Partners In The Mission:
Growth At Valley View
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| Release Date: 07/22/2008 |
| a message from Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director |
Valley View Church in Louisville has shown exceptional growth during the past year under the leadership of Pastor Joel Carwile.
Attendance exceeded 5,400 on Easter Sunday, which followed an attendance of 2,300 on Saturday night. The church’s life groups exceed 1,000 in attendance and worship exceeds 2,300 on a week-to-week basis.
My wife Kay and I recently had the opportunity to worship at Valley View and get acquainted, over lunch, with Joel and his wife, Jo. They are the proud parents of son, Ezekiel, near age three.
Joel and Jo left their parents near Huntsville, Ala., to follow God’s call to Valley View. Joel was a college football and baseball player and had settled into a successful career when God called him to preach. He was a bi-vocational pastor for a few years and God blessed his ministry with outstanding growth.
His home church had conflict and asked Joel to come to be the pastor of 19 people. Soon the church was able to call him full-time.
Bethlehem Church, in a town of 2,100 people, extended a call and over the next 13 years grew from 80 to 800.
Joel is a Holy Spirit anointed, Biblical preacher who engages the audience with frequent life applications and humor. It is obvious that Joel and Jo love the Lord and people.
It is also obvious that Joel and Jo have a passion to reach people for Christ and discipship through the church. On the Sunday that we visited, new Christians were baptized Saturday and in both services on Sunday, including an entire family.
The mission of Valley View is expressed as a three-step process -- Loving God, Becoming like Jesus, Serving Others.
It was gratifying to learn about the missions emphasis and involvement of the church in Africa and South America. In addition, it was exciting to hear about Joel’s passion to plant new congregations.
Valley View has a variety of life groups and a host of ministries to provide spiritual growth and service opportunities for the large body of believers. Of the 12 staff and ministry leaders, several have served at Valley View for many years.
Kay and I were captured by the dynamic worship experience with the excellent leadership of Rod Hamilton, worship ministry leader, assisted by talented musicians and media persons.
Many volunteers serve every weekend in the worship, teaching, prayer, fellowship, outreach, and missions ministries in Kentucky Baptist Convention churches. Many of these individuals serve behind the scenes.
I join with all pastors and church staff members in praising God for their Godly leadership and service. We love you and praise God for you faithful ministry in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord!
Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535. |
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