STATE OF VBC BRIEFING | 2020/2021

2020

God continued to display His goodness to Valley Bible Church throughout an extraordinary year. Beginning in mid-March, the COVID-19 pandemic had significant effects on almost everything we do—for the staff, every ministry, and the body. Many families were challenged by grief, illnesses, job loss, and financial distress.

Regarding our church's finances, most of our budgeted expenses consist of personnel costs that are largely fixed and that the Church continued to pay, as our staff members adjusted to performing their roles through new (often “virtual”) methods. The expense savings achieved in certain ministry areas resulted from of our inability to hold many of our ministry activities which required in-person gatherings, indoor use of our campuses, or travel events.

In spite of all the challenges, we experienced amazing surplus giving, exceeding our giving budget by more than 5%—including continued growth of online contributions. The people of VBC continued to faithfully support God’s work, even as we underwent an unusually uncertain time.

- 2020 Weekly Operating Budget Need: $34,628.00

- 2020 General Fund Total Need:   $1,818,908.00

- 2020 General Fund Total Giving:       $1,950,380.00

- 2020 General Fund Surplus:  $131,472.00

- 2021 Weekly Operating Budget Need:  $35,272.00

- 2021 General Fund Total Need:       $1,834,167.00

In addition to our financial blessings in 2020, there were many other examples of God's blessing to VBC:

  • Worship services have been held every week since the pandemic begin - including both online & outdoor worship services @ both VBC campuses

  • Viewers watching the VBC at Home Worship Service on five continents!

  • Online VBC Connect Groups started to meet immediately after the worship services, and they continue to meet!

  • The VBC Food Pantry served countless people and provided Thanksgiving dinners to over 100 local families

  • VBC Missions:

    • Pakistan: Since the building of a church building for the Bheel people, church attendance has tripled!

    • Ukraine: After VBC Global Mission Partners Joszef and Daniela contracted COVID, the people they'd been mentoring began to lead in ministry

    • Iraq: Through the leadership of our Global Mission Partner fadhil, many Yezidi's who were run out of their ancestral home as unbelievers are returning to their home on Sinjar Mountain as believers in Christ!

    • Sacramento: The county has approved the full use permit for the Arab Church/Arab American Learning Center. Outreach is still happening on zoom and door to door; many Muslims are hearing the gospel! Saturday workdays have resumed with the focus on the worship center.

    • Nigeria: Believers were sent relief funds after massive flooding destroyed property and buildings.

    • Navajo Reservation - $10K was raised toward our annual Navajo Outreach

    • City Team - many donations of clothing and food supplies from the VBC family

  • Multiple new believers and baptisms at VBC

  • New VBC Groups

  • The launch of the VBC Podcast, BEHOLD!

  • VBC's Widow Care Ministry began

  • Community Service Ministry continued to serve those in need in our local community

  • The VBC Benevolence Fund received many generous donations

  • VBC Worship released new music

  • VBC's Children’s Ministry Bay remodel at the Crossing Campus began

  • My Heart Unveiled continues to meet with many new members (including new US states and globally!)

  • There have been several meaningful teaching series - Habits of the Heart / Romans / Easter / Together / Thrill of Hope / Who We Are

  • VBC hosted a Marriage Night and 60 couples were in attendance

  • VBC student leaders in grade school and local & nationwide college campuses in clubs and organizations committed to proclaim the gospel - currently through Zoom, but hopefully in person soon

In 2021, we're anticipating some of the following: 

  • Modest budget increase for 2021 (less than 2%) in hopes our ministry activities can return towards normal during the year

  • Prioritizing to keep both campuses as prepared to reopen as possible, with appropriate health and safety precautions.

  • Investment in more staffing, equipment, bandwidth, etc. for VBC online worship services.

  • Completion of VBC's Children's Ministry Bay Remodel at the Crossing Campus

  • VBC Churchwide Camp (July 25-31)

  • Easter Community Outreach

  • Global Mission Outreach visits to Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, and more

  • We have welcomed new staff members: Kim Zuro (Administrative Coordinator for quest & Discipleship Development Ministries) & Kristian Deriquito (Media Director)

  • New VBC Groups — In 2021, we’d like to see every member of the VBC family get connected with a group to grow, serve, discover and exercise their spiritual gifts. and partner with others in life and ministry!

  • VBC Classes: Marriage, Parenting, Financial Peace, Discipleship, Grief Share, Antioch Bible Classes, & more!

  • The VBC Journey — This will be an amazing opportunity to provide a systematic structure for those seeking God, new believers, potential leaders, and our entire church family

  • Worldview Mission classes — Perspectives, Bridges, and more!

  • VBC Men’s Ministry Toolbox Talks (every other month)

  • VBC Men’s weekly gathering for teaching/prayer/connections

  • Men’s version of ‘My Heart Unveiled’ (‘My Life Unchained’) is being released in 2021

  • Crossing Campus

    • Outdoor patio area in front of the building

    • Cafe lights in parking lot

    • New signs and improvements to the building facade

  • Altamont Campus

    • Altamont Leadership Team

    • Altamont Teaching Team

  • Altamont & Crossing Needs:

    • Laptop or iPad for Sunday Morning Registration

    • Air Purifiers (4 for the Crossing; 2 for the Altamont)

    • Laborers for facade work, new patio, and Children’s Ministry Bay construction (Crossing Campus)

You can view the live State of VBC Briefing from Sunday, January 24th through the link below.

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