ABOUT
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OUR STORY
JEFF JONES
co-founding senior pastor, pilot, disciple-maker, former business co-owner, husband, father, grandpa
I've spent the past 32 years planting, growing and pastoring Valley Family Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, along with my wife, Beth. My lifelong goal has been simple: to help people. Leadership has always come easily. I am sure this has been a grace gift from the Lord ... and being 6' 6 tall doesn't hurt as in many situations people automatically look to me as a leader -- I get great joy out of serving others.
I serve on numerous church and non-profit Boards; and I am a licensed pilot (back in the day was a flight instructor with multiple ratings). I enjoy finance and investing.
My life calling Bible verses are:
2 Timothy 2:2, "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
Matthew 20:26, "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
BETH JONES
co-founding senior pastor, author, podcaster, ambassador for christ, gal from kalamazoo, wife, mom, gramma
In addition to being a wife and mom to our four kids, I spent 32 years alongside my husband, Jeff founding and co-pastoring Valley Family Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I continue to lead The Basics With Beth, an outreach of Valley Family Church.
Ever since I came to Christ, my passion has been to lead people to Jesus and help to establish them in the Bible basics. This passion led me to write over 20 Bible basics study books, multiple online courses and hundreds of podcasts to help lead people to Christ and to teach them the Bible basics.
The Lord spoke to me as a sophomore in college with these life-changing Bible verses and I've endeavored to "live by them" for the past 40+ years.
Romans 10:13-15, "For 'whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!' "
Colossians 1:28-29, Message, "We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That’s what I’m working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me."
NOTABLES
- J and B: Walking with the Lord for over 40 years.
- J and B: Married for 39 years and counting.
- J and B: Have four children, four in-laws, 7 grandchildren and more on the way.
- J and B: Pioneered and pastored Valley Family Church for 32 years.
- J and B led VFC to be among the top 100 Fastest Growing Churches in America in 2010 and 2011.
- J and B: Successfully passed the baton to youngest son and daughter-in-law, and the church continues to thrive.
- J: Serves on the Board of 4 non-profit organizations.
- J: Earned Masters in Biblical Studies.
- J: Private pilot, and at 18 years of age, was the youngest flight instructor in the State of Michigan.
- B: Written over 25 faith-based books, now translated into over 20 languages.
- B: Wrote Getting a Grip on the Basics a best-seller with over 250,000 copies.
- B: Wrote The Baby Boomer's Little Trivia Book carried in Hallmark Stores for years.
- B: Teaches the Bible via Podcast on Pray.com and other channels that have attracted well over 585,000 followers.
- B: Created a Bible basics television show broadcast around the world in 3 languages.
- B: Wrote and produced "Retro" - a Christmas musical comedy for tens of thousands of audience members over 10 years.
- B: Developed dozens of Bible-based online courses.
- J and B: Investors in real estate and stock market.
- J and B: Launching successful digital Intensives to empower people in their purpose.
