Vision for the Valley

06/30/2023

We are so excited for the opening of Hillside Mini Golf and Ice Cream. We are big fans of them and love how they are brining this community staple back!!!

Today at noon the ribbon cutting ceremony will take place and hosted by The Greater Northampton Area Chamber of Commerce.

They will be open for service following the ceremony. 3219 Cherryville Rd, Northampton, PA

06/14/2023

Chapter 3 of My Story, His glory blog post from Pastor Joe is up. Here’s an excerpt from the post:

“On this Father’s Day, I think it is fitting to introduce a few men that have meant a lot to my story. “ Full blog here: https://www.visionforthevalley.com/vfvblog/my-story-his-glory-chapter-three or find the link in the bio.

05/20/2023

We are so excited to share chapter two of Pastor Joe’s story entitled My Story, His Glory. To view the story use the link below or in the bio!

From Atlanta to Macungie (Salem Bible Church) to NYC/Jersey City (The Journey Church) to the Lehigh Valley (Riverbend Community Church )

Chapter 2- From Atlanta to Macungie to NYC/Jersey City to the Lehigh Valley.   After I graduated college, Amy and I got married in January of 2004.  We didn’t have a lot of money, so we were living on love, as they say. I started working at the Chick-fil-A in the Lehigh Valley Mal

05/02/2023

View part one of Pastor Joe’s story using the link below or in our bio!

Here is a snippet: “If you don’t know your story, you will settle for another version of your story or the story that others have for you. In this light, I write my story to give Jesus the glory. I never want to forget what He’s done and where I come from. I came from a rough place and by His grace I made it out.”

View full story here: https://www.visionforthevalley.com/vfvblog/my-story-his-glory

04/12/2022

Check this out!!!

🦅 Get your tickets to the DeVonta Smith & Friends Celebrity Softball Game at Coca-Cola Park! Game is June 4th 🥎

Click here for more info
👇
https://devontasmithsoftball.com/

04/02/2022

We are celebrating the Northwest Youth Athletic Association in Bethlehem as they have opening day celebrating its 64th year! They asked Pastor Joe to pray at the opening day ceremony. Congratulations on a new and 64th season.

02/26/2022

Whenever facing primary, secondary or compound trauma I have found it helpful to do the following:

1) Share with safe people the shame and pain you feel. It will be tempting to not do this because trauma convinces us it’s too embarrassing to share and no one is trustworthy or will believe us. That’s a lie. Find the right people who will carrying this with you and remind you of who you truly are. I have found that in my wife, family members and Church community.

2) identify what lies you are believing regarding your traumatic experience regarding yourself and others. Including the ways that are harmful with how you are coping. Tell the truth about what is happening and how it impacted you.

3) Take care of yourself by getting good sleep, staying active and eating healthy.

4) Process what has happened and how it is effecting you with a trained professional that specializes in trauma.

5) Play the long game and take one step at a time. This is a season of preparation for what is next. God isn’t done with you, he’s just getting started doing a good and beautiful work in and through you.

6) Forgive yourself if necessary and those who have harmed you without minimizing the harm and evil done. You want to be honest while remaining hopeful. At the same time we can easily do to others what has done to us and take a posture of hatefulness and self righteousness. We mirror back instead of modeling a better way.

7) Serve someone with your story and in general this will help to see that life isn’t just about you. It will be a great way to channel your story and get out of your head.

8)Laugh and look for the beauty that is all around you. It takes thought and prayer to see.

9) See the people who are right in front of you. If you are single that means your close friends and if your married this means your spouse and kids if applicable. Love and serve your closet neighbors first and look for those who will be brought into your paths.

10) It’s never too late to start the process of dealing with your trauma and pain. I will say the sooner you can the better it will be for you. However, often trauma wants us to have a self protective layer, so it may take time.

02/24/2022

Do you see a dove? We love the Lehigh Valley. It’s beauty, local parks, people, and how it’s in the middle of many major cities. It’s easy too miss that once you become familiar with a place. What do you appreciate most about the Lehigh Valley?

02/07/2022

Check out this great resource from our friends at Safe Place.

01/29/2022

Joe sits with down Ziad Hariry the owner and operator of True Blue Mediterranean Cafe. They discuss the journey of starting a business, how his Syrian roots help to create such good food, venturing out to a new concept model and much more.

You can find this podcast below or wherever you listen. Search Vision for the Valley season 3 episode 6.

Connect with Ziad and True Blue here:

[email protected]
yourtrueblue.com

Social media:
Blue Mediterranean Cafe
://www.riverbendonline.org/vfv/interviewwithziadhariry

01/29/2022

When it snows I like to do _______________?

01/18/2022

Check out these lessons from the Lead Pastor of Riverbend Community and of Vision for the Valley Joseph Velarde shares in light of working in the local Church for 22 years.

It dawned on me that this year marks 22 years of serving and leading in the local church in some type of capacity. One of my greatest joys and privileges.

Thank you for helping to shape and form me:
NorthStar Church - Kennesaw, GA
Parker Hill Church
Salem Bible Church
The Journey Church
Faith Church | Allentown, PA
Riverbend Community Church

As I think of all those I have led alongside and all the lessons learn a couple of main things come to mind:

1) Minister from your first ministry as a spouse or a single.

2) Make it about loving God, loving people and living sent.

3) Being a healthy disciple of Jesus will lead to creating space and churches that will be healthy.

4) Process the pain and hurts of leaders often before Jesus and safe people.

5) Be an encourager of those who encourage others.

6) It takes a team to live out the New Testament vision for the church. Valuing what others bring and being humble enough to acknowledge what you don’t.

7) Give and live from your identity before Jesus.

8)Prioritize holistic health.

9) Keep learning and be humble enough to learn from those who are viewed “unimportant” by others.

10) Stay close to Jesus to discern what He has for you. Follow His call, even when it doesn’t match up with what others envision.

11) Be for the place and people God has called you to with no strings attached.