About us

Our Story

After years of serving in ministry, the founding members of Discover Community Church were left with a desire for something more. Although we each had a unique story, they all led us to the same place. We wanted to create a different type of church experience. Led by Pastor Kevin Jones and Pastor Wesley Johnson, we joined forces in December 2019 to become Discover Community Church – one church with two campuses in Maryland and Virginia. We started our journey together with our God-inspired mission, vision and core values:

Mission: Love God, Love People, and Make a Difference.

Vision: To be a loving community engaged in the process of healing and hope for all. Core Values: Healing, Education, Service, Empowerment, Unity and Love.

We started with a brainstorming session to choose a name for our new church that reflected our mission, vision and core values. Potential names like Harbor Church, Safe Harbor Community Church and others were discussed. Eventually, the list of names was narrowed down to our top five favorites. We shared the meaning behind each name and how it aligned with our foundational principles before voting on the name and finally we officially became Discover Community Church aka DCC. Once we solidified the name, we needed a logo. Members of the core team put on their creative hats and submitted logo ideas for the team and larger church community to vote on. By the time the vote was complete, we were in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown so we planned a virtual logo reveal party. It was our first event as Discover Community Church. We were excited to celebrate our first event, our new name, and announce the winning logo. The event also marked the launch of our website and social media platforms. We celebrated with music, games and finally, a logo reveal video. Pastor Kev and Pastor Wes ended the event by leading us in a community toast to mark this historic moment for DCC.

Our Core Values

Healing – Education – Service – Love – Unity – Empowerment

These are not just words to us…they are our Core Values and the blueprint intentionally placed at the forefront of everything that Discover Community Church does. Creating an irresistible church is a daily effort that we remain committed to achieving.

Healing

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

When the Discover launch team was tasked with articulating the kind of church we wanted to be a part of, healing was a word that repeatedly came to the forefront. We believe that our church can be a place of refuge and rejuvenation and we began to build the foundation for that type of environment from the start. 

We have been intentional about creating safe spaces and events that promote healing, self-care, and wholeness. Our Senior Pastor, Kevin Jones always leads the way by often sharing his own journey of healing in his sermons. 

We believe in the power of prayer and therapy because some parts of the journey to healing require professional help to work through. Discover Community Church has formed relationships with Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors, therapists, and mental health practitioners in Maryland and Virginia to provide lectures, information, and resources for all age groups. It is our goal to remove the stigma surrounding therapy in the black community and our relationships with these dynamic professionals are a powerful step toward that. At Discover, we want you to be well spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. We are committed to equipping you with the tools to get there.

Education

Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— Proverbs 1:5

We want Discover to be a place where people are continually enlightened, challenged and educated on practical and spiritual matters. We are interested in going beyond the surface and digging into why we hold certain beliefs and the history and context behind those beliefs. We always allow room to question and reassess things in a supportive, Biblically-sound environment. 

This sense of exploration is evident in our Bible studies. Our Pastors encourage open dialogue and lovingly guide the conversation while giving everyone room to share. That environment leads to some very lively and informative discussions. 

We also encourage people to learn in practical ways that can benefit them outside of the church and we offer learning opportunities through some of our business partners whenever possible. Last year, we partnered with TechSoup to offer free Microsoft Excel through Discover. We look forward to continuing to offer more learning opportunities to our community.

Service

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”. Mark 10:45

We are intentional about building an irresistible church and excellent service is a key component. We can have the best sermons, music and programming, but if people don’t feel welcome and prioritized when they enter our space, it’s all for nothing. 

We want people to feel the difference when they encounter Discover and know that our focus is on giving before receiving. In our mission to serve others, there might not always be reciprocation, and we are ok with that. Helping someone in need, loving someone who has been rejected, or playing a part in someone’s healing is the reward. 

Service shows up in how we engage people and make them feel, but is also a part of our presentation. Serving with excellence is very important at Discover. There is a lot of planning and effort that goes into everything before it is presented to the public. We take pride in our work in order to provide the best experience. 

Finally, we understand that people have lives and other obligations and sometimes serving can burn us out. Cross-training and providing breaks and opportunities for our pastors and teams to rest and refuel are a regular part of our schedule. It is our way of serving each other internally, to ensure a healthy ministry that can in turn serve our community.

Love

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 3:13

The Discover motto is “Love God, Love People, Make a Difference” and we take it to heart. Having a great presentation is something we take pride in, but we understand that it is meaningless if there is no love in the room. Love sets the tone for everything we do. 

Discover is a family that wants you to feel and share the love we have for one another. We want you to know that you matter, we need you and we miss you when you’re not around. 

We also encourage you to love yourself, be proud of how far you’ve come, and recognize your God-given talent and beauty. 

Finally, we want to love you to healing. This kind of love may not give us the warm and fuzzies, but that’s what makes Discover unique. You may not always hear what makes you comfortable, but you will hear what is right. Our pastors constantly challenge us to do the work of stretching, healing and growing because they love us and want the best for us. At Discover Community Church, you will be told the truth in love to help you get to a better place. This is what real love looks like.

Unity

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 1 Peter 3:8

This core value has been put to the test as we have taken on the work of building a ministry in the midst of COVID-19. Not being able to gather in person forced us to find creative ways to establish and maintain meaningful connections. 

We’ve held events like Celebrating Black Love to allow our married couples to reconnect and spend time with other couples. Our Discover kids have been meeting to learn, play and grow together. The fellas connected at The Meet Up and the ladies enjoyed The Sista Check In. Our church family at large has gathered at DC² Bible Study, the DCC Logo Reveal Mixer, Students of Excellence, the Discover Family Reunion, and other events to get to know each other better, learn and celebrate our accomplishments. 

Our leadership has been very intentional about making sure that as we move forward, we are moving as one unit, and one of the ways we get there is by spending time together…even virtually. Discover Community Church is a family and this mindset is reflected in all that we take on. From our business meetings to our social activities, everything is guided by love and unity.

Empowerment

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Phillippians 4:13

Discover Community Church strives to empower people in and around our community by providing them with the knowledge and tools to become better people and followers of Christ. We want people to see the beauty and brilliance within themselves while equipping them with practical and spiritual tools to navigate whatever comes their way. It isn’t enough that our internal community thrives; we want the people around us to win too. 

One of the ways that we are working to empower our community is by partnering with black-owned businesses. These strategic partnerships allow us to connect people with information, products, and services that benefit our Discover family and surrounding communities while supporting black-owned businesses with our endorsement and dollars. 

It is essential that people walk away from Discover Community Church experiences more knowledgeable, more confident, and feeling a little more loved and supported. That is what real empowerment means to us.

Our Pastors

Pastor Kevin and First Lady Krissy

Pastor Kevin Jones, aka “Pastor Kev”, is a dynamic leader, teacher and visionary. He served as Pastor of The Destiny Church in Stafford, VA since 2007 working alongside the love of his life, and First Lady, Krissy Jones. 

As a leader, Pastor Kev has focused on building up a body of believers connected to God through worship, to each other through fellowship, and to the community through service. His heart for people and desire to make an impact on the surrounding community can be felt in all areas of his ministry. 

As a speaker, Pastor Kev’s ability to bring a fresh perspective to the scriptures through his engaging illustrations is his secret weapon. His transparent, down to earth approach inspires and challenges listeners with every message. 

Pastor Kev is a native of Prince George’s County, Maryland and still maintains close ties there through family and friends. Pastor Kev and First Lady Krissy reside in Stafford, VA with their two sons, Kevin II, a Political Science major at Hampton University and Kristopher, a talented high school student and athlete. Pastor Kev has always prioritized supporting his sons and has coached them in football and in life. One of Pastor Kev’s greatest joys is pouring into their lives and it is evident in the close bond they share.

Pastor Wes and First Lady Tarkia Johnson

Pastor Wesley Johnson, aka “Pastor Wes” is both a humble servant and a savvy businessman. His passion for coupling financial and business knowledge with spiritual growth enables him to be a powerful agent for positive change. Pastor Wes also grew up in Prince George’s County Maryland and has led Love’s Truth Ministry since 2016 with his wife and partner in ministry, First Lady Tarkia Johnson. 

Pastor Wes’ mission to create leaders who impact faith, families and finances is the driving force behind his ministry. On any given day, you might find Pastor Wes teaching a financial workshop, feeding families in the community or hosting a couples game night. His focused attention on well-being in all areas of life makes Pastor Wes an inspiring leader. 

Pastor Wes and First Lady Tarkia reside in Bowie, MD with their 3 daughters, Zoë, Eden, and Mila. Pastor Wes loves being a girl dad and is never too busy for his “ZEM Girls”. He can regularly be found at their soccer games as a coach, their school events or at home making s’mores and catching up on the latest happenings in their world.