Sen. Roy Dyson (l) presents a proclamation to Good Samaritan Lutheran Church Pastor Michael Watney as Dominion Apostolic Pastor Michael Barber looks on.

Lexington Park, MD — It’s only three years old, yet Dominion Apostolic Ministries has meet in three different locations until this past Sunday. Hopefully the moving van can take a rest as the fast-growing church had a grand opening Sunday of its new home in St. Mary’s Square next to Peebles.

A number of dignitaries were on hand for the ribbon cutting outside and then went inside to attend the service and to speak to the congregation lead by its charismatic pastor Michael Barber.

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office has successfully initiated a community policy effort in Lexington Park. But Sheriff Tim Cameron told the congregation that packed the new sanctuary, “I am a believer in community policing but community preaching is much better.”

Democratic State’s Attorney candidate Shane Mattingly said the service and the congregation reminded him of the “power of redemption.” He presented Pastor Barber with a citation from the governor.

St. Mary’s County Branch of the NAACP VP Janice Walthour said she saw a new generation starting in places such as Dominion Apostolic. Walthour is chair of the NAACP education committee and the church has a strong youth ministry.

Before Sunday Dominion Apostolic has been most recently meeting at Good Samaritan Lutheran Church just down Great Mills Road. Good Samaritan’s Pastor Rev. Michael Watney was presented a citation from Sen. Roy Dyson in recognition of that church’s generosity in making their facility available.

Pastor Watney noted that the first commandment was to Love God and the seconds to Love Your Neighbor. “You can’t love your neighbor if you haven’t walked with them,” he said, noting that the two congregations have walked together.

Dyson said he had visited the new church a week before and it was a mess, needing carpeting and painting. He said he told himself, “They need Jesus.” He said of what he saw on Sunday: “This is a miracle.”Del. John Bohanan asked out loud if the community really needed another church and then answered his own question by saying, “This is very important for the community.”

Dominion Apostolic will be holding services every Sunday at their new location at 12 noon. A Power Hour is held every Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. For more information about the church go to their website: http://dominionapostolic.com/