The Virginian-Pilot
©
CHESAPEAKE
The lead pastor of Faith Alive Ministries, one of the city's fastest-growing churches, has left the church.
Bob Groves, who guided Faith Alive as it grew from a dozen members to more than 2,000, had been its lead pastor for 18 years. Under Groves' leadership, Faith Alive went from operating out of a car-sales office to an $11 million, 46,000-square-foot building completed last year.
Church officials did not respond to questions about the circumstances surrounding the pastor's abrupt departure last week. Reached Wednesday, Groves, 45, said he hopes the church can move forward without him - but he would not elaborate on the reasons for his departure or his plans.
"I do believe Faith Alive's best days are still ahead," he said. "We've got to navigate some water that is extremely turbulent right now."
Faith Alive and Groves have gained visibility and influence in Chesapeake within the past year. Groves is a close friend of Chesapeake Mayor Alan Krasnoff, who is a member of the Deep Creek church. The pastor gave the opening prayer at Krasnoff's State of the City address and was a spiritual mentor on the mayor's campaign.
"Personally, I'm deeply saddened," said Krasnoff, who went to Faith Alive on Wednesday nights for Bible study led by Groves. "The city wants the best for Faith Alive. Faith Alive is indeed a valuable asset to our city."
Groves helped advise Krasnoff when the councilman was thinking about running for mayor last year. The pastor also sat next to him at an Election-Night party, and joined the mayor on March 4 at a table in front of more than 600 people at the State of the City address at the Chesapeake Conference Center.
Faith Alive officials released a short statement this week, calling Groves' departure a "very unfortunate and difficult time for our church family."
"Our strong leadership is unified in continuing our mission to serve our community," the statement reads. "Faith Alive Ministries will move forward in the same dynamic ways that have made it a loving, diverse and growing congregation."
The nondenominational, evangelical church routinely welcomes hundreds of people at services on Sundays, as well as popular Bible study and youth programs on Wednesdays.
Groves was born on Oct. 20, 1963, and raised in Virginia Beach. He said he was into drugs and alcohol at age 13, survived a frightening car crash in 1984, and was completely lost as a youth.
He became Faith Alive's pastor in 1991, eventually taking the church from the car-sales office to a garage in the same building, then from a 220-seat Canal Road sanctuary to the current location on Shell Road. There, the church has expanded from a 500-seat sanctuary to the new 1,550-seat building with three massive video screens.
At the building's grand opening, Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson noted that Faith Alive would soon need an even bigger church because its membership appeared to be growing so fast.
Groves reported that Faith Alive had welcomed 30 to 40 new guests each weekend since the new building opened.
Groves said the new building could be enlarged to 3,200 seats. And in a February interview, he expressed a desire to open up other Faith Alive branches in southern Chesapeake and northern Suffolk.
Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com
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Comments
I'm a Secular Humanist, but I have to say that many of the comments, especially those targeting parishoners, are rude and uncalled for. Even though it is partially your fault for putting too much trust in one man many of us do feel a lot of pity for you all, as much pity as I would feel for anyone who has been scammed.
Judge not, lest ye be judged.
I'd never heard of this church or its minister until this story. Some FAM members who've commented here appear to know more about what's going on. But for the rest of us, what is there in this story that authorizes people to speak so unkindly of this man? Perhaps he's done something that let his members down. Perhaps not. But in either case it's not in this story. This story gives us no reason to believe he's done anything more than heed the call to do his work somewhere else.
Judging BOB
Ooooh don't an incident like this bring out the evil in people. I have never seen so many self righteous persons in my life. The statements being made are not influenced by God. Shame on the persons who call themselves Christians and judge this man. These statements are proof that these so called followers of Christ do not fear God. Instead they sit like coiled snakes waiting for someone to stumble. These people will be so surprised on judgement day. Maybe they will be in line after Bob is judged. That would be wonderful to see them trying to match the many good deeds Bob has done. It just makes me sick to see them attack Bob as soon as he stumbles. To those who judge instead of forgiving you may find your home in eternity will be the ultimate in global warming. Now if you are as perfect as you pretend to be, you probably think you can save yourself instead of asking God for salvation. Gonna be a lot of surprises on judgement day. Bob will be rewarded for those he led to Christ. And others will be held accountable for those who decided to go the other way because they don't want to be like you.
To dayl8t
I appreciate your thoughts on the matter, but I think the point is that this is the business of the church alone. Anyone that "needs" to know already knows. To spread it around otherwise just so total strangers know another person's private business is nothing more than gossip. While we certainly appreciate any and all prayers on behalf of our church and pastors, you don't have to specifically know what you're praying about. God knows, and that's all that matters :)
Church leaders are human
Church leaders are human and thus, falliable. But they must hold themselves to a higher standard to make a church successful and to be role models for their congregation. Is this issue news for others to consume? With as large of a congregation as the church has, I'd say it's definitely news. What exactly prompted the pastor to so abruptly leave the church, so long as it isn't a crime, isn't anyone else's business. Too often we have the press prying into people's personal business where they don't belong.
Just tell us.
What happened? This is the news and we read stories every day. We won't be shocked. Not all of us will judge. In fact some of us may offer prayers and support. This is one man and there is no way this one man grew your ministry into what it is today. What ever he has done does not negate the many good things he obviously has done for Faith Alive and it's members. As a believer rule #1 should be careful to not put faith in man. A pastor at the church we use to attend was in line to move up eventually to a high position at his alma mater. Everything was going his way and our pews were full. He had an affair with his secretary and stepped down. Sure people, including my wife were devistated to the point of not attending ANY church regulaly afterwards. It happens. Is this what happened? Or some pastors missapropriate funds. Was it that. Priest have molested (not JUST priests). I hope it wasn't that one but we CAN handle the truth. Please, try us.
Why cant he be forgiven?
Pastor Bob has done more for his congregation than 10 pastors could. Maybe he did not preach in the most traditional way but he drew in people that you would never think would be saved. The first time I went to faith alive it reminded me of a rehab more than a church. I seen people there that I thought were dead or doing time it was the last place I thought I would see them. I continued going more out of courousity than anything else. Then I realized that his way of preaching was incredible and easy to understand. I heard a story from a friend that PB risk his life to save a member. A girls mother told PB that her daughter was staying at a crack house and she was afraid her daughter would kill herself with the drugs. PB went into the guys house knowing the guy had guns and would use them. He still entered told the guy he just wanted her and he walked out with her. He made a huge mistake but cannot be forgiven by the religion to preach again? I think the church should be able to make that decision within their doors. I promise you that lessor men have been forgiven for larger transgresions
Faith Alive remains strong and on the march for God
Faith Alive is not going down. The devil is angry because FAM is reaching so many lost souls for Christ. He wants to destroy the Church, and what better way than to try to bring down the leaders. Well, that is not going to happen. The Church is going to go forward, stronger than ever proclaiming the Word of God. Pastor Bob is not finished with the job that God has for him. His best days lie ahead of him. Can't wait to see what God is up to! We love Pastor Bob and his family and are looking forward to his return to FAM.
Except from the Message (II Corinthians chapter 5)
"Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! "
Pastor Bob
To all.......
I have been a member of Faith Alive since 1996, I Met Pastor Bob during a time in my life when I was heading down the wrong road, Pastor Bob didnt offer a hand out, but a hand up and a bible.
Pastor Bob would preach on how God knew that not one of us is perfect but explained to us how we can serve a perfect God who knew of our ups and downs. When I got saved in 1996 by the grace of GOD who had forgiven me and all I had done.
During which time, I had joined the S.A.F.E. group at Faith Alive. This group saved my life
This was a group Pastor Bob had started there at church for the lost, every week, I attened there for 8 years.....
Thank you Pastor Bob, you and your family have and will always be a part of my life.
The FAM. family is very dear to me and God bless them and the people around me "you know who you are" Can vouch for the person I was prior to 1996.
AND NO, life has'nt delt me the perfect hand of cards but GOD did hand me his perfect grace through Jesus.
I wittnessed this grace and power of God, over and over and over by watching herion addits, prostitutes, drug dealers and some of the most lost people you could ever imagine come thru the doors o
Christ forgives us each day.
Christ forgives us each day. Who are we to cast judgement on anyone (remove the thrown from your own eye). All I have to say is: 2 Corinthians 2:7-8 "Here so you don't have to look it up". Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. Pastor BOB, Church Staff and general public, FAM is my home and always will be. To date and always I've had a very big place in my heart for PB the Greatest Pastor ever. For PB: The Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in HIM. Psalm 32:10 (Which I know he does). For FAM: Be strong and take heart in the LORD. Psalm 31:24 Prayers go out to PB and FAM. To all who criticize others my God be w/ you.
LOVE U PB YOU ARE MISSED... (Faithful FAM Member Always)