Two Sunday Services on Valleydale Road
Valleydale Church gathers at 2324 Valleydale Road in southern Birmingham, where Sunday mornings begin with two identical worship services at 9:15 and 10:45 AM. Both services stream live at valleydale.online.church and on YouTube, so anyone who cannot attend in person can still join the gathering. The church's vision is to be "generations helping our busy community know Christ and live for Him," and that generational focus is visible from the moment a family arrives. The first floor houses preschool classes and children's programming; the third floor holds the Theater where Valleydale Student Ministry meets; and the Worship Center anchors the Sunday gatherings.
Visitors looking for a starting point can stop by The Cafe after the 10:45 service for Coffee with Pastor, a casual meet-and-greet with Senior Pastor Dr. Mac Brunson and other ministers. A newcomer class called Discover Valleydale is offered periodically for anyone who wants to learn about the church's beliefs, structure, and mission. For families arriving for the first time, the preschool Welcome Desk on the first floor helps place children into the right age-graded class.
A Statement of Faith Rooted in the Baptist Faith and Message
Valleydale identifies as a Southern Baptist church and affirms the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. Its own Statement of Faith spells out a series of core doctrines: belief in one true and living God who exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; belief that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative word of God; belief that humanity is created in God's image and has fallen into sin; belief that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; belief that believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit; belief that the church is the presence of the Kingdom of Christ on earth; belief that baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper are the two ordinances; and belief in the bodily return of Christ.
The church also describes a set of values that shape its daily life. Truth with Transformation draws on John 17:17; Relationships with Authenticity reflects Acts 2:42; Prayer with Persistence echoes Jeremiah 33:3; Evangelism with Urgency looks to Mark 16:15; and Generosity with Joy is anchored in Hebrews 13:16. Discipleship is measured through four practical questions Valleydale poses to its members: how they are spending time with God, how Scripture is shaping what they think and do, whom they are serving, and with whom they are having gospel conversations.
Wednesday Nights: A Midweek Meal and a Full Slate of Classes
Wednesday at Valleydale is built around MDWK Wednesday Nights, a structured evening that begins with a shared meal at 5 PM (RSVPs are required) and continues through 7:45 PM with classes and programs for nearly every age. Adults can choose from an Old Testament Introduction, Biblical Equipping, a New Believer's Class, Stewardship 101, a Spanish as a Second Language class, a Callahan Life Group, a Women's Bible Study in Romans, and a Men's Bible Study. Choir Rehearsal runs alongside the classes.
Younger members of the family are not left out. Preschool Praise is offered for the littlest attendees, while 1st through 5th graders can attend Kids Choir at 6 PM followed by AWANA from 6:30 to 7:45 PM. AWANA clubs are organized by age, and within those clubs children memorize Scripture, compete in games, and learn about Valleydale's missionary partners. Preschool Childcare is available for the children of adults attending Wednesday evening classes.
The Valleydale Counseling Center is a separate ministry of the church that operates during the week at valleydalecounselingcenter.org.
Valleydale Kids: Life Groups on Sunday Mornings
Children's Ministry, led by Children's Minister Jamie Willis, is built around Valleydale Kids, a Sunday morning program for 1st through 5th graders that meets on the first floor at both 9:15 and 10:45 AM. Each hour begins with a large group session of games, worship songs, and a Bible lesson, after which children break into grade-specific small groups for activities and discussion. Children are encouraged to attend one Life Group hour and then join their families in the Worship Center for the second service; sermon notes and a pencil pouch of supplies are available in the foyer for any child who wants to follow along.
AWANA on Wednesday nights is the midweek companion to Valleydale Kids. Registration each fall opens the door for children from age two through 5th grade to participate in a structured program of Scripture memory, missions education, and game-based rewards. AWANA registration is handled through the church's online forms system, and Jamie Willis oversees the program at jwillis@valleydale.org.
Valleydale Student Ministry: Sundays in the Theater and Wednesdays at MidWeek
Corey Young leads Valleydale Student Ministry, which serves middle and high school students through two main weekly touchpoints. On Sunday mornings, Student Life Groups meet from 9:15 to 10:30 AM in the Theater on the third floor. After Life Groups, students move to the Worship Center for the 10:45 service. On Wednesday evenings, VSM MidWeek runs from 6:30 to 7:45 PM in the same Theater and combines worship, teaching, small group discussion, games, and special events designed to make Wednesday "your student's favorite night of the week."
Beyond the weekly rhythm, Valleydale Student Ministry hosts an annual Fall Retreat at Shocco Springs Conference Center in Talladega, Alabama, and a Mom and Daughter Event for 6th through 12th grade girls. Students can stay connected through the Remind text list (@vcstudents), the VSM Instagram (@vcstudents), the Valleydale Students Facebook group, and the Valleydale Student Parent Group on Facebook. A Student Involvement Form lets families share when and where their students are performing or playing so the church can show up in support.
Young Adults: Sunday Life Groups and Tuesday Night Worship in Members' Homes
Josh Wilks oversees Young Adult Ministry, which is structured around three Sunday touchpoints and one off-campus gathering during the week. A Young Professionals Life Group meets at 9:15 AM in Room 202, the regular 10:45 AM worship service follows, and a College and Young Adults Life Group gathers at 12:15 PM in the Glass Room with a free lunch provided. On Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, the ministry meets off campus in the homes of church members for worship, fellowship, and Bible study.
The young adults ministry also publishes a set of prayer prompts, asking the church to pray that the gospel would advance through the ministry, that leaders would be raised up, that a new Life Group can be launched to accommodate growth, and that those seeking employment would find jobs where they can glorify God in the workplace.
Adults: Women, Men, and Legacy Senior Adults
Valleydale Women, led by Women's Minister Patti Cato, organizes Bible studies, D-Groups, fitness classes, and an annual Favorite Things Christmas event. Resources and newsletters are sent to women@valleydale.org, and the ministry maintains a Facebook group and an Instagram account under the Valleydale Women handle. Valleydale Men focuses on equipping men for personal growth, disciple-making, and service through D-Groups, men's Bible studies, cookouts that benefit local ministries, and a Men's Breakfast. Rick Burgess coordinates men's ministry and can be reached at rick@burgessministries.com.
Senior adults are served through the Legacy Ministry, coordinated by Charles Lilly, Senior Adult and Pastoral Care Pastor. Legacy Lunches are held on the second Tuesday of most months from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM in the Big Room, with lunch provided free of charge when members RSVP to Kathy Compton. The senior adult calendar also includes the annual Celebrators Conference trip and serves as a bridge for pastoral care needs within the congregation.
Family Ministry, Marriage, and Grief Support
Family Ministry is led by Chuck McCammon and frames the family as the primary place for faith and character formation. The ministry points to three scriptural anchors: showing Christ through marriage, raising the next generation of believers, and being Jesus to neighbors as the Word becomes flesh in everyday life. Valleydale's role is to equip and assist parents through resources available at the on-campus resource center and through valleydale.org/familyresources.
For marriages that need extra attention, the church offers Re|Engage, a marriage enrichment program that meets on Sunday afternoons from 4:00 to 6:00 PM during the semester. Re|Engage helps couples move toward oneness through stories of grace, teaching, and small groups, and it is open to couples in any condition. For marriages in crisis, Valleydale recommends a Marriage Intensive through marriage.winshape.org, a multi-day getaway with a counselor in Rome, Georgia. JumpStart is a Sunday afternoon seminar for parents whose children are asking questions about salvation and baptism; lunch is provided, kids join age-appropriate activities, and parents discuss how to lead their children to Christ. GriefShare, a 13-week support group, offers a structured environment for those walking through grief.
Valleydale Early Learning Center
The Valleydale Early Learning Center is the church's weekday preschool program for young children. It shares the Valleydale name and grounds with the church and is led by Director Amy Bagwell and Assistant Director Shannon Cleveland. The center's purpose is to provide a safe and loving environment where children can build character, develop Christian values, and learn through age-appropriate activities. Information about classes, rates, and the online application is available at valleydale.org/elc.
Sundays at the preschool wing of Valleydale follow a parallel structure. Children age 0 to 2 are placed in Extended Life Groups, while 3 year olds through Kindergarten attend Life Groups at 9:15 and Kingdom Kids at 10:45. Parents check in at the preschool Welcome Desk on the first floor, just inside the preschool entrance, and volunteers help place each child in the appropriate classroom.
Iglesia Valleydale: A Spanish-Language Ministry
Andres Pardo serves as pastor of Iglesia Valleydale, the Spanish-language ministry of Valleydale Church. The iglesia page and a Spanish-language giving page extend the church's worship and discipleship pathways to Spanish-speaking families in the Birmingham area. Giving to the Spanish-language ministry is handled through the same online giving platform used by the English-speaking congregation, and a Spanish version of the giving instructions explains options for online giving, the Valleydale app, drop-box contributions, mail, and bank bill pay.
Life on Mission: Local, National, and Global
The missions philosophy at Valleydale is summarized by a Charles Spurgeon quote: "every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor." Missional Living Pastor Patrick Sawyer oversees a strategy that aims to equip every member to live on mission where they live, work, and play, and that provides corporate opportunities to serve together both locally and globally.
Twice a year, Valleydale Church hosts ONEbhm, a church-wide Serve Day during which Life Groups plan, coordinate, and serve different projects throughout the community. Throughout the rest of the year, members are encouraged to serve with local ministry partners on a regular basis. The church also partners with church planters across North America and around the world and offers short-term mission trips through those partnerships. Valleydale has an intentional sending pathway designed to identify and train men and women who will lead future church plants and replants locally and globally. Operation Christmas Child is one of the church's signature mission efforts each fall, with interest meetings, packing drives, and a delivery deadline in mid-November.
The Valleydale Leadership Experience: Internship and Residency
Valleydale invests in the next generation of ministry leaders through two formal programs. The Internship is a semester-based experience open to undergraduate students who are exploring or confirming a call to ministry; it runs in Fall, Spring, and Summer terms and includes a $1,500 per semester scholarship. Interns work up to 20 hours per week in preschool, children, students, college and young adults, discipleship, or music, tech, and service programming. The Ministry Residency is a one-year program that runs from August to July for residents who have completed their undergraduate education and are pursuing or considering seminary. Residents receive a $1,500 monthly stipend, housing at no cost, and the opportunity to continue seminary studies through a partnership with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's extension center at Valleydale. Applications open February 1 each year. Interested candidates can reach out to Dave Montgomery at dmontgomery@valleydale.org.
Giving, Media, and the Valleydale Counseling Center
Giving at Valleydale is handled in four ways: online through pushpay.com/pay/valleydale, through the Valleydale Church app, by text ("Valleydale Church" to 77977), by check mailed to the Finance Office, or in a drop-box at the main entrance on the upper level near the Cafe and Library. Sherri Dunn, the church's Financial Director, can answer giving questions at sdunn@valleydale.org.
Sermons are available in audio and video formats, in the Valleydale Church Sermons podcast on Apple Podcasts, and on YouTube. A full archive of sermon series going back to 2016 is available, and current preaching often works through books of the Bible such as Ecclesiastes, Romans, Genesis, and Job. The Valleydale Counseling Center operates as a separate ministry of the church and provides counseling services to the wider Birmingham community.
Valleydale is governed by a team of elders, including John Bagwell, Rich Bartlewski, Vance Blackburn, David Edge, Jimmy Godfrey, Rob Kyzar, Donn Willey, Greg Graves, Scott Lenning, Mike Green, Bob Waters, Stan Huff, and Jeff Weathers, alongside an annually refreshed team of deacons. Together with the pastoral staff, ministry directors, residents, and interns, they serve a congregation that sees itself as one generation handing the faith to the next, in a busy corner of Birmingham along Valleydale Road.