At the Center, we orient our lives around these three values. We believe that if we are deeply loving God & others, our lives will begin to change, along with the world around us.
UP
Orienting your heart, mind, & soul to God’s presence & operating out of that posture.
This can look like reading scripture, giving thanks, or enjoying the world & people around you.
IN
Investing time with close friends that desire a deep relationship with each other & God.
Any time spent with loved ones that feels life giving is considered an “IN.”
OUT
Opening your life to receive others with God’s heart, whether they know Him or not.
There are an endless amount of possibilities for how you can love those around you. Start by thinking, “How can I help?”
Our People
Emma Hammond | Executive Director
Empathy | Developer | Positivity | Input | Adaptability
Emma was born and raised in Fredericksburg and has a heart for the town and campus. As a student at UMW, her life was transformed by the impact the Lord had on her through this community & ministry. She is passionate about facilitating space for others to hear God’s voice and shepherding students as they grow in their identity and maturity. While she has the honor of being employed at The Center, this is truly an invitation and mission for the whole family. Emma's husband, Michael, and daughters Wynsor and Olive, bring unmatched wisdom, joy & devotion. The Center is not just a ministry, but a family that extends beyond the walls of the ministry building and into our homes in Fredericksburg. Emma enjoys creating, being outside and having a home filled with friends & family.
Empathy | Developer | Includer | Input | Individualization
Sarah Elizabeth | Associate Director
Sarah was raised in the passionate bicultural home of a southern father and a Cuban mother who both loved Jesus more than anything and instilled that love in her from a young age. Sarah’s family moved to Fredericksburg, VA when she was nine years old, and this place holds the fondness of “home” in her heart forever. She graduated from UMW in 2017 with a BA in English Literature. Afterward, she spent seven years in the realm of education with the privilege of teaching and empowering all age levels from children to adults with various learning challenges. She enjoys creating space for worship, for storytelling, and for people to feel safe, seen, and loved in their journey toward healing and wholeness. It is the joy and privilege of Sarah’s life to do ministry beside her husband. When not at the Center, you will probably find her spending time with her family, reading, playing piano, journaling, or taking a nice long walk in the sunshine.
Xander Timm | Intern
Developer | Harmony | Empathy | Consistency | Belief
Xander was raised in Stafford, Virginia, where he swam, played piano, and waged Nerf wars with his friends on the culdesac. He has been a part of the Center community since he was 15 years old, when he found his first authentic glimpse at what a community grounded in Christ could look like. Since then, he has graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology, and has been learning how to pour into his community in the ways that Jesus models, as well as how to be poured into. He aspires to be a therapist and is planning to pursue a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, as well as to become a sommelier of 2000’s sci-fi shows/books.
The Center is a living room for Fredericksburg and the Mary Washington campus. It’s filled with memories of mission projects, study sessions, and home-cooked meals. We got our start in 1948 when Mr. and Mrs. William Chesley gave their home to the Fredericksburg Baptist Church for use as a center for students at Mary Washington College. Over the years, the ministry known as the Baptist Student Union grew and the house was expanded. In December 1981, the doors of a new student center opened creating more space for events and interaction. In September 2012, we began experimenting with ways to help young adults intentionally connect in a new era of mission as The Center for Faith and Leadership. This new focus led to projects and collaborative partnerships with The Washington Arts Group, Fredericksburg City Schools, The Fredericksburg Start-Up Community and a local English Language School for international students. Today, we’re seeking the transformation of the university through deep relationships in collaboration with churches, and campus ministry groups. The world is changing. The future is uncertain. But we’re creating the future as we believe it will be by following Jesus, who is at the Center of it all.