Phoenix, Arizona
Vision Plan
Question 1: Why Do We Exist?
Valley Life Church exists to make disciples and plant churches.
In 2011 Valley Life Church was planted for the glory of God through making disciples of people who do not know and worship Jesus and to extend that mission into other parts of Phoenix. The good of our land demands more churches that make disciples of people who do not worship Jesus.
God’s plan to advance his mission in Phoenix is churches that disciple. We want to, both, plant churches that disciple people to worship him and be a church that makes disciples.
We give all of our energy and attention to making disciples and planting churches to the exclusion of many good ideas and programs. While some of these decisions are difficult, we believe that only the church is called to make disciples and plant churches.
Question 2: Whom Do We Serve?
Who do we hope to reach?
Our home area is a 19 sq. mi. rectangle on the east side of I-17 from Happy Valley Rd. to Carefree Hwy. Of the approximately 30,000 people who now live there 96% have moved in within the last 20 years.
Our area is new and becoming newer with the constant construction of homes, apartments and commercial development.
Our people place a high value on well-being and generally believe that everyone should have a church and a gym, whether or not they actually are a part of either.
People value personal health, personal responsibility, and personal freedoms.
While many people make the drive to the larger churches in the surrounding area, still less than 20% of our neighbors attend church. Every Sunday over 20,000 people in our immediate vicinity are not a part of any worship service.
While church involvement is not a part of the prevailing culture, that does not mean that people are closed to the idea. Once a relationship is established invitations to church are more than welcome.
Question 3: What Do We Prioritize?
How do we express our core values?
Beauty - God has revealed himself in creation, which calls us to worship Him as creator.
Therefore we prioritize acts of worship. All facets of Valley Life’s ministry intend to move people to reorient their lives around worshiping God, and recognizing his surpassing glory and worth above all other rivals.
Brokenness - We are all broken by sin, but the gospel steers us from shame toward repentance and restoration.
While that restoration results in strong families, orders lives, and reliance on God’s word, we will not be surprised by the need for grace.
We expect the ongoing process of sanctification, the moral failures of those that do not know him, and the need for repentance by those that do.
Truth - Jesus has completed the work of redemption, taking our punishment and ushering us into a life lived for God’s glory.
Therefore we remind each other of the truth of Scripture and make each other aware of the lies of the enemy. We intend to be Bible-saturated people, so that we will not be misled by our culture, our hearts, or idols of the world.
Compassion - As we have been shown great forgiveness, we are motivated to absorb wrongs rather than seek justice.
Therefore we are prepared to recognize the potential for grace’s work in every circumstance. We aspire to be not easily offended, ready to repent, and quick to reconcile. We will see potential church planters, leaders, disciple-makers in all people as a testimony to the power of God’s constraining love and sovereign plan.
Community - Our gratitude for forgiveness leads us to extend kindness to others, creating a church family that looks outward.
Therefore we reject individualized Christianity and hope to become a growing family of ministers. We desire to become a church that is difficult to simply attend, and aggressively move people into making disciples and planting churches.
Question 4: How Will We Know if We Are Successful?
What will we measure in order to evaluate fruitfulness?
Church Planting
Discipleship Groups
Membership
Connections
Worship
Budget
Question 5: What Will Our Future Look Like?
A present-tense description of the future.
December of 2027
Valley Life is now a church body of 4 congregations across Arizona.
Each with its own
Each church plant is led by a pastor who is a gifted evangelist, preacher, and galvanizer.
Lead Pastor
Director or Associate Pastor of Operations
Valley Life Tramonto
Associate Pastor Tramonto
Associate Pastor of Discipleship
Associate Pastor of Families
Associate Pastor Worship
All Valley Life Congregations
Valley Life International
Valley Life Cottonwood
Valley Life TBD