We want to take the opportunity to get to know some of the members of our congregation and staff who serve in different ways. This month we are featuring Elizabeth Haines, who has recently joined our staff, as the church’s first ever HR/Benefits Manager.
Elizabeth’s time at The Falls Church Anglican began with a visit in the original building. She was interning in D.C. after her junior year at Wake Forest, and in that visit as she looked around and worshiped, she felt called by God that this could be her home. God called her to The Falls Church Anglican before she even had a job lined up after college. Once she moved here and began working in the area, she quickly dove in serving in Youth Family.
This experience was pivotal to Elizabeth because it was serving alongside other youth leaders that she saw how they did life together. There were others serving with her who showed Elizabeth how to follow Christ in an area like D.C. where young adults face pressures in their social lives, jobs, and even a desire to be married. Seeing other leaders live out their faith and discipling students together shaped Elizabeth’s walk with Christ. Those relationships with the students and adults are still part of her life now, 15 years later.
In fact, it was through mutual friends in Youth Family that Elizabeth met her husband David, and they were married in the new sanctuary in June, 2021.
Serving the Church and Building up the Body of Christ
During the time Elizabeth was discipling students, learning from other youth leaders, and forming relationships at TFCA, she also had a thriving career managing e-commerce for a large retail company. Her position put her at a high level at a young age but gave her the opportunity to learn about management, HR, and operations. This experience led Elizabeth to serve on the Personnel Committee at TFCA. There was a growing need for an HR position to operate as a bridge between the staff and committee. God’s timing in opening this position fell in line with the season of life Elizabeth found herself in. Working on staff was the right fit for her, and the right fit for the needs of the church. Her confidence in and respect for the leadership of The Falls Church Anglican was a major factor in Elizabeth deciding to lean into the opportunity to work on staff here.
Elizabeth has a heart for seeing people thrive in the workplace. The question that drives her is “What does it look like for someone to flourish in the workplace?” Her knowledge and experience have already made an impact amongst the staff. In Elizabeth’s own words, “Seeing people’s gifts given by God, matched with the needs of the church, all done with excellence, is my way of serving the church.” Elizabeth is part of the staff whose unique roles help build up the body of Christ through the church.