FIFTH ANNUAL SUMMER DRIVE-IN MOVIE NIGHT
POSTPONED

Due to forecasted severe wet weather, the Summer Drive-In Movie Night scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, has been preemptively canceled. The event will be rescheduled for a later date. Stay tuned for more details!

 

MIGHTY CLOUD ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

In the second week of the "Mighty Cloud" sermon series, Pastor Larry talked about the Gospel and highlighted the life of Martin Luther, the great theologian and passionate reformer. To listen to this sermon and to find additional reading on the life of Martin Luther and other Christian heroes, click here

The "Mighty Cloud" sermon series is introducing us to several key figures from the mighty cloud of Christian heroes throughout history whose lives teach us vital scriptural truths about what it means to live a life pleasing to God and to be faithful to Him. Be sure to join us this Sunday as we learn about the life of German theologian and resister Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

 

86:12 HOMECOMING CONCERT AND PICNIC

SUNDAY, JUNE 28 AT 6:00 PM

 

Join us in welcoming our 86:12 students home from their mission trip to New York City! 

 

During this family-friendly concert, the students will share music, stories, and testimonies with us at 6:00 pm in the sanctuary, followed by a picnic on the front lawn of the church with complimentary hot dogs, chips, and drinks for everyone. No RSVP is required.

"STORY TELLERS" IN JULY (COMBINED ABF)

 

On July 12, 19, and 26, our entire church family will meet together in the lobby at 9:00 am for a three-week event called "Story Tellers."  We'll begin each week with a churchwide breakfast.  After we share a meal together, the children and students will head to their respective ministry areas while the adults stay to listen to a VRBC "Story Teller."  These special guest speakers, including Jon Miller, Steve Lacey, Carolyn Porterfield, and more, will share the story of their life with God in recent days. These three weeks promise to be a great time of community building and spiritual growth.  Mark your calendar now!

PASTORAL SABBATICALS

VRBC is fortunate to be able to offer sabbatical leaves to our pastors. Specifically, after seven years, or five years in the case of the Senior Pastor, ministerial staff is eligible for a six-week sabbatical leave. Simply put, the sabbatical is a time for rest, renewal, and study. Pastors deal with illness, death, and personal crises on a daily basis (often 24/7), and these events can cause a spiritual depletion most jobs do not experience. The sabbatical creates a break from these stresses, provides a time for uninterrupted study, extends the tenure of the staff, and allows VRBC to affirm our appreciation for our staff.


This summer, both Larry Parsley and Amy Wilkins will be taking sabbatical leave. Amy will be on leave from June 21 through August 1. She plans on personal and family renewal supported by some focused time on Scripture and prayer, a personal spiritual assessment, and a course at Laity Lodge, as well as spending some time with her family.

 

Larry will be on leave from June 29 to August 9. Larry will use his time for rest, time with family, reading, and sermon planning. He also plans to attend a week-long course at Regent College studying Paul's Letters to Timothy and to spend some time in personal study at Truett Theological Seminary in Waco. If you have something you'd like Larry or Amy to pray for during their sabbaticals, feel free to fill out a prayer card in the lobby or send them an email at [email protected] or [email protected].

SUMMER INTERNS

VRBC is pleased to introduce the following interns who will be working with our staff this summer (clockwise from top left):  
  • Reed Bartley, Student Ministry
  • Anne Marie Prado, Communications Department
  • Wesley Szalkowski, Childrens Ministry
  • Lindsay Taylor, Student Ministry
Please take a moment to thank these great students for their hard work and service to further God's Kingdom!  Click here to learn more about our summer interns.
PRESCHOOL DAY CAMP: "FUN IN THE SUN" 
JUNE 29 - JULY 1

Kids ages 3 - kindergarten are sure to have lots of fun in the sun as they enjoy some great summer activities during Preschool Day Camp June 29 - July 1 from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon. Cost is $35 per child, and child must be potty-trained to attend.

Click here to register for Fun in the Sun!  Online registration ends June 21.

If you have any questions about Preschool Day Camp, please contact Karen Simmang at [email protected].
KIDS CAMP AT CAMP EL HAR 
JULY 27 - 29

Calling all kids who have finished first through fifth grades--we are going to camp! 

Join us for tons of fun at Kids Camp at Camp El Har near Joe Pool Lake in southwest Dallas where we will do lots of exciting activities like roasting marshmallows over a campfire, going on a hay ride, shooting BB guns, learning archery, swimming, and playing nine square, gaga ball, miniature golf, and MORE!  So invite your friends and sign up soon to reserve your spot! 

INFORMATION:  Click here to check out Camp El Har's website!  Cost is $120.

TRANSPORTATION: Camp El Har is only 23 miles from Coppell, so in order to keep costs low, we ask that kids be dropped off at Camp El Har at 2:45 pm on July 27 and picked up at Camp El Har at 12 noon on July 29. 

REGISTRATION: Girls, click here to register.  Boys, register here.  Alternatively, you can visit the Kids Camp event page on the VRBC website to register.  Deadline to register is July 12.

If you have any questions about Kids Camp, please contact Karen Simmang at [email protected].
WILLOW CREEK GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
AUGUST 6 - 7, REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

In August, Valley Ranch Baptist Church will host the 2015 Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit live via satellite for the sixth consecutive year. 

 

As a Host Site (#089), VRBC members are eligible for a discounted rate to attend the Summit. Early bird pricing is $89 if you register on or before Tuesday, July 7. Thereafter, cost is $119.

 

Click here to register. When registering, enter Host Code Password GLS15HOST to take advantage of VRBC's discount pricing.  

 

No matter where you lead, whether at home, at work, in the community, or in your church, the Global Leadership Summit is a world-class experience that will equip you to be a better leader and to embrace your grander vision--the reason God called you to lead!  If you have any questions about the Summit, email Jennifer Pope at [email protected].



re|engage

NEW CLASSES BEGIN THIS FALL!


re|engage is wrapping up its first, very successful year.  After a short summer break, new classes will resume in the fall.  Please stay tuned for more details and how you and your spouse can re|engage!

WEEKLY PRAYER GROUPS
  • Sunday Morning Prayer Partners - Every Sunday at 8:00 am in the Prayer Chapel (Room 241).
  • Wednesday Evening Prayer Warriors - Every Wednesday at 7:00 pm in the Prayer Chapel. Contact Ron Eberhardt at [email protected].



VRBC CARE NETWORK

 

Do you have a prayer request or care ministry need (e.g., illness, death in the family, marital struggle, etc.) you'd like the staff to know about?  Email the pastor on call confidentially at [email protected]. 




2015 CBF GENERAL ASSEMBLY

THIS WEEK! 

 

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), one of VRBC's primary denominational and mission partners, will hold its annual General Assembly at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas June 17 through 19. The General Assembly event only happens in Dallas once every three years, so be sure to check out this year's more than eighty highly informative workshops you can attend. Click here for a list of workshops offered this year.


In addition, VRBC has been asked to help with various staffing opportunities at this year's General Assembly. The most critical needs are in the areas of registration and hospitality. Ushers and communion servers are also needed. Volunteers work various shifts during the following times:

  • 12 noon - 7:00 pm on Wednesday, June 17
  • 8:00 am - 7:00 pm on Thursday, June 18
  • 8:00 am - 7:00 pm on Friday, June 19

For more information about CBF General Assembly, click here. To volunteer or learn more, contact Amy Wilkins at [email protected].

FLOOD RELIEF MATCHED GIVING OPPORTUNITY

 

Many families remain displaced after local flooding and are staying in temporary housing at hotels/motels or in their cars. Metrocrest Services is funding temporary lodging expenses for two weeks at a cost of $14,000 per week. 

MONETARY DONATIONS
A very generous donor has agreed to match any donation received dollar-for-dollar up to $15,000!  We encourage you to help Metrocrest reach this goal by giving to this effort.  Click here to donate.

GIFT CARDS
Gift cards to Walmart and Target are also needed at this time as residents replace the essentials. Gift cards may be donated through Coppell Fire Chaplain Steve Calvert. You can drop off gift cards (or monetary donations) at any City of Coppell facility, including the fire stations, The CORE, Town Center, the Library, and the Senior Center. VRBC has made a donation to this effort from our benevolence fund.

For more detailed information, click here to read the City of Coppell news release. Thank you for your support and care for our local community.
SACK SUMMER HUNGER
SATURDAYS THROUGH AUGUST 8

Volunteer on Saturday mornings through August 8 (with exception of July 4) at VRBC from 9:00 to 11:00 am to assemble nutritious food sacks and deliver them to families in Valley Ranch who are in need. This is a great opportunity for everyone including families with young children and students.


To watch a short video about the Sack Summer Hunger program,
click here.


To sign-up to volunteer, click here. For questions, please contact Jason Thomas at [email protected] or 214-709-6253.

JOBS FOR LIFE

CLASSES BEGIN THIS FALL - MENTORS NEEDED!

 

We invite you to share your life or work experience in the JOBS for LIFE mission to restore dignity, to offer help and support, and to empower and equip people to provide for themselves and their families by becoming a mentor.  

JOBS for LIFE (JfL) believes the Church is uniquely equipped to address the devastating effects of unemployment and poverty by helping men and women experience the dignity of work through honest relationships, mentoring,  biblically-based training, and an ongoing community of support.

The eight-week Jfprogram will meet on Wednesday and Sunday evenings beginning September 20 at VRBC. Using the JfL curriculum, class discussions build skills essential for success in any work place, while individual mentors provide coaching and support.  Also, if you or someone you know might be a potential student candidate for the class, we would love to talk to you.  

 

For more details, contact Landa Parker or Cherie Walker at [email protected].

CORNERSTONE SERVING OPPORTUNITIES

We have several opportunities each month to serve alongside Cornerstone Baptist Church, our sister church in South Dallas:

MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT: TODD SZALKOWSKI

Through Empower Sudan, Todd is working to bring the Gospel to 20 million unreached and unengaged people in Sudan and South Sudan.  Todd's role in the organization is to provide leadership in disciple-making, internally and externally.  Specifically, Todd is tasked with internally training, planning, and implementing the annual Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit in South Sudan.

 

Todd also focuses his ministry on the border area between the United States and Mexico. He is aggressively training leaders to start house churches in border towns that have been ravaged by the Mexican drug cartels. Todd travels several times each month to conduct half-day training sessions in cities from Matamoros to Tijuana. 

 

Todd requests abundant prayer to serve faithfully in an areas experiencing such violence, for a revival among Christ followers in Northern Mexico to open the Word and live obediently, for the people of Sudan and South Sudan to hear and embrace salvation through Jesus Christ, and for financial provision.

 

Click here to view a short video to learn more about Todd and his ministry.  At VRBC, Todd is partnered with the Casey ABF.

UPCOMING MISSION TRIPS

ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR ADVENTURE TO BEGIN?

 

NEW MISSION TRIP OPPORTUNITY!  Zimbabwe, September 16 - 26, 2015
 

Check out this and other upcoming mission trips on the VRBC Mission Trip webpage.

 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE 

Funding assistance is available for international mission trips! Click here for more information and the application to request financial assistance.  Please note the deadlines to apply. 




 
Register for children's events at vrbc.net/ministries/vrkids/
Stay up-to-date on all things "Refuge" at
Find an Adult Bible Fellowship class at http://vrbc.net/about/abf/

 

Through June 14, 2015
Worship Service