Free Methodists get new pastor

The Free Methodist Church, just one mile from the town of Culpeper on Sperryville Pike, has a new pastor.

The Rev. Baker Rigg, 46, traveled from North Carolina in April looking for a change. Involved in two church plantings — in Roanoke Rapids and Emporia — over the past 24 years, Rigg is now getting settled in Culpeper.

With an average attendance in the 30s on Sundays, the 10:45 a.m. service at Rigg’s church is a blend of contemporary and traditional styles. Hymns are sung with piano accompaniment, and a contemporary group, including guitar, drums and vocals, leads other songs.

Prior to his arrival at the Free Methodist Church, Rigg says the congregation was in survival mode.

“This is a turnaround situation here, where you take a church and make it more relevant,” Rigg said. “It is a difficult process due to resistance to change, and it takes about seven years to effectively do that.”

He describes the church as a work in progress — a labor of love — and notes that he is excited about the opportunity to be on board during this transitional time but says it is scary as well.

The Free Methodist congregation provides gas, furniture, clothing and other assistance, on a small scale, to those in need. However, Rigg says his church wants to do more.

This week, the congregation will be partnering with City on a Hill Church to minister to the homeless. They will both provide assistance at St. Stephens, in town, for the local church’s homeless shelter program that began in November.

Rigg came to Culpeper in the spring with his wife and seven children, five of whom still live at home and are homeschooled. The youngest child is 12.

Sports are a hobby of Rigg, particularly baseball and tennis. He can often be found jogging and enjoying picnics on Skyline Drive with his family.

Music also is important to him, and he has a talent for the guitar, sometimes playing during Sunday services.

Rigg was presented with many opportunities when he was preparing to leave North Carolina, yet he felt Culpeper was the perfect fit. He asked God to give him a project, and he looks forward to the road ahead.

Rigg wants to provide a place where everyone can come together and feel part of a family — all backgrounds and cultures.

He is earnest about providing things to meet the needs of all ages, leaving no one out.

“Nothing blesses my heart more than seeing people who are different, coming together for a common cause, a common God,” he said.

Growth is on the horizon at the little white church — its long-term vision is to have another building.

In regard to missions, Rigg would like to see the church have the capacity to “put our feet on foreign soil to minister to others; to send our own people on mission trips and projects.”

The congregation is hopeful, and so is Rigg, who says faith is the ingredient that keeps pushing the church forward.

Rigg sums up the transition in this way: “You don’t know what’s around the next corner — adversity, bleakness, adventure — you don’t know what’s next, and then you see the hand of God. You need to get to the point where you know you have God’s backing, and then you’ll know you can do it.”

Amy Wagner covers church news for the Star-Exponent. Have a story idea? E-mail her at .