ministering to Veterans and Beyond
We’ve also launched three “At The Table” gatherings specifically for veterans in Powhatan, Chesterfield, and Richmond. More than 55 veterans gather monthly for meals, stories of Jesus, and prayer. Many face the trauma of PTSD, and these gatherings are becoming spaces of healing and hope.
Now, we’re praying about what’s next: Dinner Church for special needs families, caretakers, and individuals. We already host two monthly “Miracles of God” services at Graceland. Could this next Dinner Church be the table where they, too, encounter Jesus?
The Table is Big Enough for Everyone
“Dinner Church is fruitful, doable, and becomes a place where lost people get found.”
Dinner Church isn’t a program—it’s a movement. Around the table, the Good News of Jesus is proclaimed. Lives are transformed. People grow in faith and love for God and one another. And it all began with one prayerful question:
What if, Lord?
