About Us

In 2003, after pastoring two churches, Denny Mashburn was joined by Jeff Nelson, Patrick McMinn, and a handful of families to start Wills Valley Community Church at Denny's home. Within a few months, over 100 people were attending Wills Valley Community Church in what is lovingly referred to as "The Basement" (of the Mashburn's home).

Shortly thereafter, God continued to bless by doing something very unusual: bringing Faith Baptist Church, under the leadership of Barry Northcutt, to merge with the people from Wills Valley Community Church. Now, the two meet as one under the name of Wills Valley Community Church and at the former location of Faith Baptist Church on Isbell Blvd.

"Pursuing God's purposes and expecting greater things" is the motto of Wills Valley Community Church. Denny and the Elders desire that people be a part of a church that is relevant to today's culture, Spirit-filled, exciting, and growing in their understanding of God's Word and His purposes for their lives.

OUR VISION

The purpose of Wills Valley Community Church is to magnify God's name by bringing people to Christ and membership in His family, developing them to Christ-like maturity, and equipping them for their ministry in the church and their mission in the world.

WHAT WE DO

OUR VALUES

Learn about each of our ministries from children through adults. Find where you and your family fit. Come do life together with us.

At Wills Valley Community Church we value:

Worship that is truth-inspired, Spirit-led, contemporary, Virtue of changed lives by God's power, Caring relationships and compassionate ministry, Church health, and growth for God's glory.

The 5 Solas

At Wills Valley Community Church, we stand firmly on the foundation of the 5 Solas, the bedrock principles that define our faith and guide our journey in Christ. We believe in salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed by Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone. The principle of Sola Scriptura underscores our conviction that Scripture, as God's inspired Word, is the sole inerrant, sufficient, and final authority for the church.

Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone):
- Belief that Scripture (the Bible) is the only inerrant, sufficient, and final authority for the Christian faith.
- Rejects the idea of additional authoritative sources outside of the Bible.
Solus Christus (Christ Alone):
- Emphasizes that Christ alone is the basis for the justification of the ungodly in God's sight.
- Denies the need for additional mediators or intercessors and underscores the uniqueness of Christ's redemptive work.
Sola Fide (Faith Alone):
- Maintains that the believer receives the redemption accomplished by Christ only through faith.
- Rejects the notion that human works contribute to salvation and emphasizes faith as the exclusive means of justification.
Sola Gratia (Grace Alone):
- Proclaims that all aspects of salvation, from initiation to completion, are solely by the grace of God.
- Emphasizes that human merit or effort does not play a role in earning salvation.
Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone):
- Affirms that only God deserves the glory for our salvation.
- Encourages living and worshiping in a way that magnifies and honors God above all else.

These 5 Solas are foundational principles that emerged during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, defining key theological distinctions and emphasizing the core tenets of the Christian faith.

The five solas are not just historical doctrines; they are the nucleus of our evangelical faith. Rooted in the 16th century Reformation, these principles distinguished our forebearers like Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, John Calvin, and others from the teachings of Rome. More than a theological dispute, this divide was a celebration of the gospel itself. The reformers were willing to lay down their lives for these solas because they believed the essence of the gospel was at stake. Today, we continue this legacy, proclaiming and living out the gospel with an unwavering dedication to the timeless truths encapsulated in the five solas.

OUR LIFESTYLE

WVCC's Member's Lifestyle Statement

Bible as Our Sole Authority:
- "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." - 2 Timothy 3:16
- We accept the Bible as our manual for living, seeking its guidance in daily decisions through reading, study, and memorization.
Autonomy of Each Local Church:
- "And He (Christ) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning . . ." - Colossians 1:18
- Christ is the recognized head of our church, emphasizing self-governance and independence from denominational control.
Priesthood of Every Believer:
- "And hath made us kings, and priests into God and His Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." - Revelation 1:6
- Every believer is called to "full-time" Christian service, with direct access to God through prayer and Bible reading.
Tithing:
- "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord." - Leviticus 27:30
- We practice tithing, recognizing it as the Biblical standard and a starting point in acknowledging Christ's lordship over our possessions.
Immersion:
- "For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism, you were also raised with Christ." - Colossians 2:12
- Baptism is performed by immersion under water, following the example set by Jesus and commanded in the Bible.
Spirit-Led Living:
- "I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing." - John 15:5
- We believe in living the Christian life through God's power, practicing daily dependence on the Holy Spirit.
Telling Others About Christ:
- "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." - 1 Peter 3:15
- It is the responsibility of every Christian to share the Good News, practice personal evangelism, and invite others to church.

STRUCTURE & AFFILIATION

1. The Church is a Fellowship:

"They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship . . ." - Acts 2:42
A top priority in our fellowship is unity and harmony, following Ephesians 4:3 and Romans 14:19.
Any attitude causing disunity is considered a sin (Col. 3:15, 1Cor. 1:10, 2 Tim. 2:14, Pr. 17:14, 2 Cor 13:11, Phil 1:27, Phil. 2:1-3, Col. 2:2, Phil 4:2, 1 Peter 3:8, 1 Cor. 14:33, John 13:34-35, 2 Tim. 2:23, Rom 15:5-6, Rom. 12:16-18, Col. 3:13-14, Ps 133:1).

Implications: A Good Structure Promotes Unity and Downplays Differences.

"Ye come together not for the better, but for the worse..." - 1 Corinthians 11:17-18
Voting tends to divide people.
Leadership and decision-making are entrusted to qualified Pastors/Elders at Wills Valley Community Church.

2. The Church is a Family:

"You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other..." - 1 Peter 3:8
We operate on the basis of relationships, not regulations (Gal. 6:10, Heb. 2:10-12, 1 Peter 4:17).
Pastors/Elders are chosen based on familial and leadership qualities (1 Tim. 5:1-2, 1 Timothy 3:4-5).

3. The Church is a Body:

1 Corinthians 12:27, Ephesians 5:23, Colossians 1:18, 2:19
We function as a Body, not a Business, emphasizing spiritual gifts over elected officers (Romans 12:4-6, Ephesians 4:11-12).
Our simple structure maximizes ministry and minimizes maintenance.

Our Structure:

The people are the "Ministers."
The Pastors/Elders are the "Administers."

4. The Church is a Flock:

"He (Jesus) saith to him again the second time; Simon (Peter), son of Jonas, lovest thou me?..." - John 21:16-17
Cared for and led by Shepherds, Pastors/Elders (1 Peter 5:1-2, 1 Timothy 3:2).
Different terms, same leaders (Ephesians 4:11-12, Titus 1:5-7, 1 Timothy 3:1-7).

Our Affiliation:

Dekalb Baptist Association - 63 Churches that fellowship together and work together to reach Dekalb County.
The Alabama Baptist State Convention - Over 3,000 churches working together to evangelize the state.
Southern Baptist Convention - The largest association of Christian churches in America, promoting a diverse and growing community.

"Bold Mission Thrust":

Wills Valley's public goal is to give everyone in the world a chance to hear the Good News.

Why Not Just Be An Independent Church?

We are an independent church within the SBC, allowing us to identify with committed Bible believers worldwide.
The advantages of affiliating with the SBC include participation in the largest missionary organization globally and supporting over 7,500 missionaries through the Cooperative Program in 104 countries.