Occoquan residents are about to hear from their new neighbors.
The historic Ebenezer Baptist Church was sold to a small Muslim congregation, Internatioanl Peace Mission, Inc., in October 2021.
For the first time in over 30 years, the observance of Passover, Good Friday, and Ramadan has overlapped. As a result, Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta asked the leaders of the mosque if they would, on two occasions during the month-long Ramadan observance, perform the adhan, the Muslim call to prayer, as an educational opportunity for residents and visitors.
According to Porta, the adhan, always recited in Arabic, is roughly, though not exactly, analogous to traditional church bells in the Christian tradition, calling congregants to worship. It is a brief recitation, normally chanted, and despite the relatively large Islamic community in our region, is not normally heard here out of respect for local noise concerns.
According to Porta, the mosque agreed to perform the chant outdoors (weather permitting) on Friday, April 22, at 1:25 p.m. and again on Friday, April 29. In addition, they are inviting the community on the evening of April 22 (after sunset) to join them in theiftar, which is the breaking of the daily daylight fasting performed during Ramadan.
Lastly, the mayor said the mosque would conclude its Ramadan observance with a small public festival to which they invite everyone.
Lewis Bailey was born into slavery in Virginia and founded Ebenezer Baptist Church. According to Prince William County documents, Bailey was separated from his family and sold to a slave owner in Texas before the Civil War.
After the war, Bailey walked back to Northern Virginia to reunite with his family. In 1883 he organized Ebenezer Baptist Church, one of the oldest African American Baptist congregations in eastern Prince William County.
Today, a historical marker is located at the church.
Recent Stories

Public transportation in Northern Virginia is seeing a significant rebound as ridership continues to climb on both Virginia Railway Express (VRE) trains and OmniRide commuter and local buses. However, transit leaders warn that increased demand may soon outpace available resources, especially for locally funded services.

Governor Glenn Youngkin visited Stafford County on Friday, highlighting more than 250,000 open jobs across Virginia—even as concerns mount over federal job cuts. Speaking at SimVentions, an engineering and technology services firm in Stafford, Youngkin told the crowd, “Virginia has jobs. Lots of jobs.”

Properly using a car seat can reduce the risk of injury or death in a car crash by a significant amount, with studies showing reductions of 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers.
Check your child safety seat with the Montgomery County Safe Kids Coalition on Thursday March 20, 2025 from 10am-12:30pm. No appointment necessary.
Fitzgerald GMC Rockville

McClung-Logan Equipment Company is hosting its 40th Annual Oyster Roast, a signature customer appreciation event celebrating tradition, community, and generosity.
This year’s milestone celebration will take place on Thursday, March 6th, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Fredericksburg Agricultural Fairgrounds.
The first Oyster Roast began as a fundraiser in 1985, led by White Oak Equipment founder Frank McCarty, to raise donations for an employee battling cancer. This turned into a time-honored tradition for individuals facing hardship.
Your Weight Matters National Convention
Hosted by the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) since 2012, this highly-anticipated gathering is the nation’s leading gathering focused on empowering individuals with science-based education, support and practical tools for managing weight and improving health.
This unique Convention truly has something
Cascade Landing Community Grand Opening
You’re invited to celebrate the Official Grand Opening of our newest community Cascade Landing in Dumfries, VA. Join us April 12th from 11 AM – 6 PM and fall for your new townhome!
Enjoy our grand opening celebration, complete with