McLean Bible Church was founded in 1961 by five families in Northern Virginia. Its first service was held on Easter Sunday at Chesterbook Elementary School in McLean with Pastor J. Albert Ford.
In September 2017, David Platt was confirmed as the Pastor-Teacher, later "Lead Pastor", replacing Lon Solomon by being the sole candidate offered to the membership.[3] Associate Pastor Dale Sutherland was instrumental in bringing Platt to McLean.[4]
Under the leadership of Platt, McLean has also been the broadcast location for several Radical (David Platt's resource ministry) simulcasts.
In early 2017, McLean weekly attendance exceeded 13,500 people.[4] According to a church census released in 2018, it claimed a weekly attendance of 10,510 people and 5 campuses in different cities.[5] According to the MBC March 2022 Congregational Meeting Report weekly attendance for 2021 was 8,858. This represents a drop of greater than 34 percent under Platt, a mere four-year period.
On June 2, 2019, McLean made national headlines when then-President Donald Trump made an unplanned visit. After playing golf nearby, Trump appeared on-stage at the Tyson's Corner campus after communion. Pastor Platt prayed for him.[6][7][8]
In 2020, in response to the global pandemic, the church moved all their ministry online and met physical needs for people all over greater Washington, DC, giving away boxes of food, toiletries, and soap, totaling 5.6 million meals.[9]
A shared leadership structure for MBC was introduced between two lead pastors, David Platt and Mike Kelsey. Kelsey is the primary leader of the lead pastor team while Platt focuses on Gospel mobilization as a lead pastor.[10][11]
There have been several lawsuits since 2021 concerning the leadership of McLean Bible Church[12] and undisclosed relationships with the Southern Baptist Convention.[13]
Signage at Tysons Corner Campus
Rear view of Tyson's Campus facility
Tyson's Campus Lower Front Entrance with awning-covered walkway
