About Us
Get to know who we are.
Our Mission
- Mount Moriah Baptist is a Christ-Centered, Bible-Based, Family-Oriented ministry which seeks to Exalt Jesus Christ, Equip and Edify the Saints, and Evangelize those who are without Christ.
- We believe in the absolute authority of God's Word and are committed to preaching, teaching, and living It's truth daily. Obedience to God's Truth is the key to a life of peace, joy, and true happiness.
- We are conservative and traditional in our approach to worship - God's Glory in each aspect of our ministry is of utmost importance.
- We believe that God's Word provides the answers to our questions, the solutions to our problems, and strength and stability for our daily lives.
- Join us this week as we worship, learn, and grow -- striving together for God's glory.
Church History
Mt. Moriah Baptist Church (1850 - Present)
In 1850, Ballsville, Virginia was a busy cluster of houses, stores, wheelwright shop, railway depot, blacksmith shop, tobacco warehouse, and saloon. Upon moving his family into one of the farm houses and finding no Baptist church, Mr. Lewis McLaurine and some Baptist neighbors decided to start Sunday School in an old barn on the edge of a field about a mile east of Ballsville on Old Buckingham Road.
In May 1850 one acre of land was purchased by Mrs. Louisa Colquit for $15. During the summer of 1850 the men built the small church near the old barn. On September 8, 1850, the church was dedicated, the first service was held, and the Reverend S. J. Adkins was called as the pastor. Consisting of fifteen members, the church was named Mount Moriah Baptist Church. Little is known about the next ten years, except that other pastors were Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Crews, and Mr. Gilbert Mason.
Church Staff
Pastor Thomas & Alicia Alvis
Pastor & Church Secretary
Testimony: It was my privilege to grow up in a Christian home where my parents and grandparents modeled love for and service to the Lord faithfully. Although I made a profession at an early age, questions and doubts began to arise; as a junior camper at the Wilds (1969), the Holy Spirit began to stir my heart about the sincerity of my early decision. During a chapel service at Northside Baptist Academy (Charlotte, NC), I finally surrendered to the conviction and made sure of my salvation — September 27, 1972.
One of the greatest blessings of those early years was the privilege to attend camp at the Wilds every year from 1969 through high school graduation. Although I resisted for some time, the Lord began to work in my heart about preaching — often while attending summer camp. It was not until my Freshman year at BJU, however, that I fully surrendered to serve the Lord in whatever way most pleased Him.
Alicia and I met during our Freshman year, dated until graduation, married August 1, 1981, and began serving the Lord together August 10, 1981.
Family: Wife: Alicia A. Alvis — married August 1, 1981. Children: Thomas B. Alvis, III (married, 5 children); Christina D. Kauthen (married, 3 children); Kimberly A. Norman (married, 4 children); Charity N. Alvis (only lived 25 hours); Rachel E. Jacobs (married, 4 children).
Experience: Pastor, Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Powhatan, VA (July 2003 – Present). Pastor, Bethel Baptist Church, Santa Maria, CA (April 1997 – June 2002). Pastor, Thrifthaven Baptist Church, Memphis, TN (April 1993 – March 1997). Pastor, Upper Cross Roads Baptist Church, Baldwin, MD (Dec 1987 – March 1993).
Pastor Rob & Trish Manderbaugh
Assistant Pastor
One of my favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if any man be in CHRIST, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Evidence of a born-again believer is a transformed life.
I was raised Catholic and lived a troubled childhood. On May 24, 2018, while attending a tent revival at Gospel Light Baptist Church in Powhatan at 9:13 p.m., the LORD saved me—a broken, angry, hate-filled 42-year-old man. Afterward, my life began to change, as if the LORD had hit the reset button. It's as if the LORD put me back together. Now, peace and love fill my heart.
Nine months later, toward the end of a Sunday morning service, I surrendered my life to serving the LORD. From May 2019 through December 2021, I served as a volunteer Assistant Youth Leader and later, as a Youth Leader and Sunday School Teacher.
In January 2022, Gospel Light Baptist Church brought me on staff as Teen Ministry Director. I was ordained into the Gospel ministry on May 21, 2023, and continued serving as Youth Pastor until July 2024, when I enrolled at Liberty University Online to pursue a B.S. in Bible and Christian Ministry.
In January 2026, the LORD allowed me to begin serving as Assistant Pastor at Mount Moriah Baptist Church. I have been married to my wife, Trish, since 2002. We have two adult children, Joe and Sarah, and our baby, Rebekah, who is in heaven. In addition to ministry, I work in the Information Technology department of a public school system.
Five Active Deacons
Attending since 1972
Serving as Deacon since Jan 8, 1976
Attending since 1981
Serving as Deacon since Dec 14, 1997
Attending since 1995
Serving as Deacon since Oct 29, 2005
Attending since 2017
Serving as Deacon since Nov 1, 2024
Attending since 2020
Serving as Deacon since Nov 1, 2024