A Shoals Congregation Built to Reach, Teach, and Minister
Valley Grove Baptist Church sits along Old Highway 20 on the east side of Tuscumbia, in the heart of the Shoals area of northwest Alabama. The congregation has gathered under that name since the fall of 1873, and the simple three-word motto displayed across its homepage - Reach, Teach, Minister - captures the shape of its life together. Drive past the front parking lot on a Sunday morning and you will find visitor spots reserved up front, a welcome team stationed near the entrance, and a sanctuary that seats more than five hundred people waiting to fill with music, prayer, and a sermon drawn from Scripture.
Members describe their church as a family that wants to walk alongside anyone following Jesus, whether someone is a long-time believer, a new convert, or a person who has not yet made up their mind about faith. The church belongs to the Colbert-Lauderdale Association and the Southern Baptist Convention, partners with the Alabama State Board of Missions and the Baptist Foundation of Alabama, and supports a range of missions at home and overseas.
From an Acre of Land in 1873 to a Sanctuary in 1965
The Valley Grove story begins on September 23, 1873, when the first two services of the new church were held. Worship was suspended until a meeting house could be built on an acre of land donated by John Aycock. The first pastor, Rev. Sam M. Steenson, also served as Colbert County Tax Assessor. He preached the third Saturday and Sunday of each month for a monthly salary of eighty-five cents, three gallons of milk, and a pound of butter. His first text was Philippians 3:8.
The first sanctuary, dedicated March 22, 1874, was a small one-room building whose lumber was later sold for eighteen dollars. A second, larger one-room frame building followed in the early 1930s, with members hauling logs cut from trees donated by Tom Stanford to the local mill. Two crews laying the floor from opposite ends famously left a wide crack running down the middle when they met in the middle. The church was voted into the Colbert-Lauderdale Association on September 15, 1938.
Steady growth marked the decades that followed. The Church Training department was organized in 1942-43 and reorganized in 1952. The WMU was reorganized in 1948 with fourteen members. Land along the west side of the property was acquired in pieces from Louis Johnson, John W. Johnson, and M. H. Kidd, eventually bringing the campus to about six acres. In 1965 the present sanctuary was built at a cost of approximately $130,000, with seating for 510 people plus the choir and a steeple rising thirty-seven feet above the roof. A fellowship hall with a new kitchen, conference room, and three Sunday School rooms was dedicated on January 30, 2000.
Dr. Greg Beasley has served as pastor since 2010. He follows a long line of shepherds that began with Samuel Steenson in 1873 and includes Dr. J. Gregory Davis (1994-2008), Larry Wright (1974-1991), and many others. The church also honors Bro. Hollis Kitchen as Pastor Emeritus, a title bestowed on August 1, 1982.
Sunday Mornings: Sunday School, Worship, and a Welcome Center
Sunday at Valley Grove starts at 9:15 a.m. with Sunday School for every age group, followed by Morning Worship at 10:30 a.m. Visitors are encouraged to arrive about fifteen minutes early to find a seat. The service is offered in person in the sanctuary, broadcast on 107.9 FM for those who prefer to stay in the parking lot, and streamed on Facebook Live for those at home. A Sunday evening service is also broadcast on Facebook Live at 5:00 p.m.
First-time guests are greeted at a Welcome Center staffed by a team that answers questions and points families toward the right classrooms. Nursery care is available during every service, and Children's Church is offered during the morning worship hour for kids through about six years old. After the service, guests are invited into the fellowship area to meet the pastor and members, and a Next Steps area offers information about small groups and ministry involvement. The dress code is informal - the church simply says, come as you are, with styles ranging from jeans to business casual.
The order of the morning worship service opens with congregational music led by the music ministry, followed by a biblically based sermon. The music ministry rehearses both contemporary and traditional worship music at its Wednesday evening choir practice, so the Sunday morning blend reflects both streams.
Wednesday Nights: A Full Slate for Every Age
Wednesday is one of the busiest evenings of the week at Valley Grove. Three things happen at once across the campus.
- Valley Grove Kids meets from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the Children's Building for children in Pre-K through sixth grade. Children's Director Mary Underwood also teaches Children's Church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday night lessons.
- The YTH Worship Center opens at 5:30 p.m. and runs until about 7:15 p.m. Students share a meal together first, then move into games, prizes, and musical worship led by James Eric England and the YTH praise band, followed by a teaching time.
- Adult Spiritual Growth University classes begin at 6:15 p.m. in the Annex Building and the Sanctuary, with separate offerings for men, women, and mixed adult groups.
- Choir practice gathers at 7:15 p.m. in the sanctuary, a time of fellowship and musical preparation open to anyone with a heart to sing.
Valley Grove Kids requires every child to have an updated medical form on file through the Elexio Community App, which is also used for check-in. Adults who want to serve with children must have been attending Valley Grove for at least six months, complete a volunteer form, and pass a background check.
Valley Grove Kids and the YTH Worship Center
The children's ministry is dedicated to nurturing faith and growth in a fun and engaging environment, with age-appropriate teaching designed to help kids build friendships while learning about God's love. Mary Underwood leads the team and teaches Children's Church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. A separate Facebook page, Valley Grove Kids, keeps parents in the loop.
The youth ministry meets at the YTH Worship Center under the banner of 1 Timothy 4:12 - "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." Wednesday nights feature a shared meal, games and prizes, musical worship, and a message. Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. dives deeper into Scripture and tackles real questions facing this generation. The group takes regular outings to places like Yogurt Mountain, Rollies, escape rooms, axe throwing, and SkyZone, attends the Strength to Stand winter conference in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and runs a summer camp. Musicians are always needed for the YTH praise band. Pastor Greg Beasley is the main contact for getting plugged in.
Men, Ladies, and College and Career
The Men's Ministry gathers men of all ages around spiritual growth, leadership development, and service. Multiple Sunday School classes for men are offered, along with a quarterly Brotherhood Breakfast featuring guest speakers and a Men's Bible Study. The ministry frames its work around Ephesians 5, Deuteronomy 6, Psalm 112, and Job 1, and invites men to reach out through the church office or contact Nick Thompson for more information.
The Ladies Ministry, led by Jennifer Beasley, Connie Scoggins, Phyllis Myhan, Charlotte Borden, and Kim Ledlow, hosts an annual ladies conference each fall with dynamic worship, inspiring messages, and fellowship. Small group Bible studies, prayer meetings, and occasional outings fill out the calendar, and the women travel each year to the Women of Joy conference in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
The College and Career Ministry walks alongside young adults navigating college and early careers, grounded in Colossians 3:23. Jeremy and Mollie Scott lead the group, which meets on Sunday mornings at 9:15 for Sunday School and on Wednesday nights for small group Bible study, exploring how Scripture speaks to the questions and pressures of being a young adult today.
Senior Adults at Valley Grove
Adults 55 and older are some of the most active servants in the church. They pour into the clothing and food ministry, lead small group Sunday School classes, participate in grief ministry and Monday morning Bible studies, hold down the church prayer chains, and serve in Wednesday discipleship groups. On the first Tuesday night of each month the church hosts a game night where everyone brings food, plays games, and builds friendships - all ages are welcome. The senior adults also plan several trips each year, with past destinations including The Ark and the Creation Museum in Kentucky.
Music as a Roof for Worship
The Music Ministry, led by Music Minister James Eric England, sees music as a "powerful roof for worship and fellowship" that helps the congregation express praise and deepen faith. The choir rehearses at 7:15 p.m. each Wednesday in the sanctuary, learning both contemporary and traditional worship music. Pianists Vada Landers and Connie Scoggins, bass guitarist Ricky Kirby, drummer Greg Newel, and keyboardist Kay Elsner round out the regular team. The choir, musicians, and soloists participate in worship services and special events throughout the year.
The Clothing Closet and Monday Morning Visits
Valley Grove runs two of its most visible mercy ministries in parallel on Monday mornings. The Clothing Ministry is open from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., giving away free, gently used clothing and hygiene supplies to anyone in need, regardless of economic status. It operates by referral from local agencies, emergency shelters, churches, and schools, but in emergency situations staff will set up an appointment. Donations of clean clothing, footwear, and travel-size hygiene items are accepted year-round; new undergarments are especially appreciated. Wayne Jefferys oversees the work.
The Monday Morning Ministry sends a dedicated team of volunteers each week to visit shut-ins and homebound members who can no longer attend services due to illness, age, or disability. Volunteers spend time in conversation, share a prayer, read Scripture, offer communion when requested, and occasionally bring small gifts or homemade meals. The ministry exists to make sure no one in the church family feels isolated or forgotten.
Disaster Relief and Mission Partnerships
Valley Grove is plugged into the wider Southern Baptist network of compassion work. The church highlights Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, a network of trained volunteers from thousands of Southern Baptist churches that responds to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and other calamities. SBDR sets up mobile kitchens, sends chainsaw crews, installs temporary roofing, and provides emotional and spiritual care through trained chaplains. The work is supported by the Cooperative Program and partnerships with local, state, and national emergency management officials.
Through its WMU (Women's Missionary Union) and the resource page on its website, the church spotlights a wider circle of ministry partners. Locally these include the Alabama State Board of Missions, The Alabama Baptist newspaper, the Alabama Children's Home, the Baptist Foundation of Alabama, and the Christian Life Commission. Nationally and globally the church lists the Southern Baptist Convention, the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board, Send Relief, and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. Missionaries and ministries Valley Grove supports include Cason Sibley in Europe, Global Missions of Mercy, the Family Research Council, and the Indian Community Church pastored by Pastor Suresh.
What Valley Grove Believes
The church's statement of faith centers on the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - co-equal and one God, Creator and Ruler of the universe. Jesus Christ is the Son of God who lived a sinless life, died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for sin, rose bodily on the third day, ascended to glory, and will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Holy Spirit guides believers into truth, convicts of sin, cultivates Christian character, bestows spiritual gifts, and seals believers until the day of final redemption.
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the supreme source of truth for belief and living. Salvation is a free gift received by trusting in Jesus Christ, not earned by self-improvement or good works, and the true believer is eternally secure in that salvation by the grace and power of God.
The church practices two ordinances: baptism by immersion after salvation as a symbol of faith in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and the Lord's Supper as a symbolic act remembering Christ's death and anticipating His return. Members are called to give the tithe - ten percent of gross income - cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally to the local church. They are also called to evangelism, to live in unity with other believers, and to put an end to gossip, criticism, and backbiting.
Pastoral Leadership and Deacons
Dr. Greg Beasley has served as pastor since 2010, joined by Mary Underwood as Children's Director and James Eric England as Music Minister. A team of deacons - Johnny Nixon, Chad Shell, Larry Allen, Wayne Jeffreys, Ray Counts, Rusty Harper, and Brandon Burleson - ministers to the needs of the church body through the Deacon Family Ministry program and other care initiatives. Together they shepherd a congregation that traces its roots to 1873 and points forward to the same work that has defined Valley Grove from the beginning: reaching people with the gospel, teaching them the Word, and ministering to a community in the name of Christ.