Vale Christian Church: A Legacy of Faith and Community

Our Core Beliefs and Values

  • STATEMENT OF FAITH
    • WE believe the Bible to be the only inspired, trustworthy and true, without error, Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
    • WE believe there is only one God who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)
    • WE believe Jesus Christ is God, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His death that paid for our sin through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension/rising to the right hand of the Father and in His personal return in power and glory. (John 1:1; Matthew 1:18,25; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 9:15-22; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 9:27-28)
    • WE believe that salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ and God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment someone receives Jesus Christ as Lord of his life. This is evident by repentance, confession, baptism by immersion, and a life committed to His service. (John 1:12, 14:6; Romans 5:1, 6:23; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5)
    • WE believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, who lives within and guides Christians, so they are enabled to live godly lives. (John 14:15-26; John 16:5-16; Ephesians 1:13-14)
    • WE believe in eternal life, and that through belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, we spend eternity with the Lord in Heaven. I believe that in rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we receive eternal suffering in hell. (Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
    • WE believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, that all believers are members of His body, the Church. (Philippians 2:1-4)
    • WE believe God’s design for sexual intimacy is to be expressed only within the context of marriage. God instituted marriage between one man and one woman as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. For this reason, I believe that marriage is exclusively the union of one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5-6; Mark 10:6-9; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9)
    • WE believe that God created all human beings in His image. Therefore, I believe that human life is sacred from conception to its natural end; that we must honor the physical and spiritual needs of all people; following Christ’s example, I believe that every person should be treated with love, dignity, and respect. (Psalm 139:13; Isaiah 49:1; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 22:37-39; Romans 12:20-21; Galatians 6:10)
    • WE believe that we must dedicate ourselves to prayer, to the service of our Lord, to His authority over our lives, and to the ministry of evangelism. Matthew 9:35-38; 22:37-39, and 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:9-15 and 12:20-21; Galatians 6:10; Colossians 2:6-10; 1 Peter 3:15.

Meet Our Leadership Team

Paul Karsten

Paul Karsten

Lead Pastor

Paul Karsten grew up in southeast Wisconsin. He later moved with his wife Kelli and son Caleb to the west coast to take a role in IT. Paul and Kelli were active in their local church as ministry and small group leaders and played on the worship team. After his IT role was outsourced Paul began traveling as a project manager for the healthcare sector. Years later they moved to central Oregon where Paul continued his role in project management. They joined a local church in Redmond OR and quickly became involved in ministry and worship. In late 2014 Paul was laid off from his project management role and felt a deep conviction to shepherd God’s people into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ by equipping them with the knowledge of God’s Holy Word. Incidentally this was confirmed by two separate pastors who recommended that Paul enter into full time vocational ministry. In 2015 after much prayer, Paul began attending Liberty University’s online for his Biblical and Religious studies degree. Paul has served as Senior Pastor for various churches in Oregon and Illinois. Paul and Kelli Karsten were married in 2005 and have one son Caleb born in 2008. Paul enjoys playing piano and bass guitar. His family enjoys traditional board games, watching movies and entertaining visitors. Paul is greatly encouraged to see lives changed by the radical faith we have in Christ and by the radical faithfulness of our God.

Steven Marshall

Steven Marshall

Associate Pastor, Family & Youth Minister

Steven Marshall grew up in Roseburg, Oregon. He later moved to Boise, Idaho his sophomore year of High School. He graduated from Centennial High school in 1994. Growing up he enjoyed all kinds of sports. He was a very successful swimmer and competed in State and Regional Championships and the West Coast Junior Olympics. Directly after High School Steven had dreams of teaching and coaching. He promised his dad in 1994 that he would go to one year of Bible College, before pursuing his dream. It was in that year that he decided there was nothing better to teach than about Christ. He started in part time youth ministry in 1995, and went into full time Youth Ministry upon graduation from Boise Bible College in 1998. Steven and his wife Becky have been married since 1997 and have three children, Ella, Shelsea, and Dylan. Steven and Becky love kids and young families, and desire to lead them in the Lord.

Michael Amick

Michael Amick

Elder

Michael Amick he has been a member of VCC since 1982 He and his wife of 50 years, Christie have four children. Eleven grandchildren and one great grandchild are his delight. He farmed for 38 years and is now retired and helping wherever needed. He loves people, golfing, hunting, traveling and camping.

Jeffery Wall

Jeffery Wall

Elder

Jeff was raised in east-central Illinois, where, after serving several years in the Air Force, he  attended the University of Illinois (U of I) College of Forestry.  At this time, he met his future bride, Debbie, while going to the church where he grew up. They married prior to his graduation with BS in Forestry.  He spent nearly 26 years in Roseburg, Oregon working at the BLM and raising 4 children; Melissa, Jeremy, Lindie, and Justin.  In March of 2011, Jeff took a position at the Vale BLM District working as a HAZMAT Coordinator and Safety manager. He now enjoys retirement.

Stan Sisson

Stan Sisson

Elder

Stan was raised at Nyssa, Oregon. He graduated from Nyssa High School and Oregon State University. He taught Vocational Agriculture for 10 years before he had a long career of farming southwest of Nyssa. Now retired, he likes to woodwork, camp and fish, and spend time with his family and the church family. Stan and Jackie(Girvin) Sisson have been married over 50 years. They have three daughters, Sandi, Debbie and Becky. Stan has been a member of Vale Christian Church since 1978.

Rick Tolman

Rick Tolman

Elder

Rick was raised in Vale on his family-owned dairy. After high school graduation he started his custom haying business along with working with his family on the dairy. He married his wife Marie in 1986. They have four children, Shiloh, Levi, Cody and Mariah. The Tolman’s have been members of Vale Christian School since 1992 and Rick has been and Elder since 1995.