From Holford Prairie to Valley Ridge Boulevard
Baptists first settled the Holford Prairie area of North Texas in 1844, but the congregation that would become Valley Ridge Church did not organize until 1869, when thirteen members formed Holford Baptist Church in a two-story building that stood where Old Hall Cemetery is now located on McGee Lane, just a few blocks north of the church's present site. In 1881, the now thirty-seven members built a new meeting house near where the Dallas and Wichita Railroad came to Lewisville and renamed the body Lewisville Baptist Church, later The First Baptist Church of Lewisville. A 1935 basement allowed Sunday School to operate in four distinct departments, and a three-story brick building followed in 1952, with a 450-seat auditorium added in 1956. Remodels came in 1973 under Dr. Gilbert Callaway and a new sanctuary rose in the 1980s under Leonard Molone. In the mid-1990s, under Dr. Stephen Hatfield, the congregation moved from Old Town Lewisville to its current 22-acre campus on Valley Ridge Boulevard, and a 2019 building phase added the Kids Wing and remodeled the student wing. In January 2024, the church called Dr. Josh King as its next pastor, and in early 2025 the congregation adopted a Doing Business As name, becoming Valley Ridge Church, the First Baptist Church of Lewisville, Texas. The new identity honors the deep heritage of the past while pointing forward.
Sunday Mornings: 8:15, 9:30, and 11:00
A Sunday at Valley Ridge is built around three hour-long blocks that let people shape their own morning. At 8:15 a.m. and again at 11:00 a.m., adults gather in Sunday Morning Small Groups, with classes that range from senior adult groups (Gibson, Fite, Burkett, Colbert, Martin, MeGown, Floyed, Mitchener, Weaver) through median adult classes (McCrady, Waldick, Reese, Green, Cantu, Gollaher, Gronberg, Gibson, Dirks, Ready, Caldwell, Morse) to a single adult group (Cooper), a women-of-all-ages group (Horton), and a King Group for the nearly and newly wed. A new Foster Group for ages 18 to 30 launched October 4 in Room B134. Visitors are encouraged to try several groups, even crossing age boundaries, to find a fit. Preschool and children's Bible study meet at 11:00 a.m., and the hour is designed so that preschoolers can attend one or both hours while parents take part in a Bible study and then worship.
The 9:30 a.m. Worship Gathering is the central service of the week. Worship is described as multi-generational, combining a choir and orchestra with a blend of modern and classic songs - recent services have included "Glorious Day," "Be Thou My Vision," "Jehovah," "My King Forever," and "O Come to the Altar" - alongside a sermon from the pastor and a response time. The order typically moves from baptism and greetings through congregational singing, a choir or orchestra feature, Scripture reading and prayer, the message, and a closing hymn. On a recent Sunday, Dr. Josh King preached from Romans 5:1-11, 18-21, with Romans 6:1-14 announced as the following week's text.
A Multi-Generational Sound of Worship
Worship Arts is one of the most distinctive ministries at Valley Ridge. The Worship Choir is open to all adults from college freshmen through senior adults, with no auditions required for membership and Wednesday evening rehearsals from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. that blend music learning with prayer. The Worship Orchestra is an all-volunteer ensemble of grade 9 through adult instrumentalists who lead every Sunday morning worship celebration and rehearse the same Wednesday evening slot. The Student Choir rehearses Sundays from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., September through June, helps lead worship throughout the year, sings in the DFW area, and travels each June on a summer choir and mission trip - past trips have included Washington, D.C., and a 2027 Toronto Student Choir Mission Trip is on the calendar.
For people of any age who want to develop their gifts, the Lewisville Arts Conservatory (LAC) operates under the Worship Arts umbrella and offers private lessons in piano, violin, voice, drums, cello, clarinet, saxophone, and guitar, plus group classes in Musical Theater, Art, Dance, Play Workshop, and PreK classes. The Conservatory's desire is to provide a place where every age group can train skillfully in a safe, God-honoring atmosphere.
NextGen: Preschool Through High School
Valley Ridge's NextGen Ministries exist to lead the next generation, from preschool to high school, into a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ, treating children and students not as the church of tomorrow but as an essential part of the church today. The Preschool Ministry plants spiritual seeds of faith through childcare, Bible study, Wednesday night programming, special events, and First Steps Preschool. Weekly Bible study for preschoolers meets at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m., with similar curriculum at both hours so repetition carries the learning. Preschool Praise Days runs Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the school year for children 12 months through PreK, and Rally on Sunday afternoons from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. gathers PreK age 4 and kindergartners. Wednesday night childcare covers infants through PreK during every on-site evening activity.
Valley Ridge Kids, the elementary ministry, partners with parents in the Deuteronomy 6 model so kids become mature Christ-followers. Sunday morning Bible study at 11:00 a.m. is the most important hour, built around relationship with volunteer leaders and age-appropriate curriculum. RALLY runs seasonally on Sundays from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. and rotates kids through Bible, Music, and Rec. Each summer brings Vacation Bible School - the 2026 theme was "Illumination Station: Shining a Light on Who Jesus Really Is," running July 13-17 - along with VRC Kids Camp, VRC Kids Mini Camp, and milestone celebrations like Getting Ready for Big Church, First Grade Bible Presentation, New Christians Classes, and a 5th Grade Retreat.
VRC Students cultivates a life that reflects Jesus through consistent Bible study, Christ-like accountability, local, national, and global mission opportunities, and the kind of fun that builds lasting friendships. Sunday mornings begin with 9:30 worship in the Worship Center and 11:00 a.m. Small Groups in room 203, with games, Bible study, and mutual encouragement. Middle School Meetup gathers on Sunday evenings from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. and High School Hang meets Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., both seasons of the year. A Sunday afternoon Student Choir from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. anchors the music side.
Adults: Small Groups, Classes, and Discipleship
The Adult Ministry exists to help adults grow deeper in their faith and connect with others through Bible studies, small groups, serving opportunities, and special events. Beyond the Sunday morning small groups, Discipleship Classes are offered every spring and fall semester on Sunday evenings from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. in a focused disciple life process of loving God, loving people, being a disciple, and making disciples. A recent term 2 slate included "Be Afraid" with Josh King, "Daniel: Purpose, Prayer, and Prophecy" with Becky Mitchener, and "Trot Now, Feast Later" with Josh Yeaste and Andrew Mize. A few classes meet at alternate times and locations during the week. Free access to Right Now Media is provided as a digital study companion.
Men, Women, and Senior Adults
VRC Men fosters fellowship, spiritual growth, and discipleship for men of all ages through Bible studies, mentoring relationships, and intentional gatherings. VRC Women creates a welcoming community for women of every generation, encouraging authentic connection, spiritual growth, and service opportunities. The Senior Adult Ministry addresses five basic needs - spiritual, mental, physical, social, and service - through Sunday morning groups, monthly luncheons with guest programs, the Lunch Bunch that meets monthly at a local restaurant, the VRC Singers who sing at assisted living centers and share a luncheon afterward, and the VRC Volunteers who lend a hand across church ministries on an as-needed basis.
A Refuge for Caregivers and the Grieving
The Care Ministry reaches out with love and assistance to people navigating aging, caregiving, illness, loss, and crisis. Oasis is a weekly outreach program for adults with early to mid-stage Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, offering a four-hour window of safe, structured engagement every Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Community Center. The program combines socialization, physical movement, music, and memory-stimulating activities with a 1-to-1 volunteer-to-participant ratio. Program Coordinator Bronwen Zilmer leads the effort, and tribute gifts to Oasis are accepted in honor or memory of a loved one.
GriefShare runs in 13-week semesters each fall and spring, with each session two hours long and open to members and the wider community. Two-hour support seminars like Loss of a Spouse and Surviving the Holidays supplement the main curriculum. DivorceCare, a 13-week program, helps people heal from the pain of divorce in a warm, caring environment led by people who have walked the same road, and participants can join at any time. The Prayer Ministry collects requests by email or phone for inclusion on a printed weekly prayer list sent to faithful intercessors in the church. A referral list of area biblical and Christian counselors is also maintained for those seeking professional help.
Missions: Across the Street and Across the Globe
Missions at Valley Ridge begin with a simple commitment to see a need and meet it, whether across the street or across the globe. The church's missions verse is Love God, Serve People, Share the Gospel. Hope Behind the Walls brings weekly one-hour Bible studies to youth ages 10 to 17 at the local detention center, with volunteer coordinators reaching each of the seven pods in use.
Local partnerships include Operation Christmas Child, with shoebox gifts sent each year to children around the world through Samaritan's Purse; Christian Community Action, a local mission ministry that ministers to the less fortunate through comprehensive services that alleviate suffering, bring hope, and change lives; and Heart of the City Lewisville, a Christ-centered nonprofit that provides free food, clothing, and life-skills programs to South Denton County residents. International mission trips are planned throughout the year, with two main destinations in Guatemala and France.
Valley Ridge partners with Texas Baptists to extend its reach as part of a statewide network of over 5,300 churches. Through this cooperative effort the church participates in world missions and church planting in Texas, North America, and around the globe; disaster relief through Texans on Mission; hunger and compassion ministries including the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering; Baptist Student Ministry chapters at the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University; community ministries serving refugees, vulnerable families, and at-risk communities; and Christian higher education and ministry training.
What Valley Ridge Believes
Valley Ridge teaches that there is one true and living God, infinite in holiness, who eternally exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the Head of the Church, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, sinless in life, crucified for our sins, raised on the third day, ascended to heaven, and coming again in power and glory. The Bible is God's Word, truth without any mixture of error, the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions are to be tried. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and involves regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification for all who repent of sin and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
The church practices the priesthood of every believer, holds to the priesthood of all who name Christ, embraces the duty and privilege of evangelism and missions, and teaches that human life is sacred from conception to natural death, that gender is a good gift of God lived according to His design, and that all people possess inestimable worth and must be treated with justice, compassion, and Christlike love. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment before God. Two ordinances are observed: baptism by immersion of a believer as a symbol of faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and the Lord's Supper as a memorial of Christ's death and a pledge of His return. Each local church is autonomous and self-governing under the Lordship of Christ. Bylaws and the church constitution are available online for anyone who wants to see how the congregation organizes and governs itself.
Becoming a Member
Church membership is treated as a mutual commitment: the church pledges to encourage and support each member in the walk with Christ, and each member pledges to grow, serve, and walk in fellowship with others. To become a member, a person must have trusted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, have been baptized by immersion as a personal and public profession of faith, and agree to cooperate with the church's beliefs and mission. Joining happens through a conversation with one of the pastors or ministers - by phone during the week, during the response time at the close of a Sunday service, or by email. Baptism by immersion is a key step for anyone who has trusted in Jesus and is ready to go public with their faith.
First-Time Visitors
New guests are welcomed at three locations: two steeple entrances and the Children's Building entrance. The main entrance sits under the larger of two steeples on the west end of the property, with parking outside that entrance and at the children's entrance on the north side. Inside the main doors, a Welcome Center is staffed by volunteers ready to help with directions. Coffee is available, and first-time guests are invited to stop by the Meet the Pastor table in the main lobby, where they will be greeted by Pastor Josh and given a Dublin Soda - a small-batch Texas original bottled by Dublin Bottling Works since 1891 - as a gesture of hospitality. Dress runs from jeans and t-shirts to business casual. A Guest Connect Form is available online so the church can follow up.
The 22-Acre Campus in Lewisville
Valley Ridge sits on approximately 22 acres with about 176,000 square feet of space along a major corridor and conveniently near Interstate 35. The campus houses the Worship Center, the Kids Wing added in 2019, the remodeled student wing, the Community Center used for Oasis and overflow groups, and the Fellowship Center that anchors Rally. The site is described as suitable for concerts, family events, conferences, conventions, exhibits, and other large gatherings, and a Facility Rentals and Events Coordinator helps connect outside organizations with the many possibilities available. Average attendance exceeds 750, with an annual budget of approximately $3.8 million and a staff of 16. Services are streamed online through the live page, the church's YouTube channel, and Facebook, and giving can be done online through PushPay, by texting fbclewisville to 77977, by mail, in the offering plate, or in the giving boxes and secure mailbox in the lobby.