About VFCA

God’s call is upon many churches throughout the World to make disciples for Christ through the instrument of Christian Education. Valley Fellowship Christian Academy (VFCA) is a response to obey God’s call by building a spirit-filled Christian school where students become like Christ and lead others to know Him. VFCA trains leaders to become spiritually alive, academically strong, and physically fit. Since its foundation in 1987, VFCA has offered a Christian education in a spirit-filled environment and has sought God’s favor, provision, and direction.

VFCA is a church school. Valley Fellowship Church (VFC) incorporated on July 13, 1980, recognized God’s call to establish a Christian school. When VFC filed for and was granted IRS status as a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt nonprofit corporation, the bylaws laid the groundwork for a school.  When Jerry and Carol Simon came to pastor VFC in January of 1984, they brought fresh vision for Christian education and joined with believers of like vision. In the beginning,  VFC owned no buildings or property. By 1985, property was secured on Holmes Avenue with one older sanctuary-style building. A second building for offices and fellowship was constructed in the summer of 1987. Classes began in August, 1987 with classrooms set up in the basement of the church building.  Later, portable buildings were added and used for classrooms unitl 2006 when a new nine-classroom facility was completed adjacent to the two existing buildings.  

It was in June of 1988, that Pastor Greg and Patti Simon joined the VFC pastoral team and the VFCA staff . They carried a strong conviction and calling to serve in Christian education.  Patti Simon has served many roles in the school from teaching to leadership.  She currently serves as the administrator, along with Angela Preslar as the assistant administrator. 

The school board consists of current VFC elders and VFC pastors. The board entrusts daily operations to the administrator. However, the school board, pastors, and administrator meet bi-monthly to discuss important issues regarding the general operations of the school. 

The pastors, administrators and  teachers of VFCA meet and begin each day with 30 minutes of praise, worship and prayer. This foundational practice has continued since the school’s inception in 1987.  As a school, we are truly thankful for our facilities and for God’s daily provision; VFCA and VFC are debt-free and poised for growth. 

Mission

The mission of VFCA is to “train students to become Christian leaders, Godly men and women, to take places of authority in the world and in Christ’s body of believers.”  Education, at VFCA, is infused with the newness of the Holy Spirit and emphasizes academic excellence.  VFCA exists to be an extension of the Christian home and  to help parents fulfill their responsibility to educate their children. 

VFCA is committed to sending students on mission outreaches. Each year VFCA takes teams comprised of VFCA students, staff, parents and VFC church members to various places around the world.  Through the years students have touched the lives of people in Russia, Spain, China, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Colombia,  Peru, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Brazil. Our students are aware of God’s heart for the world and the local community. Students participate in various outreaches in Huntsville including feeding the homeless, tutoring at a public elementary school, and helping with community festivals. 

VFCA’s future is bright. God’s call is upon VFCA to train bold and obedient disciples for the Lord Jesus.  Grounded and bathed in prayer, we continue to raise Godly leaders to change this world for Christ! 

Program

VFCA operates as a traditional church school and a non-profit organization.  Our teachers are degreed professionals who teach from a biblical perspective. VFCA is dually accredited through the International Christian Accrediting Association  (ICAA) in 1999 and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in 2001.  VFCA has been a member of Oral Roberts University Educational Fellowship (ORUEF) since1988. With sound academics, the school has earned a good reputation within the community. 

VFCA’s diverse constituency reflects the diversity of the city of Huntsville. Students come from various church backgrounds, social economic backgrounds, religious/denominational backgrounds and races, including a significant percentage of families from the Redstone Arsenal.  Tuition rates are the best value in the area and VFCA is the only spirit-filled school offering classes through the 12th grade.  For those reasons, VFCA has maintained a steady enrollment with incremental increase each year since 2004.  

Tuition and fees cover salaries and materials for running the school, but VFC provides for the maintenance and utilities of the buildings. Annual fundraisers supplement the operating budget.  The school relies heavily on parent volunteers for its extracurricular activities. The parent-directed sports program includes:  soccer (grades K4-12th), basketball (grades 5th-12th), volleyball (grades 5th-12th), track, and t-ball.  The Children’s Prayer Network offers opportunities for student groups to have daily prayer meetings and annual trips to Washington DC and Montgomery, Alabama. This prayer ministry became an important expression of the school’s mission.   Other extracurricular activities have included voice and choral lessons, science club, as well as various academic clubs and opportunities to participate in annual mission trips.

To further the educational success of VFCA, a piano lab program was instituted in 2005.  The program targets K5-4th grade students and teaches piano skills and note reading.  VFCA has made numerous technology improvements including a new portable computer lab, and computers with internet in the classrooms. In 2008, VFCA implemented the new school management system called RenWeb to better facilitate school to home information. And in 2012, we added a lunch program providing students with a well balanced lunch prepared in our professional grade kitchen. Also, in 2013, VFCA added Promethean Boards to several of the classrooms to allow students to interact with lessons through technology. 

VFCA also offers an extended daycare and summer day camp. Our extended daycare program is exclusively for VFCA students; early morning care is from 7:00am until 8:00am and after school care is from 3:00 pm until  5:30pm.  Our Summer Camp program runs through June and July from 7:00am until 5:30pm and is open to children ages 5-12. Activities include academic enrichment in math and reading, library visits, Bible, arts & crafts,,, movies, and more.