Meet Our Staff
Austin Almaguer - Lead Pastor
Pastor Austin is committed to developing disciples of Jesus who join God in changing the world. As Lead Pastor of Vienna Baptist Church, Austin is known for his visionary leadership, creative preaching and teaching, and commitment to social justice. He is passionate about building a church that can be the creative space where we experience the transformational love of God and join God in building a better world of justice, love, and mercy for all.
Austin is a native Texan who has always been interested in leading churches committed to making a difference in their local communities. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion from Baylor University and later a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary with a focus on the intersection of theology and social justice. In seminary, he served as a chaplaincy intern at New Jersey State Prison in addition to teaching at a Baptist seminary in northern India for a summer. Before coming to VBC, Austin served as a Pastoral Resident at Wilshire Baptist Church (Dallas, TX) with a focus on strategic pastoral leadership and ministry development. His diverse background and friendships have shaped his understanding of the church’s story of redemption as one rooted in God’s work of liberation and inclusion–it translates into his desire to lead a church that is progressive, diversely inclusive, and justice-oriented.
Austin is very active in the local community serving as top leader of VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement), working to build power in local communities and make positive change together on issues like criminal justice reform, increased funding for public schools, and expanding affordable housing. A recognized community leader, he offered a practitioner’s perspective for the Center for Public & Nonprofit Leadership at Georgetown University’s report, How to Lead Systems Change Work. He has also served as a guest lecturer at Princeton Theological Seminary and Virginia Theological Seminary in addition to regular presentations for regional and national denominational gatherings.
He now uses his skills and experiences to coach clergy around the country seeking to apply the principles of community organizing for innovative congregational ministry and impactful missions through the Thriving in Ministry initiative and the V3 Movement. He also serves an active board member of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention (ABCUSA) and Baptist News Global; and is a former member of the Coordinating Council for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia. He continues to find new ways to build meaningful partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and other communities of faith to make positive change together.
Austin’s wife, Alison, is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and an ordained Baptist minister, currently serving as a Senior Community Organizer for the Washington Interfaith Network (WIN). They are the proud parents of two amazing daughters and are nourished by music, laughter, and good conversations.
Mary Ann Christian - Music Ministry Assistant
Mary Ann and her husband, Lewis, grew up in Northern Virginia and became members of VBC in 1969. In 1971 Mary Ann joined the VBC staff as organist and pianist; the position was later changed to music ministry assistant. She was delighted when the church voted to install a Dyer pipe organ in the new worship room. Mary Ann especially enjoys accompanying and learning new music.
Mary Ann is a graduate of Westhampton College of the University of Richmond, where she majored in piano performance, and she also studied at Wesley Theological Seminary. She has accompanied various soloists and choral groups, including the Vienna Choral Society, and has taught piano for 25 years.
Mary Ann is a deacon at VBC. She and her husband, Lewis, have a daughter and two grandchildren. Mary Ann also enjoys reading and working crossword and sudoku puzzles.
