VBFA Church was founded in 1908 and for over 100 years God has blessed us and we would love for you to come be apart of what God has done in our church and what He will continue to do. Here at VBFA Church, we're all about helping you Know Jesus, Grow in your faith, Serve His Kingdom, and Go fulfill His calling on your life. Meet our staff, check out our core values and fundamental truths beliefs below. We can't wait to meet you in person at one of our upcoming services!
Meet our team
Britt & Joni Brooks
Lead Pastors
Gary & Tammy Grisham
Associate Pastors
Welcome to Van Buren First Assembly, we are glad you are here! I came to VBFA in December of 1980, to serve as youth pastor. After coming here I met the love of my life, Tammy, and we have served in many areas over the years. We’ve served as youth pastors, super church pastors, worship pastors, and christian education pastors. Presently, we serve as associate pastors and senior saints pastors! We have two daughters, Megan & Andrew Harrison, Amber & Darren Overton, and six wonderful grandchildren, Cade, Gunner, Porter, Truitt, Coleman, and Bennett!
Zach & Jordyn Manning
Worship & Young Adult Pastors
We are the Manning family! We(Zach and Jordyn) are both pastor’s kids and we love working for the Lord. We were married in 2016 and have two beautiful children, Zadyn and Sunny. We joined the staff of VBFA in October of 2020 and moved from our home in Mississippi to be a part of what God is doing here at VBFA. We love to travel and see new places and we love being together and just spending time as a family. We hope you love this awesome church as much as we do!
Cody & Lauren Dunn
Youth Pastors
We are the Student Pastors at VBFA where we have both attended our whole lives and grew up together as childhood friends. After falling in love and getting married in 2011, we both landed our dream jobs as student pastors and an english teacher at Van Buren High School. We have a heart for our church and our community. We enjoy browsing for antiques and kayaking in the summer. Most importantly we love coming home to our baby boys Boston and Briggs and our dog Oakley.
Colby & Ashley Scott
Kids & Jr High Pastors
I have worked here as the media pastor at VBFA since spring of 2017. Around that time I met Ashley and we got married in November of 2018. We have served as Jr High Pastors for Pastor Cody & Lauren since May of 2018. And since November of 2019, we also serve as Kids Pastors. We love what we do and look forward to every service where we get to hangout with kids and teach them about Jesus! In April 2023, we welcomed twins into the world, Kollyns and Kambry! We both enjoy spending time with each other, our kids, our dogs Murphie & Cookie, and hanging out with friends.
Mike & Carol Reeves
Sunnyside Campus Pastor
We are the Reeves family. We have served the Lord in many different ministries over the years. When we returned to VBFA in 2016, we began serving as greeters, taught a young couples class, and several discipleship classes. Then in April of 2022, we were appointed as campus pastors at Sunnyside Assembly. Our desire is not only to see church growth, but to see kingdom growth. Discipleship and mentoring is a huge part of building a solid foundation. We have two sons: Brad & Crystal Reeves and Scott & Melissa Reeves. We are also the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren: Aaron, Avril, Dean, Harper, Everett, Norene, and Ella Grace.
Debbie & Joey Dunn
Administrative Assistant
I have been on staff at VBFA for over 25 years and have served as Administrative Assistant for 21 years. I love God, my family and my church. Me and Joey have been married for over 34 years and serve in every area possible. We have 3 sons, and 3 amazing daughters-in-love and 2 precious grand-babies!
Christi & Daniel Swafford
Secretary
I joined the church office staff in 2009 and serve as a receptionist, secretary and volunteer coordinator. I’m married to Daniel Swafford and he serves as the safety team coordinator. We have 3 daughters Caelyn, Raegan & Joslyn and we are dedicated and loyal in serving at VBFA.
Our Core Values
Know Jesus
Grow in your faith
Serve His Kingdom
Go fulfill His calling on your life
Our Fundamental Truths
Scriptures Inspired
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.
2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21
The One True God
The One True God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM", the Creator of heaven and earth and the redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationships and associations as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Deuteronomy 6:4, Isiah 43:10-11, Matthew 28:19, Luke 3:22
The Deity of Jesus
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The scriptures declare: His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His substitutionary work on the cross, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His exaltation to the right hand of God.
Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:31, Luke 1:35, Hebrews 7:26, 1 Peter 2:22, Acts 2:22, Acts 10:38, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 28:6, Luke 24:39, 1 Corinthians 15:4, Acts 1:9, Acts 1:11, Acts 2:23, Philippians 2:9-11, Hebrews 1:3
The Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our own image, after our own likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death which is separation from God
Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:6, Romans 5:12-19
The Salvation of Man
Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life.
Luke 24:47, John 3:3, Romans 10:13-15, Ephesians 2:8, Titus 2:11-12, Titus 3:5-7, Romans 8:16, Ephesians 4:24
Church Ordinances
Water Baptism: All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Holy Communion: The Lord's Supper consisting is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ, a memorial of His suffering and death, and a prophecy of His second coming, and is enjoined on all believers until He returns.
Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16, Acts 10:47-48, Romans 6:4, 2 Peter 1:4, 1 Corinthians 11:26
Baptism in the Holy Spirit
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire. With it comes power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of ministry.
Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8, Acts 1:4, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 11:14-16, Acts 15:7-9, John 7:37-39, Acts 4:8, Acts 2:43, Hebrews 12:28, Acts 2:42, Mark 16:20
Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire. With it comes power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of ministry.
Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8, Acts 1:4, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 11:14-16, Acts 15:7-9, John 7:37-39, Acts 4:8, Acts 2:43, Hebrews 12:28, Acts 2:42, Mark 16:20
Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God.
Romans 12:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 13:12, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Romans 6:1-13, Romans 8:1-2, Romans 8:13, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:12-13, 1 Peter 1:5
The Church & Its Mission
The Church is the body of Christ with divine appointments for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. God's purpose concerning man is to seek and save the lost, to be worshipped by man, to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, and to demonstrate His love and compassion for all the world.
Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians 2:22, Hebrews 12:23, Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 14:12, Psalm 112:9, Galatians 2:10, 6:10, James 1:27
The Ministry
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the fourfold purpose of leading the church in evangelizing the world, worshipping God, building a body of saints, and meeting human needs.
Mark 16:15-20, John 4:23-24, Ephesians 4:11-16, Psalm 112:9, Galatians 2:10, 6:10, James 1:27
Divine Healing
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege for all believers.
Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17, James 5:14-16
The Blessed Hope
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the church.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Romans 8:23, Titus 2:13, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Christ's Millennial Reign
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years. The Millennial Reign will bring the salvation of national Israel, and the establishment of universal peace.
Zechariah 14:5, Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 19:11-14, Revelation 20:1-6, Ezekiel 37:21-22, Zephaniah 3:19-20, Romans 11:26-27, Isaiah 11:6-9, Psalm 72:3-8, Micah 4:3-4
The Final Judgement
There will be a final judgement in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged for their works. Whoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake of fire, which is the second death.
Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43-48, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:8
New Heavens & New Earth
"We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.:
2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21, Revelation 22