Following jesus in THE RIver valley

OUR MISSION

At Valley Bible Church, our mission is simple: to be and make disciples of Jesusso that lives are changed, families are restored, and hearts are renewed.

For nearly five decades, we've been a place where generations gather to anchor their hope in Jesus. We believe that following Christ isn't meant to be done alone, but in authentic community where we worship together, grow together, and step into the world together, bringing good news and doing good deeds wherever God calls us.

From our beginnings in 1978 as a small group meeting in homes for Bible study and prayer, to today's vibrant community drawing families from Cromwell to Old Lyme, Colchester to Durham, our heart remains the same: to help every generation discover the life-giving hope found only in Jesus Christ and to equip every believer to make disciples who make disciples.

We gather on Sundays to celebrate our hope in Jesus. We connect in Life Groups throughout the week to do life and mission together. And we go into our neighborhoods and to the ends of the earth to share the gospel and serve in Jesus' name. This is who we are. This is Valley.

OUR values

We make disciples by…

GATHERING In worship and loving community

We believe that it is Jesus' design for His church to be, grow, and serve in community. Therefore, disciples of Jesus Christ glorify God by gathering in worship and in loving community with one another.

Every Sunday we come together to celebrate the God who loves us, to be reminded of the hope we have in Jesus, and to encourage one another to keep following Him. But gathering isn't just about Sunday mornings; it happens in Life Groups, around meals, in prayer, and in the everyday moments where we bear one another's burdens and rejoice in answered prayers.

We were created for community. We believe that authentic Christian fellowship, where we're known, loved, and challenged to grow—is essential to following Jesus well.

GROWING In Christ’s character

We believe that Jesus' church will grow because it is alive. Disciples of Jesus Christ glorify God by intentionally learning and putting into practice the teachings of Scripture in order to live a life worthy of the gospel, becoming more like Jesus Christ.

Growth doesn't happen by accident. It requires intentionality. Opening God's Word; cultivating spiritual disciplines, confronting sin, and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. Through our Discipleship Pathway (Classes, Life Groups, Electives, and Service opportunities), we provide environments where believers at every stage can grow deeper roots in their faith.

We're committed to helping every generation, from children to adults, grow in their knowledge of God's Word, their love for Jesus, and their ability to live out their faith in everyday life.

bringing the good news

We believe that Jesus' commission for His Church is to bring the message of the gospel to all nations, tribes, languages, and peoples. Disciples of Jesus Christ glorify God by going into the world to bless all people with the good news and to demonstrate the gospel through good works, both locally and globally.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Our Story

Every church has a story, and ours began in 1978 when a small group of believers started meeting in homes for Bible study and prayer on Sunday evenings in Haddam.

In 1979, they connected with the Evangelical Free Church of America. By 1980, they were holding regular Sunday worship gatherings, and in 1981, they called their first pastor. In 1984, the church purchased property on Turkey Hill Road, and by 1986, we had a building to call home. A major addition was completed in 2005 to accommodate our growing community.

Rev. John Westerholm became Valley's second pastor in January 1990 and faithfully served as Senior Pastor for nearly three decades until November 2017, remaining on staff until his retirement in April 2020. Rev. Chad Hemphill, who had served as Associate Pastor since 2010, became Senior Pastor in 2018. Today, Valley Bible Church is a multi-generational community of people from all walks of life; young families and empty nesters, longtime believers and those just beginning to explore faith, longtime residents and newcomers to the area. We're imperfect people learning to follow a perfect Savior, and we'd love for you to join us.

As in our beginnings, we believe that life change happens best in smaller communities where we do life and mission together. Every generation helping the next generation anchor their hope in Jesus. That's what we're all about.

OUR BELIEFS

  • We believe the Bible; all 66 books of the Old and New Testaments is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God. Scripture is our final authority for all matters of faith and practice, and it is sufficient for knowing God, understanding the gospel, and living a life that honors Christ.

  • We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity is fully God, equal in essence, power, and glory. God is sovereign, holy, loving, and just—the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

  • We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became fully human while remaining fully divine. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our sins, rose bodily from the dead on the third day, and ascended to the right hand of the Father. He will return again in glory to judge the living and the dead.

  • We believe the Holy Spirit is God, equal with the Father and the Son. He convicts the world of sin, regenerates believers at salvation, indwells every Christian, and empowers us to live lives worthy of the gospel. The Spirit gives gifts to believers for the building up of the church and the glory of God.

  • We believe all people are created in the image of God and possess inherent dignity and worth. However, through Adam's disobedience, sin entered the world, and all humanity is born with a sinful nature—separated from God, unable to save ourselves, and deserving of His judgment.

  • We believe that Jesus Christ, as our substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect and complete sacrifice for our sins. His death paid the penalty we deserved, and His resurrection from the dead is the proof and power of our salvation. There is no other way to be made right with God apart from the finished work of Christ.

  • We believe the Church is the body of Christ, made up of all who have placed their faith in Him. The local church is where believers gather to worship, grow, serve, and be sent out on mission. Jesus gave the church two ordinances, baptism and the Lord's Supper, as visible expressions of the gospel that strengthen and affirm our faith.

  • We believe that salvation is not just forgiveness but transformation. God calls every believer to love Him above all else, to love others sacrificially, to care for the poor and the oppressed, and to make disciples of all nations. By the power of the Holy Spirit, through prayer and God's Word, we are equipped to live faithfully and to stand firm against the spiritual forces of evil.

  • We believe in the personal, bodily, and premillennial return of Jesus Christ. The timing of His coming is known only to God, but the promise of it calls us to live with Christ-centered urgency, faithful service, and confident hope in what is to come.

  • We believe God calls everyone, everywhere, to turn from sin, trust in Jesus Christ, and receive the gift of eternal life. One day, God will raise the dead and judge the world. Those who have rejected Him will face eternal separation from God, and those who belong to Christ will enter into everlasting joy with Him in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.

This EFCA Statement of Faith is in association with the Evangelical Free Church of America, an association of autonomous churches of which Valley Bible Church is one, united around the above theological convictions.

NEW TO FAITH?


Maybe you’re curious about Jesus but not sure where to start. Maybe someone invited you to church and you’re wondering what it’s all about. Maybe you’ve heard about Christianity your whole life but never really understood it.

Wherever you are in your journey, we’re glad you’re here.

Find Your Place in our Community

Check out all the ways you can serve with and through Valley Bible Church, or getting plugged into a Life Group

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP


220 Turkey Hill Road
Haddam, CT 06438

SUNDAYS AT 9:30 AM

Sermons

featured teachings

PRAYER SCHOOL | Make me thankful God


the commandments | the sabbath day


exodus | the plague of unbelief


reshaped by the gospel

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

When you sign-up you’ll get our 7 Day Prayer Guide to Deepen Your Relationship with Jesus.