Pastor Mike
Pastor Michael Southall-Vess was appointed to Arlington Forest Church in July 2007, and he'd tell you that his trip to the ministry has been an interesting one!
He was born in Lenoir, NC, and his parents were both public school teachers. Mike attended Virginia Tech, where he earned a B.S. in horticulture with a double major in agricultural education. He then taught those subjects in public schools in North Carolina and Virginia.
When Mike was called to the ministry, he was a Southern Baptist; and he chose to study at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. During this period, he also studied liberal arts at North Carolina State University in Raleigh.
Mike earned his Master of Divinity degree in 1988 and took his first appointment in the United Methodist Church that year in the Shenandoah Valley. He has served as pastor at churches in the Harrisonburg, Portsmouth, Lynchburg and Rappahannock districts.
He is married to Marable Faison Southall, from which part of his name, Southall-Vess, is derived. Mike and Marable have four grown children.
Marable graduated from Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va., and earned her Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, VA. Her father was a Presbytery executive in Statesville, NC, after serving as a missionary to Korea and as a pastor in New Orleans and Banner Elk, NC. Marable's mother, the child of missionaries, was born and raised in Korea. Marable has a twin brother who lives in Utah and a sister in Indiana.
Most recently, Mike and Marable served as missionaries Aizu, Japan, for the General Board of Global Ministries. Their work involved community development and rural evangelism. Marable is currently serving as the senior pastor of Graham Road United Methodist Church in Falls Church.
Mike says, "Marable and I are excited about our respective assignments and have been overwhelmed by the friendliness and generosity of the church members and people in our community. We look forward to getting to know our extended 'family' here in Arlington."
Weekly highlights
Lenten Bible Study
"Practicing the Presence of God" - 12:30 p.m. Sundays at the Ballston Common Mall Food Court
Youth Sunday School Class
Our new class for middle and high school students meets 9:45-10:45 a.m. downstairs in the youth room.
"Plane Revolution"
Through mid-March, enjoy Cesar Antezena's thought-provoking art exhibit in the Parlor.
Lenten Bible Study
"Practicing the Presence of God" - 12:30 p.m. Sundays at the Ballston Common Mall Food Court
Youth Sunday School Class
Our new class for middle and high school students meets 9:45-10:45 a.m. downstairs in the youth room.
"Plane Revolution"
Through mid-March, enjoy Cesar Antezena's thought-provoking art exhibit in the Parlor.