US

LOVING JESUS.
LOVING GOD'S PRESENCE. 
LOVING NATIONS & GENERATIONS.

We exist because of Jesus. Our heartbeat is loving Jesus and loving people. We are an imperfect people from different nations,  cultures, and backgrounds, but what brings us together is our faith and desire to pursue God's presence. Our passion is to see the nations worshipping Jesus.

I WILL CAUSE YOUR NAME TO BE REMEMBERED IN ALL GENERATIONS; THEREFORE NATIONS WILL PRAISE YOU FOREVER AND EVER.
PSALM 45:17

OUr leadership

Mika and Rommy are the Lead Pastors of Living Word International Christian Church. With backgrounds that span missions, pastoral ministry, and international service, they bring a unique blend of passion, authenticity, and vision. Mika, called to ministry at age 12 after surviving a shipwreck in Indonesia, is a dynamic communicator who empowers young people and bridges cultural and generational gaps. Rommy is known for her warmth and compassion, carrying a gift for truly seeing people and helping them experience the love and hope of Jesus in genuine and creative ways. Having pastored and ministered across Finland, Canada, Australia, and Indonesia, they now lead with joy, encouragement, and a heart to see people flourish in everyday life with Jesus—both in their church family and to the nations. They are parents to six children—Mai, Isaiah, Säde, Promise, Samuel, and Hannah—and a sweet dog named Java.

Our Team

Mika Yrjola

Lead Pastor
Pastor Mika leads the church alongside his wife, Pastor Rommy. He carries vision, encouragement, wisdom—and a steady supply of humor (usually over a good cup of coffee). If you ever need a fascinating but completely unnecessary fact, he’s the one to ask.

Rommy Yrjola

Lead Pastor
Pastor Rommy loves people and always takes time to encourage, love, or give a good mama talk (with a hug included). She enjoys chocolate, quality time with her family, and—most of the time—listening to the interesting but completely unnecessary facts Pastor Mika shares.

Krystal-Joy Dunn

Youth Pastor
Pastor Krystal works with our middle and high school youth—but she does so much more. Often the passion (and the push!) behind events and projects, she’s the one who makes things happen. Church simply wouldn’t function without her. She loves encouraging the next generation alongside her husband, Nate… and she really loves hot cocoa.

Tanya Simiakos

Children's Pastor
Pastor Tanya is the gentle, deep soul leading our little ones at church. With imagination and love, she creates moments of wonder and fun while planting precious truths about Jesus in children’s hearts. She treasures dark chocolate, a good cup of tea, the Word of God, her husband, and her kids.

Joseph Choi

Teams Pastor / NBCC
Pastor Choi is known for his big “Jesus Victory!” cheer. He leads our Men’s Ministry, supports Sunday teams, and also pastors New Beginning Community Church. A black belt in Taekwondo with an even stronger spiritual game, he’ll greet you with a huge smile—and love you to pieces.

Isaiah Yrjola

Worship Pastor
Isaiah has a heart for worship and ministering to God’s presence. His experience across nations gives him a unique perspective on global worship. He also has a serious passion for one very important topic: specialty coffee.

Vara Sampson

Audio Tech
Vara knows all things sound and music. From Bollywood to church life, he seems to have an answer for everything. On Sundays, we love watching him multitask—playing bass and mixing sound at the same time! But above all, his passion is serving God’s house and His people with all his heart.

Pirkko O'Clock

Communications Manager
Pirkko keeps everyone on schedule and in the know. Without her, typos would run rampant and no one would know what’s happening! Calm, collected, and indispensable, she makes sure church communications run smoothly. Her greatest loves? Her husband, Bill—and Finnish rye bread.

Connie Chisvo

Evangelism and Local Missions Coordinator
Connie is the welcoming smile you see when you walk in the door. She makes sure everyone has a place—literally, thanks to her calendar skills—and encourages everyone she meets. Passionate about sharing Christ (even with the Amazon delivery guy), she also loves cooking.

Hannah Mai Yrjola

Administrative Assistant & Missions  Director
Mai is the ultimate multitasker on staff. From graphics and social media to missions, admin, and events, she somehow keeps it all moving—mostly on time! You’ll often find her with a laptop in hand, but her heart beats for Jesus, the nations, family, and raspberries.

Debbie Williams

Executive Assistant
Debbie brings joy wherever she goes, and her laughter and smile are contagious. She pairs that joy with incredible organizational skills, keeping administration, social media, and more running smoothly.

Mercy DaSilva

Accounts Receivable / Payroll
Mercy keeps the church’s finances in order and always stands ready in faith to meet the needs around her. She’s quick to respond, dependable, and a steady presence in everything she does.

Emebet Akalu

Accounts Payable
Emebet manages the church’s outgoing finances with care and wisdom. This quiet soul, always dressed in blue, can be found in the far corners of the building, ready with a warm hug and steady presence.

Angela Cooper

Care Ministry Coordinator
Angela leads our care ministries, always ready to offer help, pastoral support, or prayer. She has lovingly guided countless families through many seasons with compassion and grace.

Glenor Virgo-Heath

WMS Child Care Executive  Director
Ms. G runs our Watch Me Sprout daycare with a big smile and a trail of little people following her everywhere. Need some flavor in your life? She’s your islander, known for her famous jerk chicken and banana bread.

Jose Flores

Building / Security Manager
Jose is the boss of the building—he knows everyone and everything going on. Holding the keys to the “city of Living Word,” he keeps us all safe, usually with a smile and a Coke in hand.

Ralph Challenger

Security
Ralph is the staff’s night owl—if you’re at church after 5 p.m. or on the weekend, he’s there. Somehow, he always has a smile and an encouraging word for everyone.

OUR MISSION is to be a Gateway to the World seeing lives transformed by encountering God.

OUR VISION is to impact families and the next generation in our community.

our Values

1. Love - We love God and people because He first loved us. At Living Word, love is an action—we walk alongside others with compassion, care, and commitment in every interaction.
2. Generous - Because we serve a radically generous God, we joyfully give our time, talents, and resources to build His kingdom and bless others. Generosity is not only our response to God’s goodness but a way of life that releases joy, transformation, and provision.
3. Encounter - We exist to encounter God’s presence and help others experience Him. Everything we do flows from worship and intimacy with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as we cultivate space for His Spirit to move and transform lives.
4. Nations - Our heartbeat is to see every nation impacted by the hope of Jesus. We embrace diversity, celebrate cultures, and partner with God’s mission to bring His kingdom to every tribe, tongue, and people.
5. Generations - We are passionate about investing in every generation, from the youngest to the oldest. By connecting across ages, we blend wisdom with fresh vision, building a family of faith that grows and serves together.

our beliefs

We believe in a personal God who has revealed Himself as One. God exists in three persons–Father, Son and Holy Spirit–each distinct, yet all of One essence.

We believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God who was born of a virgin, lived in flesh, died for the sins of the world, was buried, rose again, and ascended to the Father according to the Scriptures.

We believe that the death of Jesus Christ was the final and complete sacrifice for the sins of humanity. Salvation is obtained by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. All who repent of their sins and receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are born again into eternal life as children of God.

We believe in the accuracy, truth, authority and power of the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God.

We believe that in order to live the distinctive, holy and fruitful lives that God intends for us on this earth, we need to be baptized in water and be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables us to use spiritual gifts, including speaking in tongues.

We believe in carrying out the Great Commission of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ to show the world that God loves them: He wants to save them, strengthen their lives  and repair their communities. 

We believe that our eternal destination of either heaven or hell is determined by our response to the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back again as He promised.

our story

Living Word was founded in 1983, by a people who were passionate about pursuing God's Word and His presence. The church was born out of a desire to reach the DMV area with the message of God's love. Living Word is proud to be a place where people feel loved and a part of family.

Living Word is a non-denominational, multicultural, multigenerational, mission minded, Spirit-filled community that is Jesus believing, Bible teaching, people equipping and evangelizing. We are a church focused on fulfilling its mission of being the Apostolic Center in our region and to other parts of the world.

More

Missions
Partnerships
We're Hiring