We at Village Bible Church are lovers of God, His Word, His people, and seekers of His will for our lives ministering in the Cherokee Village area for over forty years.
Most churches would agree that the Great Commission, as it is commonly called, is what drives their ministry priorities. However, churches take different approaches and have different priorities in carrying that out. We strive hard to maintain an equal focus on local/regional (Judea), national (Samaria), and international (the uttermost parts), regardless of our self-perception of size or abilities. Jesus said He would be with us always as we engage in the process of making disciples who make disciples who make disciples, etc. We look to Him and lean on Him for guidance and support as we obey His command to go and make disciples. We do this in the following ways:
Locally: We believe it is our command from Jesus to reach our local community with the gospel. We want people to come to Christ, not just come to a church service. Of course, we want them to be drawn to Christ when they come to our services and events, so we do not hesitate to invite them, but we dare not assume that our responsibility ends with that! We also reach out to our community through various outreach events and efforts to help connect us, as a church, to our community. Some of these are more heavily focused on building relationships (game nights, fall family fun day, church in the park, etc.). We are active and visible as a church in community events (like roadside cleanup), as well as in supporting local public officials (like the police and fire departments) through appreciation events. We have supported various local para-church ministries financially and in other ways (New Beginning Crisis Pregnancy Center, Pilgrimage-Cedar Springs Camp youth ministries). Pastor Phil meets to pray regularly with pastors of other churches in the community to strengthen the connections Village Bible Church has with the larger church and her work in the community.
Nationally: as part of the EFCA, Central District, we remain involved in the collective efforts of other Free Churches planting churches and reaching people in Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, and southeast South Dakota. In July 2016 we sent a team to help International Community Church reach international students at Mizzou in Columbia, MO. COVID impacted that, but we are involved in ways like this beyond the limits of our local area.
Internationally: Since her beginning, this church has been very involved in international missions. Many of the folks who have comprised this body of believers over the years have been missionaries to other parts of the world, and/or have had close family members who have done so. We currently financially support five missionaries and communicate with each of them weekly to pray specifically for them.
VBC is the Sharp County DROP-OFF location for Samaritan’s Purse/Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry. Shoeboxes filled with school supplies, hygiene items, and toys are dropped off at VBC during the 3rd week of November from churches and friends in Sharp county and other nearby locations. They are delivered to children in over 100 countries worldwide. VBC strives to maintain a healthy focus on the uttermost parts of the world.
What is Operation Christmas Child?
The Samaritan’s Purse project Operation Christmas Child collects shoebox gifts‑filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items—and delivers them to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way. For many of these children, the gift—filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received. In 2021 over 10.5 million shoeboxes were delivered to kids and everyone of them heard the gospel!