Valley Baptist Church meets on West 8th Street in Yuma, Arizona, where a single Sunday morning gathering has shaped the life of the congregation. Phillip Hayman has served as pastor since October 2017, and the warm, unhurried welcome he and his wife Sarah extend, along with their three daughters, is part of what the church points new visitors toward. The church describes itself as a "friendly community seeking to truly follow JESUS," and that language sets the tone for everything from the early Sunday School hour to the Friday night youth room.
Sundays on West 8th Street
The Sunday pattern at Valley Baptist begins at 9:15 with Bible Study, a forty-five-minute hour that the church describes as a chance to gather in a more intimate setting than the larger service allows. Classes are divided by age for first grade and up, and the goal is the kind of conversation that does not always fit into a Sunday morning worship gathering.
At 10:30 the Main Service begins. The hour typically runs to about 11:45 or noon and includes a time of worship, a message from Pastor Phillip, and a shared communion. After the service, prayer ministers station themselves around the room for anyone who would like a one-on-one time of prayer, an element the church describes as optional but available to anyone who wants it. The service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person, and the same channel hosts recordings for later viewing.
Children are welcome in the main service. The church's approach is unhurried: families are encouraged to keep children with them as long as they are not overly disruptive, and to send them to Children's Church or the Nursery whenever that works better. Children's Church uses the Awana Brite Curriculum, a gospel-centered program with classes divided by age. There is a Nursery for infants and toddlers, a Pre-K and Kindergarten class for potty-trained toddlers and preschoolers, and an Upper Elementary class for K through fifth grade. The older elementary class joins the sanctuary for the worship portion of the service and is dismissed before Pastor Phillip's message.
What Valley Baptist Believes
The church's statement of faith begins with the Bible, described as God's "infallible, inerrant Word; written by men but uniquely inspired by God," and treated as the supreme authority in matters of faith and practice. From there the statement moves to God: one God eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - one in essence and distinct in person, a doctrine the church identifies as the Trinity. The statement affirms belief in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, born of a virgin, sinless in his life, whose death on the cross atoned for the sins of the world, and who bodily rose, ascended into heaven, and will return according to his promise.
On salvation, the church teaches that human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, and that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life. Those who accept Christ as Lord and Savior will be forever in God's presence; those who reject him will be forever separated from God.
Valley Baptist Church believes it is okay to ask questions. Visitors with questions about any of these beliefs are invited to call the main number or email Pastor Phillip through the contact form.
Tables Around the Church
Much of Valley Baptist's life happens around tables. On Saturday mornings, women meet at the church, usually in the main sanctuary, for a Bible study that begins at 10 AM. The group gathers for fellowship and study, and right after the Bible study on the third Saturday of each month, the women stay for a "Bring Your Own" lunch - the church provides the chairs and the conversation, and everyone brings their own food.
On the second Saturday of each month at 8 AM, the men of the church gather for breakfast. The format is potluck, and the location is most often the church building itself, though occasionally the group meets at a restaurant. The church is candid about the changing venue: men who want to confirm the location are pointed to Sunday morning announcements, the YouTube channel, or a quick call to the church office.
Friday Nights for Grades 6 Through 12
The youth ministry meets on Friday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 and is open to students in grades 6 through 12. The format is intentionally light: games, cookies, and a lesson on how God wants young people to live. The verse the ministry has chosen for itself, I Timothy 4:12, sets the tone - "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."
Staying Connected
Valley Baptist keeps several digital doors open alongside the in-person ones. Giving is handled through a ChurchTrac giving page linked from the online menu. The church posts videos on YouTube, including livestreams of the Sunday service, and also maintains a presence on Facebook, Instagram, and Audiomack.
For reminders about upcoming events and other church news, visitors can opt in to receive text messages through an online form. The office is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and can be reached at 928-782-1259 or church@vbcyuma.com. Sunday is reserved for the worship service from 10:30 to noon.