Our

Story

Our

Story

At Columbia, our three core values—All New, All In, and All Out—serve as the foundation of our mission of “Igniting Passion for Jesus Christ from Metro-Washington to the World.”

Our Beginnings

Columbia was founded in 1856 by seven courageous abolitionist men and women in what was then the sleepy village of Falls Church. Their deep commitment to Christ led them to become a beacon of God’s hope, love and justice.

This rich legacy of courage and compassion continues to inform our mission today. As we embrace the spirit of our founders, we strive to be a community that advocates for biblical justice and shares the transformative message of Jesus Christ. Just as our founders were inspired by their faith, so we are called by God to engage with the world around us and foster an environment where people can experience renewal.

Columbia history
Pastors
Pastors

Our

Co-Pastors

At the helm of Columbia are Co-Pastors Jim Baucom and Kris Clifford, who exemplify the power of shared leadership. Jim has been pastor of Columbia for over 22 years, and Kris has joined him at the head of Columbia’s staff over the past several years after serving Columbia in other capacities for 15 years. Kris and Jim are dedicated to nurturing a church culture together that values authenticity, creativity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to Jesus Christ.

Our Core Values

This is how we ignite passion for Jesus Christ.

ALL NEW

We are being renewed by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God. We are being renewed as Whole-Life Disciples of Jesus. We are being renewed to serve and give joyfully in Christ’s church.

ALL IN

We are all in to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus and welcome them into the church. We are all in for Spending Ourselves in God’s re- creation of a broken world. We are all in to care for each other deeply and authentically.

ALL OUT

Our identity is in Christ, not in the world. We love others and stay out of judging those far from God. We exist for the benefit of others and stay out of political and worldly quests for power.

These core values guide our mission and inspire us to live out our faith in meaningful ways, both individually and collectively.