What to Expect When Visiting Valley Baptist Church in Oswego, IL

Updated

Valley Baptist Church (VBC) in Oswego, Illinois, holds Sunday School for all ages at 9:45am, a Sunday morning service at 11:00am, a Sunday night service at 6:00pm, and a midweek evening service at 7:00pm, with nursery available for all services. If you are planning a first visit, the main things to settle in advance are which service fits your schedule, that your children have a place in nursery or Sunday School, and whether you want to attend in person or watch the livestream first.

Service times at a glance

Service Time Notes
Sunday School (all ages) 9:45am Adult and teen classes
Sunday Morning Service 11:00am Also livestreamed
Sunday Night Service 6:00pm Also livestreamed
Midweek Evening Service 7:00pm Also livestreamed

Nursery is available for all services. The livestream runs on Sundays at 11:00am and 6:00pm, and Wednesdays at 7:00pm CST, so you can preview a service before attending.

What the services are designed around

VBC describes its services as planned with the entire family in mind. The stated mix includes adult and teen Sunday School classes, a youth program, music, a nursery, biblical preaching, and family-oriented fellowship and activities. The church summarizes its mission with five aims: exalt the Savior, exhort the saints, expose sin, evangelize sinners, and equip servants.

If you are deciding between the morning and evening Sunday services, the morning service pairs with Sunday School beforehand, while the evening service is a separate gathering later in the day. Both are livestreamed, so you can compare the format online first.

Before you go: what to check

  • Times and location — confirm the current schedule on the church's "Times & Location" page, since service details can change.
  • What to Expect — the site has a dedicated "What to Expect" page for first-time visitors.
  • Your children — nursery covers all services, and Sunday School at 9:45am has classes for all ages, including adult and teen groups.
  • Directions — VBC serves the Oswego, Illinois community; use the site's contact page for the address and any questions.

Getting involved beyond a first visit

If you want to go further after visiting, VBC lists several entry points:

  • Adult discipleship — a Sunday School class called "Grace To Grow" is held every other month, and one-on-one discipleship is also available by contacting Bro. Jared Stalnaker.
  • Teens — a youth program focused on Bible preaching aimed at helping teens make life-changing decisions.
  • Kids — children's ministry described as training kids to love God's Word and live for Him.
  • Other ministries and resources — the site also lists a daily devotional, prayer request form, calendar, online giving, and media with live and past services.

Common questions first-time visitors ask

Do I need to bring anything? The site does not list any requirements for attending; nursery and Sunday School are provided as part of the regular schedule.

Can I watch before I visit? Yes. Live and past services are available through the media section, with livestreams at the times listed above.

Who is the pastor? Pastor David Hemphill leads VBC. He graduated from Crown College in Powell, Tennessee, and completed a four-year Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree at Crown Seminary.

What if I have questions before attending? Use the contact page on the site, or submit a prayer request if that is what you need.