The launch story of One Accord Church is a story of faith, perseverance, and divine provision. It tells the journey of a God-given vision brought to life through unwavering trust, tireless dedication, and a community of believers committed to walking together in unity behind a compelling vision to be the church Jesus prayed for the church to be. The story of O.A.C. is more than just a historical record; it is a testament to what happens when faith meets action, and when people come together with one purpose—to glorify God with our faith actions in which serve His people.

A Stirring to Plant
One Accord Church began in September 2023 in the heart of Pastor D.L. Williams when he felt a stirring in his spirit to spiritually shift, sensing God leading him into a new chapter of ministry. After months of wrestling with what he was sensing—through prayer and counsel with his wife and trusted advisors, Pastor Williams received confirmation to plant a church in Virginia Beach that would serve God’s will.

Initially, Pastor Williams thought of naming the church 'Unity Church,' inspired by Jesus’ prayer in John 17. However, in the early hours of September 18, 2023, God awakened him with the name 'One Accord Church,' in which Pastor quickly wrote down as the official name God wanted the ministry to have. Days later, God revealed the church’s logo to Pastor Williams in a vision. He quickly sketched what he saw on a sheet of paper, so Lady Precious could see what he had been shown. In which he afterwards took a picture, and sent it to a graphic arts designer. That design became the present logo of One Accord Church.

A Journey of Faith
The decision to 'leave and launch,' as was heard by Pastor Williams from the Holy Spirit, was a complete journey of faith. While the 'what' of the call was clear, the 'how' was unknown. Pastor Williams had to trust God fully, walking by faith and not by sight every step of the way. Questions such as where the church would meet, how it would be funded, or who would join the mission had no immediate answers. Yet, Pastor Williams moved forward in obedience, trusting God to provide.

Oddly enough, while many new church plants struggle to find people for a space, One Accord Church faced the opposite challenge: finding a space large enough to accommodate the number of people God told Pastor Williams to prepare for. The vision of reaching 200 members in the first year created a unique pressure to find a venue large enough, but most available spaces were far too small.

But one day, unexpectedly, Pastor & Lady Precious were introduced to the leadership at Larkspur Middle School in Virginia Beach. And after much diligence and prayer, their request to use the school for worship services had been approved by the principal and the city. This divine connection was not only timely, but also deeply reassuring, confirming that God’s hand was guiding every step of the way. It became a great blessing, providing the team with the space they needed to launch One Accord Church as planned.

Building the Leadership Team
Great care and intentionality went into building a winning leadership team for One Accord Church. Pastor D.L. Williams, Lady Precious Williams, Pastor James Jackson, Pastor Kim Outlaw, and Dr. Collin Rice formed the first board of directors. A team of 25 leaders made up the launch team and the first Shepherd’s Staff.
The commitment of the leadership team was extraordinary. They met every other week, sometimes in the cold and rain, demonstrating their dedication to the mission. The team even traveled together to worship with another church during its launch to study the atmosphere and gain hands-on experience of what it feels like to be part of a church launch. This diligence and intentional preparation reflected their determination to lead and serve with excellence.

These meetings were not just logistical—they were foundational to the culture of One Accord Church. The team focused on training, coaching, and cultivating a unified spirit while preparing to launch ministries and share their faith in action. Each member was diligent in equipping themselves to serve, ensuring that when One Accord Church launched, it would do so with a strong, committed team ready to build and lead.

A Seed of Generosity
One of the first miracles of provision came in late October of 2023 in the form of a $2,000 seed offering from a generous member of the church. This seed became the first deposit into the church's bank account and was used to establish the financial foundation for One Accord Church.

This first offering was significant not just financially but spiritually—it set the tone for the culture of generosity that One Accord Church would embody. Pastor Williams believes that 'a seed produces only after itself,' and this seed of generosity was the beginning of a church committed to being a generous church—not only in financial stewardship, but also in its service to the community.

The Launch of One Accord Church
On January 7, 2024, One Accord Church officially launched at Larkspur Middle School. Over 220 people filled the auditorium, some flying in or driving long distances to witness the birth of this new ministry. Pastor Williams delivered a powerful sermon from Isaiah 43 titled 'The Time is Now,' emphasizing the sensitivity of timing and declaring that God was doing a 'new thing' through One Accord Church, and he was calling us to be a part of this move NOW, for such a time as this!

The service included prayers of dedication by Pastor Michael Jackson, Pastor Williams’ mentor, childhood pastor, and spiritual father, his Auntie, Bishop Shirley Williams, and powerful worship led by the praise team and guest artist Nathaniel Burge and The Glory Movement from Cleveland, Ohio.
In the first three weeks, 20 people joined the church, bringing its membership to 128.
By Easter 2024, One Accord Church welcomed 280 attendees to its service. It’s largest service since launching. Just 100 days after launching—the church had already grown to 164 members. During those first 100 days, the church made a significant impact through various outreach initiatives:

1. Refilling the local food pantry.
2. Donating clothes to the Seton Youth Center.
3. Providing essentials to a nursing home.
4. Feeding the homeless through Judea Outreach.
5. Filling refrigerators for two local schools.
6. Organizing a 3K run to support the Human Resource Center.
7. Donating Coats to over 80 families in Virgina Beach

The church’s first fellowship event, 'Breakfast by the Bay,' brought over 80 members together for food, fellowship, and connection. The event demonstrated the excitement and joy everyone was feeling about their new church and their new family in the faith. It was a moment of unity and celebration that set the tone for the community One Accord Church would strive to build.

On November 3, 2024, One Accord Church officially reached over 200 members, fulfilling the vision-goal given to Pastor Williams by God for the church’s launch year. And we still have room to grow!

A Debt-Free Church
Generosity continued to flourish at One Accord Church during its first year. Through the church’s first end-of-year giving campaign, members gave generously to pay off the church’s remaining launch debt. This small milestone reflected the financial vision-goal of OAC, in which is to establish and maintain itself as a debt-free church as much as possible so the church can successfully fund ministry efforts, serve the community effectively, and grow without the burden of unnecessary or unhealthy debt.

Laying a Strong Foundation
One Accord Church’s first year was marked by spiritual, numerical and social growth, companied by significant outreach efforts, and an unwavering commitment to its purpose, vision, and mission:

Purpose: To reach the unsaved with the gospel of Christ and make disciples committed to serving God’s Kingdom.
Vision: To use the glory given by Christ to be the unified church He prayed for in John 17:20-23.
Mission: To serve the local and global community as a holistic ministry, touching minds, bodies, and souls to produce mature believers rooted in the Word, renewed through worship, and reflecting the heart of Christ.
The Time is Now
The story of One Accord Church is a testament to what happens when faith, obedience, and unity come together under God’s direction. From a vision placed in the heart of Pastor Williams to the thriving community it has become today, this journey reflects God’s sovereignty and the power of both faith and obedience.
The time is now for One Accord Church to raise generations of steadfast representatives of the faith who will steward the gospel with fear and faithfulness— reaching people, saving souls, united in Christ, revealing God’s love, sharing our faith in action UNTIL HE COMES!