Welcome to the KPC Website! We’re so glad you’re here. We understand that visiting a new church, or even searching for a church home, can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together answers to some of the most frequently asked questions to help you get to know us better. 

But don’t stop here! Take some time to explore our website and learn more about who we are and how we seek “To Know, Love, and Serve Jesus Christ” more deeply each day. 

Our prayer is that God will use this website to connect you with the wonderful work He is doing in and through KPC, and even more importantly, to draw you closer to Himself. May you be blessed as you explore! 

- Pastor Tom Pitman

I’m new — where should I start? 

Welcome! Start by visiting our I’m new page and filling out the Online Welcome Connection Form. We will be in contact with you very soon. Or, feel free to stop by the Welcome Desk on Sunday. We’d love to meet with you and worship with you in-person.  

What does KPC believe? 

KPC is a Christian church. Furthermore, we firmly hold to Scripture as infallible, and thus we are committed to basic Biblical beliefs. Part of the distinctiveness of KPC is that not only are we a Presbyterian church, we are also a charismatic church. As charismatic believers, we affirm that God works supernaturally in our day and age and that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are valid today. In essence, we believe that He is a "right here, right now" God. He is the God of Miracles, Who is dynamically Alive in our midst. If you'll attend our worship services or study our website in depth, you will see that we are not your typical Presbyterian church. Our belief in the power of the Holy Spirit leads us to worship God expressively and live out our faith passionately. 

What is the Mission/Distinctives of KPC?  

KPC's mission is to live by evangelical beliefs, express charismatic gifts, promote worship arts, support missions and outreach, pray without ceasing, uphold Christ in our culture, practice spiritual warfare, and invest in families.  

What is a Presbyterian Church? 

The word "Presbyterian" means "ruled by elders." In essence, we believe that church leadership at its best is grounded in a group of leaders rather than a single individual. Thus, we Presbyterians organize our ministries around the concept of "team leadership" 

(I Timothy 3:1-7; 5:17; Acts 15:2). Through a team of Elders (Elder’s Session) wisdom and accountability are established and maintained. Yet, being Presbyterian is about more than how we organize ourselves. At our core, we are committed to orthodox Christianity as it has been understood across the millennia. The fact that we are charismatic does not mean we have sacrificed our Biblical call to define our lives by Scriptural truth rather than by mere experience or exuberance. 

  How long has Kempsville Presbyterian Church been around? 

KPC has been in ministry for over 60 years! By the grace of God, KPC began as a small church affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in the United States church (PCUSA) in 1962, with 20 charter members. It used to be on the property now owned by Rock Church, just down the street from the current location. In 1979, the property at Locke Lane and Kempsville Road was purchased, and construction was begun.  The new church building was opened on January 1, 1980 and dedicated on January 1, 1980.  In 1987, the church body voted to break from the PCUSA and affiliate itself with the  Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) denomination. 

 What is an Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC)? 

Presbyterians come in many varieties with new branches being formed in every generation. The EPC began in the fall of 1980 and spring of 1981 when a group of pastors and elders held meetings in St. Louis, Missouri for planning and prayer. They came from mainline Presbyterian denominations like the United Presbyterian (northern churches) and the Presbyterian Church in the United States (southern churches). These leaders had become increasingly distressed by liberalism within their denominations. They wanted to form a church that took seriously the works of Scripture, the theology of the historic confessions of the faith, and the evangelical fervor of Presbyterian founders. They envisioned a denomination that was truly evangelical and truly Presbyterian; hence the name. 

In 1981, the 1st General Assembly convened with 75 delegates representing 12 churches. When the Second General Assembly met nine months later, more than 120 elders and ministers registered as commissioners. Before the decade of the 80's ended, an impressive growth in member congregations took place. Churches in Argentina formed a presbytery and joined us in 1987. By the mid-90's, 56 missionaries represented the EPC throughout the world. Because we believe that God uses a variety of ways to draw people to himself, many of these missionaries serve through missions agencies other than our own with EPC support. Our global mission plan focuses on planting, developing, and nurturing the Church. 

We believe that God created the Evangelical Presbyterian Church to be a significant part of his plan for the renewal of believers and for witness to those outside the faith. It is our conviction that, like the ancient Queen Esther, God has brought us together for such a time as this. 

Today, the EPC has over 121,000 active members in some 600 churches. For more information see epconnect.org.  

When are your worship services held? 

Sunday morning worship services are held at 10 A.M., and generally last 1 1/2 hours.  

As important as our worship services are to the life of our church, KPC has various different events and opportunities scheduled throughout the week at the church to fellowship and worship with others.  

Where is KPC?  How can I get there?  I need directions. 

Please go to our Contact Us Page. Or use your favorite Internet mapping site (an example is http://www.googlemaps.com) and find us in relation to your starting address. The church is located at 805 Kempsville Road (Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23464). 

Do I have to be a member to attend KPC or any of its activities? 

No. Any of our events are open to any member of the public. For occasional events, such as concerts, tickets must be purchased for admission. However, these events are rare. Please contact the church office for any events you might be interested in. We would LOVE to meet and fellowship with you. 

 What should I wear? 

Come as you are! At the church you will see everything from jeans to dress clothes — everyone is welcome.  

Do I need to bring anything? 

Just yourself! If you’d like, you can bring a Bible or use the Bible app on your phone. If not, we have Bibles available for you to use or even keep.  

When do you serve Communion? 

Communion is served on the first Sunday of every month. We invite all fellow believers to celebrate the Lord's Supper with us. We make no distinction of church membership or denomination affiliation in order to be served the elements of bread and wine.  

However, we caution everyone, including our own members, to consider the one Biblical injunction against celebrating the Lord's Supper:  "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly."  (I Corinthians 11: 26-29). We do not make judgment, however, on a person's condition but rely on the person to consider their heart. Freely we have received, freely we give. 

How can I ever feel at home at KPC? 

While it is true that KPC may not seem to fit the mold of a traditional presbyterian church and may seem large to some, you will be amazed at how the Spirit of God moves in our services and how easy it is to meet new friends. Our Sunday morning worship service offers an opportunity to meet those around you and be sharpened in your faith. We know that where two or three are gathered, the Lord is present, and that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (Matt. 18:20; 2 Cor. 3:17).  

While our wide variety of programs and ministry opportunities provide lots of opportunities to plug in, we would especially point you in the direction of our Life Groups. These groups routinely meet and span all ages, interests, and backgrounds. For more information on care groups, please see https://kpc.org/life-groups.  

We are a diverse group of people.  There is no need to try to fit into a mold.  No doubt you will find someone you can relate to very easily.  "You are fearfully and wonderfully made" by God (Psalm 139: 14) and accepted by us.  You'll soon forget how big the church might have seemed at first and feel right at home. 

I am currently separated, divorced or remarried.  What do you think of that? 

We hold that, for married people, it was God's original purpose for a man and a woman to remain together honoring the covenant of marriage until one dies. We also understand that one spouse may break the marriage covenant. We recognize that the loss or potential loss of a marriage is a deeply painful wound, and yet we also believe in the power of God's love to heal. 

The pastors, elders, and staff of KPC are here to encourage you, pray with you, and give you Biblical counsel. Anyone seeking the Will of the Lord and His grace are welcome at KPC. 

What sort of child care services does KPC offer? 

KPC has a dynamic children's ministry that is available during the service. We have care and teaching for children from 6 weeks of age through 6th grade. We also have a place where nursing mothers can go with their infants and still participate in the service.