Just outside Washington, D.C., the center of politics, power and prestige—or, as Foursquare Pastor Niki Tshibaka calls it, “the schmoozing capital of the world”—Mount Vernon Foursquare Fellowship (MVFF) nestles in the picturesque city of Alexandria, Va. The 33-year-old senior pastor and his wife, Kelly, who co-pastors the church, launched MVFF in 2006 partly to reach the area’s unique population of attorneys, military personnel, federal government employees and others who moved to the nation’s capital with the goal of climbing up the country’s ladder and becoming powerbrokers in the world’s greatest democracy.

Why would a young couple, the parents of three small children, seek out D.C. as their place of outreach? After all, as some might assume, it seems an unlikely mission field, brimming with rich and powerful overachievers who aren’t exactly needy. But that assumption would be wrong, based simply on appearances that can be very deceiving.

“It’s often easy to confuse power with wholeness, worldly success with fulfillment, wealth with health and happiness, and notoriety with community,” says Niki, a graduate of Harvard Law School and former senior trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice. Kelly is also a Harvard Law graduate. “I wish people knew that even though the D.C. metropolitan area is home to some of the most powerful, well-connected, talented and wealthy people in the country, it also is home to some of the loneliest, disillusioned, hurting and broken people you’ll ever meet.”

Reaching the City

The nature of politics, business and life in the D.C. area can create very unhealthy personal dynamics. Sure, people are constantly making connections with others. But, Niki notes, those so-called relationships are often superficial and based on self-serving motives, or temporary due to the city’s transiency. Yes, people are talented and ambitious, projecting an unflinching confidence. But their masks, Niki asserts, also conceal their weaknesses, fears and brokenness.

The end result? A city full of people who are not as happy as they may appear. People who may have power but don’t have peace. Even Christians here have to be on guard. There is a constant tension, says Niki, between the demands of one’s career and that person’s desire to seek first the kingdom of God.

“In short,” Niki explains, “Kelly and I planted MVFF to be a family for the lonely, a hospital for the spiritually wounded and captive, and a spiritual boot camp that develops and launches courageous, passionate, and well-trained servant-leaders. Hence our slogan: Love. Liberate. Lead. Launch.”

Going Global

The church’s outreach philosophy goes way beyond the reaches of D.C. Using Acts 1:8 as a foundation—where Jesus said His disciples would be His witnesses in Jerusalem (locally), in Judea and Samaria (nationally) and to the ends of the earth (globally)—MVFF strives to minister to needs within the D.C. metropolitan area as well as across the nation and around the globe.

In addition to daily ministry activities locally, they partner with area churches to minister to the homeless in an annual outreach called Night of Hope. The event not only includes worship, fellowship and teaching, but also provides showers, clothing, pedicures and manicures, haircuts, first aid and meals.

Nationally, the congregation hosts conferences for emerging leaders in their 20s and 30s, with the goal of mobilizing and inspiring young leaders and providing leadership training. People have left mainstream careers to enter full-time ministry either as a result of these events or the leadership development within MVFF.