2023
Annual Report
THE ANNUAL FITNESS REPORT DAVID JOYNT SENIOR PASTOR
Several years ago, Kris Bahr got a new Apple Watch and kindly gifted me her old one. For most of my life, my watch told time, typically reminding me how fast I needed to run to catch up with my scheduled plans. Now my watch analyzes my runs like a personal trainer and physician! In addition to emails, notifications, weather reports, and news flashes, it gives me pace, distance, heart rate, and calories burned for every different sort of workout. Whether I walk, run, bike, or swim, there is greater understanding, accountability, and transparency when it comes to my physical fitness. Thank you, Kris Bahr! This annual summary of God’s work in our community is like a fitness report. Rather than measuring physical goals, however, we try to measure the spiritual health and vitality of VPC. We also aim at greater understanding, accountability, and transparency. But unlike my physical fitness goals, our spiritual goals are everlasting. Jesus demonstrated and then shared through His spirit, a life He called zoe, that is fuller and deeper and richer than bios, or biological life. It is the very life of God. Our acts of generosity and compassion, our moments of mercy and healing, our teaching and training, our sharing and witness, and our expressions of love and praise, are all meant to reflect this divine life. Read these statistics and stories with a critical eye, because we want to serve God well. But also take time for thanksgiving and joy at what great things He is doing in us and through us.
2023 NUMBERS TO KNOW:
100k+ 2,766 506 24
MEALS PACKED WITH FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN
TOTAL HOURS OF YOUTUBE WATCH TIME (+19% above 2022)
AVERAGE IN-PERSON WORSHIP ATTENDANCE (+19% above 2022)
BAPTISMS
(+167% above 2022)
A PLACE WHERE FAITH WORKS 500+ MENTORKIDS USA CHRISTMAS PARTY GUESTS
400+ FAMILY PROMISE BED NIGHTS HOSTED AT VPC
500+
DAILY CLINIC PATIENTS IN MALAWI THROUGH VILLAGES IN PARTNERSHIP
40k+
MEALS SERVED TO MALAWIAN ORPHANS THROUGH MINISTRY OF HOPE
MISSION
MENTORKIDS USA CHRISTMAS PARTY
PASTOR DANIEL MOYO & MINISTRY OF HOPE
450+
FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN VOLUNTEERS
FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN
AND PEOPLE BELONG 72 236 1,014 22 NATIVITY PAGEANT
TRUNK OR TREAT
VBS ATTENDEES
AT TRUNK OR TREAT
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
3RD GRADE BIBLES
3RD GRADE BIBLES
NATIVITY PAGEANT
CHILDREN
15
FOREST HOME
13
28
AT WINTER CAMP
MS MISSION TRIP
MS MISSION TRIP
HS MISSION TRIP
9
YOUTH NEW MEMBERS
MS MISSION TRIP
50
3
AT FOREST HOME
COLLEGE INTERNS FOREST HOME
STUDENTS
MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE 752 ATTENDED THE CHRISTMAS CANTATA IT WASN’T HIS CHILD
200
TICKETS SOLD FOR THE POINT OF GRACE CONCERT
47
ON THE CHANCEL CHOIR’S EUROPEAN TOUR
60
MUSICIANS IN THE REQUIEM & HOLY FIRE CONCERT
MUSIC
REQUIEM & HOLY FIRE CONCERT
POINT OF GRACE
DEEPEST DESIRES JENINA GALLAWAY CONCERT
CHANCEL CHOIR EUROPEAN TOUR
IT WASN’T HIS CHILD CHRISTMAS CANTATA
DEDICATION TO THE DIGITAL 733 VPC MOBILE APP
TOTAL MOBILE APP DOWNLOADS (+47% from 2022)
INSTAGRAM.COM/VPC.CHURCH
2,318
PROFILE VISITS (+46% above 2022)
YOUTUBE.COM/VPCCHURCH
13,286
UNIQUE CHANNEL VIEWERS (+17% above 2022)
VPC.CHURCH
18,615
WEBSITE VISITORS
(Since April 25, 2023: New Analytics system)
FACEBOOK.COM/VALLEYPRESBYTERIAN
53,166
PAGE REACH
WEEKLY ATTENDANCE
506
IN PERSON
(+19% above 2022)
467
ONLINE
(+10% above 2022)
HOLIDAY ATTENDANCE
1,154 1,322 EASTER
(+16% above 2022)
2023 SERMON SERIES
CHRISTMAS EVE (+8% above 2022)
MOPS MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS
58
WOMEN’S RETREAT ATTENDEES
29
BIBLE STUDY AVG. ATTENDANCE
WOMEN
19
MOPS AVG. ATTENDANCE
WOMEN’S RETREAT
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY
MEN’S RETREAT
25
MEN’S RETREAT ATTENDEES
∞
COUNTLESS CORNHOLE BAGS THROWN
MEN
MEN SERVING @ MENTORKIDS USA CHRISTMAS PARTY
42
MAN DAY ATTENDEES
YOU ARE NOT ALONE 183
OPEN DOOR ATTENDEES
OPEN DOOR
FLOWER MINISTRY
$5k+ 19
MEMORIAL RECEPTIONS
120 BABY WELCOME
CARE & HELP
IN DEACON FUND SUPPORT
HEALTH & WELLNESS EVENT ATTENDEES
$103,163 61% 532 8,092 IN REVENUE
BREAKFAST BURRITOS
YEAR-OVER-YEAR INCREASE IN SALES, AUGUST—DECEMBER
DRINKS SERVED
FOUNDATION OF FAITH 13
NEW LEGACY SOCIETY HOUSEHOLDS
CITY OF LIGHTS ANNUAL DINNER
$146k
RAISED THROUGH ANNUAL DINNER’S FUND THE NEED TO LIGHT SOUTH PARKING LOT
MS MISSION TRIP
$200k
TO SUPPORT GOD’S WORK @VPC THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS, PAID MUSICIANS, & GENERAL FUND
POINT OF GRACE
VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN FOUNDATION
PASTOR REPORTS DAVID TURNER
CONGREGATIONAL CARE PASTOR
In Philippians 2:3-4, Paul writes, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others.” The interests and needs of others is critical to the life of our church. That takes the form of emotional, spiritual, and physical. In 2023 I served on a Session-commissioned task force to address medical and safety concerns on the VPC campus. We are securing facilities through a federal grant awarded to the church. In 2023 Congregation Care took proactive steps toward the security of everyone who visits our campus. The First Impression Team welcomes people to campus, and are trained to contact critical services in the case of a medical emergency. The Deacon Health & Wellness Team focused on safety issues by offering training in CPR, AED machines, and First Aid to our Ushers, First Impression team members, Elders, Deacons, and staff. Looking to the interests of others is at the heart of everything Congregational Care does. God is doing great things, and it always involves looking to the needs of others.
CHRIS WOODARD
OUTREACH & DISCIPLESHIP/SPIRITUAL GROWTH PASTOR
“Max” is a difficult name for my 19-month-old to pronounce, but Oliver kept at it, and just learned to say his brother’s name. When he goes through the family roll call: “Mama, Dada, Max!” my oldest is thrilled. Oliver smiles, laughs, and is filled with such joy to be able to name his family. That joy spreads, too. In 2023 I learned many new names. I met new people between services out at the Awaken Plaza—I learned a new name. Throughout the week people brought friends, families, and colleagues to Awaken Café—I learned a new name. At special events and mission projects—I learned a new name. God is calling new people to our church and it has been my joy getting to know them. Behind every name is a person with a story. As our stories come together, we embody the love, grace and power of God here and now—we are the church. My hope and prayer for 2024 is that God would continue to call people to VPC and we become a people of known names, where the joy we share together goes forth into this world and people will know God’s goodness.
TRAVIS KINGMA
NEXT GENERATION & MISSION PASTOR
It has been incredible to witness the Lord use VPC in 2023 through hospitality, sacrificial service, and prayerful devotion to Christ. Whether by helping neighbors build churches internationally, providing shelter for those in need in our neighborhoods, or regularly gathering to be transformed by the Triune God in worship, we have been blessed to participate in God’s kingdom on the move. In 2023 we witnessed God breaking down the walls and transforming the next generation through public declarations of faith, profound spiritual growth, and tangible expressions of loving one’s neighbor. Students and families continue to deepen their faith through prayer, biblical formation, by serving others, learning to love our neighbors better, and surrendering every aspect of our lives to God. As we anticipate and launch into a new season of hope filled with opportunity and promise, let us give praise to the Lord and make known among the nations what He has done.
Valley Presbyterian Church 6947 E. McDonald Drive Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
vpc.church