VFC Annual Report 2014

ANNUAL REPORT 2014.

WE EXIST SO PEO Dear VFC Family and Friends, 2014 was our year to strengthen the stakes! We focused on strengthening each person who attends VFC as well as every area of church and outreach ministry so that we are better prepared to reach even more people with the good news of the gospel...to help people get it! God was faithful and we saw more lives changed than ever before. In addition, we were able to reach out to community in more practical ways than any year in our church history. In this year’s Annual Report you’ll see an overview of the things God has done through the people at Valley Family Church, including updates on: -The Growth of Weekend Services -Valley Nights Discipleship Tracks -The Thrift Store -VOX Student Ministries

-Valley University -Love Week Outreach -Valley Christmas Dinner -EPIC Commission

-The GIG Small Group Ministry -FridayGroceries -Kidamazoo Ministries -Online & Social Media Ministries

All of this was possible because of the commitment of the faithful VFC family to love, serve and give!

Literally, thousands of lives have been touched, changed and rearranged by God’s grace through your efforts and the ministries of Valley Family Church. We appreciate your part in all of it.

We are excited and expectant for all that 2015 holds and we are confident that God is about to take us to places we’ve never been before – the best is yet to come!

Thank you for having a heart for HIS house!

With love,

Jeff and Beth Jones Senior Pastors 2

201

EOPLE GET IT

14

20 14 3

C O N T E N T S Its All About the Weekend Monthly Series Weekend Statistics Events Outreach FridayGroceries Equip & Train Get It Groups Family & Student Ministries Social Media Financials 4

06 08 12 14 16 18 22 23 25 30 32

5

ITS ALL ABOUT THE WEEKEND KALAMAZOO CAMPUS

+

The energy in our Kalamazoo Campus services has become contagious! Through weekend messages, the Word and worship were taught and caught. With the launch of our Get It Small Groups (GIGs), people are meeting “their people� and having great, practical discussions each week on the weekend messages. The Kalamazoo Campus saw steady growth throughout the year among our adults, students and kids ministries.

CATHEDRAL CAMPUS The Cathedral Campus is a great venue for developing strong relationships and a great community for those who prefer a smaller atmosphere and an acoustic worship style.

At this location we celebrated 25 salvations/ re-dedications and welcomed 23 first-time visitors.

6

ONLINE CAMPUS In 2014, our online campus saw great growth. Average weekend attendance throughout the year was 97, and in the last quarter of the year the average jumped to 160.

Total attendance for the year was 4,393 and we saw 83 individuals give their life to Christ. Over 4,234 new visitors came to the site and 39 countries around the world were reached. The top 5 countries being the United States, Brazil, Germany, Italy and Spain. Through this online venue people around the world are being reached with the good news.

BATTLE CREEK AND PORTAGE CAMPUS We planted the Battle Creek Campus in 2013 and were able to successfully transition it to it’s own fully functioning church under the leadership of our former Middle School Pastors, Nick and Jill Nelson. Nick and Jill had always dreamed of being the Senior Pastors in a church of their own one day and they were the perfect fit to take the Battle Creek Campus to the next level under the new name of Connect City Church.

For a part of 2014, we resumed the use of our former building to host a Saturday Night Service at our Portage Campus. In the fall of 2014, we were thrilled to sell our former building to another local church.

We encourage our Portage Campus attendees to join us at our Kalamazoo Campus and discontinued holding services there.

LIFE CHANGING WEEKEND WORSHIP SERVICES

2,438 862 187

Average Weekend Attendance Across All Locations

VCrew Members Help Make Ministry Happen

New Volunteers Joined the VCrew 7

M O N T H LY S E R I E S

01

JANUARY

with Pastors Jeff & Beth

FEBRUARY

with Pastor Beth

“HEART FOR THE HOUSE”

“JUNK IN THE TRUNK”

To kick off the year, we launched our annual “Heart For The House” campaign sharing vision for the year and offering VFCers an opportunity to become a Heart for the House Builder, financially supporting the vision of the house. Pastors Jeff and Beth shared the vision God laid on their heart, and where the church was heading for 2014.

Through this series, Pastor Beth helped us all evaluate the junk in our lives that is holding us back from becoming all that we were meant to be. We learned how to dig below the surface, fertilize the roots and over time see our lives begin to produce the lasting fruit God wants for us.

03

8

02

MARCH

with Pastor Jeff

04

APRIL

with Pastor Jeff

“SATISFIED”

“FINANCIAL INSPECTION”

Through this series, Pastor Jeff helped us take a biblical look at where true satisfaction comes from.

We learned that it’s not gained by earthly efforts, our relationships or striving for success; rather, true satisfaction comes from above, and through our relationship with God.

Your financial future shouldn’t be a mystery. During this series, Pastor Jeff helped us take a personal “Financial Inspection,” studying God’s plan for wisdom and stewardship so each of us could take ownership of our financial future!

05

MAY

with Pastor Beth

06

JUNE

with Pastor Beth

“7 BASICS - PART 1”

“7 BASICS - PART 2”

Every successful athlete, builder, teacher and farmer knows the importance of the basics - that is: solid fundamentals, a strong foundation and deep root structure.

Through this series, Pastor Beth helped us discover the 7 Basics every Christian must be rooted in to live the joy-filled, fruit-filled Christian life!

Every successful athlete, builder, teacher and farmer knows the importance of the basics - that is: solid fundamentals, a strong foundation and deep root structure.

Through this series, Pastor Beth helped us discover the 7 Basics every Christian must be rooted in to live the joy-filled, fruit-filled Christian life!

07

JULY

with Pastor Beth

08

AUGUST

with Pastor Jeff

“7 BASICS - PART 3”

“SELF[IE]”

Every successful athlete, builder, teacher and farmer knows the importance of the basics - that is: solid fundamentals, a strong foundation and deep root structure.

Through this series, Pastor Beth helped us discover the 7 Basics every Christian must be rooted in to live the joy-filled, fruit-filled Christian life!

A selfie is an image of you, taken by you, uploaded for an audience to see. As Christians, we are called to be transformed into the image of Christ, but does the image we’re reflecting through social media point back to Jesus? In this series, Pastor Jeff helped us find balance in our social media driven lives.

9

09

10

SEPTEMBER

with Pastor Beth

10

OCTOBER

with Pastor Jeff

“YOU ASKED FOR IT”

“FROOT LOOP”

You asked. We’re answering. Why do bad things happen? How do you explain the dinosaurs? How close are we to the end times? Is “once saved always saved” true? Why is God against sex outside of marriage?

Through this series Pastor Beth brought us through the Bible to tackle the answers to these questions.

Jesus told His followers that they would know a tree by its fruit. Just like a good tree produces good fruit, a bad tree produces bad fruit. You can tell what kind of life you’re living by what kind of fruit you produce. In this series Pastor Jeff showed us practically how to produce healthy fruit in our lives.

11

12

NOVEMBER

with Pastor Beth

DECEMBER

with Pastor Jeff

“YOU MAKE ME BRAVE”

“10 SIGNS - HEALTHY CHURCH”

The promises of God are unshakable and our security in a fearful world comes solely from knowing Him. We take refuge in our God who is for us, in His Word that anchors us, and in His victory that empowers us. Through this series Pastor Beth helped us learn how to be brave, courageous and steadfast even amongst the storms and fearful headlines of the world.

God created the Church to be the hope of the world. Pastor Jeff shared 10 Signs of a Healthy Church to help identify what a healthy local church looks like, and why its so vital to the body of Christ. This series launched us into a healthy 2015.

THERE IS NO E X P I R AT I O N D AT E ON GOD’S PROMISES F O R YO U .

11

W E E K E N D S T A T I S T I C S

+ statistics for the year:

1,619 2,614 1,021

12

Salvations adults/kids/students

First Time Visitors average: 50 per week

Prayer Requests received & prayed for

=

1,619 13

E V E N T S Through our 2014 events, the light of Jesus shined bright in our community, and thousands of people who may have never otherwise stepped foot in VFC were welcomed to our campus and impacted for the Lord.

January-March: Weekend services and sub-zero temperatures kept everyone busy.

April: Held our Easter services, with over 4700 in attendance. May: Hosted our first ever Valley Girls Spring Tea with 238 in attendance. Welcomed Dr. James O. Davis for three weekend services and the EPIC School of Leadership Commencement ceremony. June: Welcomed Dr. Dave Martin as our Heart for the House appreciation dinner speaker, as well as a Sunday night Ultimate Life Seminar with 422 in attendance. July: Welcomed weekend guest speaker Tom Bachtle from Hillsong Australia. September: Brought back popular Christian comedian Tim Hawkins with over 1400 in attendance from around our community. November: Our facility served as the host site for the “Think Big” event with Dr. Ben Carson with over 1400 in attendance from our community. Welcomed guest speaker Tony Cooke for both weekend services, two Valley University classes and a special staff and volunteer meeting. December: Held our Christmas services, “A Great Light,” with over 4000 in attendance and 269 salvations.

+

14

15

O U T R E A C H KALAMAZOO LOVE WEEK Love Week is VFC’s yearly outreach initiative to serve our community through no-strings-attached service projects.

This year, 625 volunteers gave nearly 2,000 community service hours to various agencies throughout Southwest Michigan.

15 projects in total were completed, including: • “FridayGroceries Goes Mobile” hand delivered 448 bags of groceries to two neighborhoods in Kalamazoo/Portage • Refreshed and cleaned up 7 of the Portage Public Schools campuses • Completed makeovers of 2 elementary school courtyards • Painted the Portage Central sports complex • Kalamazoo Parks and Recreation clean-up & beautification • Game / activity nights held at two senior living complexes • Blood drive to help support Bronson and Borgess hospitals • County Fairgrounds clean-up & beautification

SUPPORTED OUTREACHES & MISSIONS Local: Kalamazoo Love Week FridayGroceries Valley Christmas Dinner Valley Thrift Store VFC Car Giveaway Kalamazoo Gospel Mission

16

National Ministries: Champions Network Billion Soul Network C-3 Global/Haiti Orphanage Intl Fellowship Christians/Jews Rhema/Kenneth Hagin Mins Mercy Ministries Wave Network Tony Cooke Ministries

Global Missions: Africa Outreach Club 1040 Dynamis World Outreach Grunewald Ministries Joe Purcell Ministries Living Word Global Pray America Strategic Global Missions Tim Rogers Ministries

+

O U T R E A C H HAITI ORPHANAGE In 2014, we were able to provide 25,185 meals to the orphans living at Kominote Ti Fanmi Nou de Diakonos through Hunger Relief International, giving them 3 meals a day, something they hadn’t previously received. In June, 12 VFCers completed a 5-day mission trip to our adopted orphanage to help with clean-up, repairs and more.

Martine Longchamp, founder of Kominote, was able to make a visit to VFC during the month of December along with Lizette Ramirez, Kominote’s new Executive Director. They were able to share their appreciation with the congregation for the outpouring of love they have received from VFC.

VALLEY THRIFT STORE In June, we launched the Valley Thrift Store at a strategic location in Portage. Through this outreach initiative, the income generated helped to support FridayGroceries and other VFC outreach efforts.

VALLEY CHRISTMAS DINNER Through this Christmas outreach, 460+ VFC individuals, families, and GIGs adopted 718 grocery bags to fill with ingredients needed to make a complete Christmas meal for those in need. VFC added a boneless turkey breast, dinner rolls, stuffing, and potatoes to complete each bag.

• 546 households picked up their Christmas dinners on Friday, December 19.

• 160 Christmas dinners were delivered door-to-door in the Pavilion Estates trailer park • 706 total households received Christmas dinners • 2,768 people were fed through the Valley Christmas Dinner distribution • 10,215 lbs. of food provided to individuals and families through the Christmas dinner distribution

FRIDAY GROCERIES One of our biggest and most successful outreach ministries has been FridayGroceries...read all about it on the next few pages.

17

F R I D A Y G R O C E R I E S FRIDAY GROCERIES ACHIEVEMENTS Our FridayGroceries outreach was birthed in 2013, providing free supplemental groceries to hundreds of families and individuals every Friday. We celebrated the one-year anniversary of this outreach in October. In just 50 Fridays, we were able to feed 29,618 individuals giving them 176,609 lbs of food.

Through local partnerships, FridayGroceries was blessed with finances and food donations to help impact our community. Meijer’s Simply Give campaign raised $20,690 to help replenish our pantry shelves. Walther Farms committed to providing us with 1,000 lbs of free potatoes every week. Additionally, Loaves and Fishes of Kalamazoo committed to provide us with yogurt and bakery items free of charge on a weekly basis.

FRIDAY GROCERIES FOOTPRINT

18

19

IT’S BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE. 20

F R I D A Y G R O C E R I E S

50 100 8,582 29,618 20,475 819,000 176,609 22,993 1,560 10,215 3,532

Total Fridays Open Total Hours Open Total Households Reached Total Individuals Fed Total Bags Distributed Total Dollar Value of Food Distributed

Total lbs. Of Food Distributed

Total lbs. Of Produce Distributed

Least # Of lbs. Out On a Friday Highest # Of lbs. Out On a Friday

Average # Of lbs. Out Per Friday 21

V A L L E Y

N I G H T S

GET A GRIP CLASSES The Getting a Grip on the Basics books have been the foundational piece of Valley Family Church since day one. Each year, those who are brand new to their faith, or looking for a refresher in the basics, take these courses and are impacted forever.

T O T A L

G E T

141 16 55

A

G R I P

2 0 1 4

G R A D U A T E S

Get a Grip 101: Basic (Live) Graduates Get a Grip 101: Basic (Online) Graduates Get a Grip 201: Serving (Live) Graduates

LIFE CLASSES Financial Peace University Class Graduates: 65 Overcoming Life Class Graduates: 26 Premarital Class Graduates: 32

VALLEY UNIVERSITY

VALLEY UNIVERSITY

In 2014, what was formerly known as EPIC School of Leadership was re-branded as “Valley University.” Through a strategic change in name and vision, Valley University was established “for life–for leadership” to offer VFCer’s a place to grow in their for life. for leadership. relationship with God and in their calling, regardless of their career path or season of life. We saw the biggest intake yet in our 2014-2015 class with 124 students enrolled in Valley University, and with returning alumni the total

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM The Internship Program is a 12-week opportunity for men and women, high school age and older to gain work and ministry experience. In 2014, we saw a total of 19 interns (10 Adult + 9 High School) come through the program during the spring, summer, fall and winter launches.

5 Adult Interns and 2 High School Interns stayed on for an additional launch, and 1 adult interned all four launches, becoming an integral part of the team at Valley Family Church.

22

GIGS

get it groups

GET IT GROUPS In January of 2014, we officially launched our brand new small group ministry called “Get it Groups” (GIGs). Through this strategic model of small groups, GIGs are formed around groups of people n the same season of life and center around discussion of the weekend messages where groups are able to drill down and learn to apply God’s truths to their everyday Christian life. Each group participates in the same format with prayer, worship and a time of discussion. We saw friendships grow within our church family through the launch of these small groups and were thrilled to see over 500 VFCers get connected to their people this year.

45

71

GIG LEADERS

GIGS OFFERED

569

TOTAL ATTENDEES

11

GIG COACHES

30

GIG ASSISTANTS IN TRAINING

23

AT T H E CENTER OF ALL THIS, CHRIST RULES THE CHURCH. 24

F A M I LY M I N I S T R I E S 2014 HIGHLIGHTS The Kidamazoo Studios team developed a creative musical production called “Yellow Brick Road” that told the Easter story to our Elementary students through the characters of the Wizard of Oz. Over 300 elementary school kids attended. It was such a big hit that the team performed to the entire congregation in June.

In June, Kidamazoo Studios hosted one of its biggest events called “SPLASH,” a 4-day camp similar to Vacation Bible School. We rented inflatables, water slides, carnival rides and each day kids learned about how to make a splash for the kingdom of God and their community through a relationship with Jesus. This event was open to the entire Kalamazoo community - 210 kids attended and 70 kids gave their heart to Jesus on the first day - and everyone left impacted!

In August, we held our week-long Kids Summer Camp “G.L.O.W. “ for all 2nd - 5th grade students at Center Lake Bible Camp. Seventy-five kids, attended and 30 of them were filled with the Spirit.

In October we hosted our annual “Trunk or Treat” event for the community and had over 3,200 in attendance.

KIDAMAZOO STUDIOS CURRICULUM One of the biggest things that happened this year was the creation of the original Kidamazoo Studios Curriculum! Our talented team of Family Ministries staff worked together to create and produce our very own kids church curriculum that has not only impacted thousands of kids at VFC, but is now available to churches around the world through a digital format.

The KidamazooStudios.com website was launched in October. In the fourth quarter, we had a total of 3,228 page views from countries around the world including the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Italy, Austria, Brazil, Russia, Greece, Nigeria and many more.

Since launching, four churches have begun using the Kidamazoo Studios curriculum and several other churches have purchased items available on the website. Kidamazoo Studios is poised for mass distribution and we are planning to feature the curriculum in a nationally recognized Children’s Ministry magazine and at the International Christian Booksellers and Retail Show in Orlando, Florida in 2015.

KIDS STATS Preschool: Average Attendance Per Week: 190 Average First-Time Visitors Per Week: 9

Elementary: Average Attendance Per Week: 211 Salvations on Average Per Week: 42 25

V O X S T U D E N T M I N I S T R I E S MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS At the “Encounter” Spring Conference students were challenged to live “without borders” in their relationship with God and in influencing their friends. There were a total of 171 Middle & High School students in attendance. In June, we held our annual Next Level program for the High School Students.

Over the course of the week, 53 students experienced a more in-depth discipleship program.

In July, 156 Middle & High School students gathered for, “Wake,” a life changing week of summer camp.

It was a week filled with fun, games, and most importantly students growing closer to God. Various students were healed from ADD, ADHD, Autism, Anorexia, breathing problems, and a number of other physical issues, as well as emotional issues. Students left summer camp with a clear direction for their future, tighter bonds, and an excitement to reach their schools for Jesus.

In Middle School, small groups were launched to match the format of the church-wide “Get It Groups.”

GIGs incorporate fun elements led by adult or high school student leaders to help students build relationships with each other.

MINISTRY STATS VOX Middle School: Average Middle School Weekend Attendance - 101 Salvations - 115 1st Time Visitors - 195 VOX High School: Average High School Attendance: 108 Salvations - 112 1st Time Visitors - 266

26

MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS The EPIC Commission discipleship program celebrated its 5 year anniversary in 2014. This unique program birthed out of Valley Family Church is taking 18-24 year-olds through a twoyear program of spiritual and natural growth. In its 5 years, 73 students have graduated the first year program, and 39 students have graduated the second year program.

Through EPIC Commission “Upclose” and “Rush” Weekends, 81 prospective students attended and got an inside look at the program. Many new students were introduced to the EC program and a good number of 2015-16 students were acquired.

36 EC students spent one week in Panama City Beach, FL ministering to college spring breakers through “Beach Reach” which offers free van rides, free pancakes, street evangelism, and prayer. They led 11 spring breakers in the prayer of salvation, 2 re-dedications and prayed general prayers with 336 spring breakers.

For the 2013-2014 school year, 36 students graduated (19 first year and 17 second year) the program. For the 2014-2015 school year, they welcomed 31 first and second year students to the program.

27

WHEN JESUS IS BUILDING HIS CHURCH, HE IS BUILDING ME. 28

“As soon as I took my first step through the doors of Valley Family Church, I knew I was home. This place provided me with fertile soil. Over the past year my life has been radically changed and wrecked by the grace of Jesus. Since that day, I have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, found that my passions are for ministering to the souls that are in it, built friendships that are God-knit and truly come into my own.”

“By divine intervention I found myself at VFC, constantly hearing that God had something huge planned for me. I knew in that moment that finding Him was the beginning. I remember emailing Pastor Jeff and Pastor Beth thanking them for opening my soul to Jesus and telling them where I came from.

I am forever blessed by the love I feel for and from God. With His Word and promises, I know my life is going to be more abundant than it was before.”

“I want to tell you how VFC has changed my life, from one of constant fear to one of occasional fear that is often quickly dissolved by faith and praise.

VFC has captured my heart like no church (or place, really) ever had before. VFC is where I started tithing. And though I didn’t notice until now, VFC has become my church, not just a place I go to on Sundays for an hour.”

29

S O C I A L M E D I A GROWTH Facebook:

January 2014: 3,417 likes

January 2015: 4,017 likes

Twitter:

January 2014: 1,398 followers

January 2015: 1,561 followers

Instagram:

January 2014: 745 followers

January 2015: 1,042 followers

Mobile App:

January 2014: 2,223 downloads

January 2015: 3,485 downloads

+600 +163 +297 +1,262

REACH Top Five Watched Video Messages: 1. Junk In The Trunk Part 1: 645 2. You Asked For It Part 2: 603 3. You Asked For It Part 1: 548 4. Satisfied Part 1: 431 5. Junk In The Trunk Part 4: 335 Most Played Podcast Series: 1. The 7 Basics: 2,385 2. Satisfied: 1,862 3. Junk in the Trunk: 1,753 4. You Asked For It: 1,431 5. Heart For the House: 1,269 30

y

31

G I V I N G S T A T E M E N T Donations / Benevolence

$45,595

Missions $59,100 *Local Community Outreach $800,000-$1 Million Giving Total

$1,104,695

*The value of VFC’s local community outreach easily equals or exceeds $1 million dollars in gifts given to those in need in our community. Whether it was through the FridayGroceries Outreach, Love Week, the Valley Christmas Dinner, the Car Giveaway Outreach or other outreach events, hundreds of thousands of dollars of good and countless volunteer hours were gladly poured into Southwest Michigan in 2014.

Heart for the House Campaign Giving $488,529 The Heart for the House Campaign is our annual fundraising initiative through which VFCer’s (and those who do not attend VFC, but who have a heart for what we are doing) commit to give above and beyond their normal tithes to advance the Kingdom of God through Valley Family Church. Because of the faithfulness of those who committed to the 2014 Heart for the House Campaign, we were able to reach more people in Southwest Michigan and around the world. In addition to the local community outreach projects, we were able to support Bible schools and missionaries around the world. We were also able to expand campus locations, and upgrade and repair equipment and facilities to better serve our city. Thank you to every Heart for the House Builder who generously gave to this campaign. Through your generosity, lives were touched and more people around the world “get it.” generosity defines us.

32

THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

33

B A L A N C E S H E E T Current Assets

Cash Inventories & Other Current Assets Accounts Receivable Investments TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

$410,516 $210,046 $0 $146,043 $766,605

Property & Equipment Main Campus Other Properties Equipment Accumulated Depreciation TOTAL PROPERTIES & EQUIPMENT Summary of Assets & Property

Total Current Assets Total Property & Equipment TOTAL ASSETS, PROPERTIES & EQUIPMENT

Liabilities Long Term Liabilities Other Liabilities TOTAL LIABILITIES TOTAL EQUITY

Summary of Liabilities & Equity Total Liabilities Total Equity TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY

34

$10,834,858 $917,946 $1,149,740 ($2,124,512) $10,778,032

$766,605 $10,778,032 $11,544,637

$9,226,283 $111,273 $9,337,556 $2,207,081

$9,337,556 $2,207,081 $11,544,637

S T A T E M E N T O F O P E R A T I O N S Revenue & Support General Offerings Designated Contributions Events/Tuition/Sales/Rents GRAND TOTAL

$3,599,325 $597,611 $564,685 $4,761,621

Ministry Operating Expenses Donations Given

$104,695

(In 2014, additionally, we gave away $800,000-$1 million in food value distributed through FridayGroceries and other outreach events.)

Outreach Ministries & Christian Education Church Ministries and Operations Facilities & Maintenance

$441,637 $635,700 $1,330,735

(In 2014, we managed and maintained three separate campuses.)

Human Resources (In 2014, we had a staff of over 50 full and part-time employees.)

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES Summary Total Revenue & Support Total Operating Expenses NET INCOME

$1,901,803 $4,414,570 $4,761,621 $4,414,570 $347,051

35

36