About US
who We Are
The Branch seeks to be a place where life and faith meet, where we can come together in community with one another and with God, and where we can share the love that we have experienced in Christ with each other and the world.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO US
OUR SEVEN CORE VALUES...
THERE IS UNITY, NOT UNIFORMITY.
(Eph. 2:11-22, 4:1-6)We don't have to share the same politics, socioeconomic class, ethnicity, or musical tastes to worship together. Our differences are important, but we are united by the belief that Jesus Christ is our savior.
RELATIONSHIPS TAKE PRIORITY OVER PREFERENCES.
(1 Cor. 9:19, Phil. 2:3-4)The way we navigate our differences and face potential conflict is important. Our relationships with each other mattter more than making some compelling point. In community, we're better when we are listening, bending and stretching together.
WE ARE BROUGHT TO PLACES OF DISCOMFORT FOR THE COMFORT OF OTHERS.
(1 Cor. 9:19, Phil. 2:3-4)Jesus called us to serve others, to love sacrificially. We seek to humbly look beyond our own ambition and put the needs of others before our own.
IT CAN GET MESSY, SO WE NEED GRACE.
(Eph. 4:7)As hard as we might try, we can't do this on our own. God loves, forgives and saves us not because of who we are or what we do, but because of the work of Christ. It really is that simple.
NOT EVERY QUESTION HAS AN ANSWER.
(Psalm 131:1)It might be easier if this wasn't true, but discerning God's will is really difficult at times. We read the Bible, we pray, we reflect on issues with other believers, but sometimes things will still be unclear on this side of heaven.
MINISTRY & SERVICE ARE NOT RESERVED FOR THE "PAID PROFESSIONALS."
(Eph. 4:11-13)Everyone has a unique set of strengths. The health and success of our church depend on our willingness to contribute as active participants rather than passive consumers of programming. Everyone has something to contribute.
JESUS MEETS US WHERE WE ARE BUT HE DOESN'T LEAVE US THERE.
(John 4:4-8, 8:9-11)This means we can come to The Branch as we are, right now. We don't have to "get our act together" first.
The church is not a place, it is the people.
1 Cor 12:27-28where we come from
God brought the Gibsons to the Richmond area in 2007. While serving with Restoration Church in Mechanicsville, God began to stir Jon’s heart towards racial reconciliation and justice. He began to meet with other Richmond area pastors to dialogue about racial reconciliation and justice while also reading as much on the topic as he could.
During his time with Restoration, there were many efforts to reach out to the Ashland community. After a few years, it became apparent that the best way to reach and bless the Ashland community would be to be part of an incarnational and missional community that was located and involved in the community.
Efforts to move towards starting this community began in the Fall of 2018. In January of 2019, Jon was released to focus completely on the building of The Branch, which launched in September of 2019.
We know that the only way that we can find and sustain true and abundant life is through our connection with Jesus, the true vine.
about Jon gibson
Jon was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Connecticut. He was educated as a civil and environmental engineer, earning degrees from Lehigh University and the University of New Haven, before God called him into full-time vocational ministry. After serving at a church in Asheville, North Carolina, for nearly four years, Jon and his family relocated to Richmond, Virginia, in 2007, where he served churches in Mechanicsville. During that time, God worked to turn Jon’s heart towards racial reconciliation and justice ministries. This led to his desire and call to start The Branch in Ashland. Jon enjoys writing and reading during his free time. He also enjoys watching movies, playing games, and spending time with his family. Jon is married to Carrie, and they have three children: Dylan, Tucker, and Chloe.
