Our Story
The History of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Yakima

The Yakima Vineyard was birthed in 1991 by a group of church planters led by Harvey and Judy Hamm from Oahu, Hawaii. Soon after it's initial public meeting, the church transformed an old sheet-metal warehouse into a church sanctuary, children's ministry area, and offices. As the church continued to grow, more space was leased. That is, until the Yakima Vineyard purchased the Union Gap Bowling Alley. Upon remodeling the building (and keeping 4 lanes open for staff "therapy"), the church made it's home there for several years.

In 1998, the Yakima Vineyard sent out Harvey and Judy Hamm to plant a Vineyard Church in Puyallup, WA

Wayne and Connie Purdom took over the duties of Senior Pastor in the summer of 1998. Soon after, the Yakima Vineyard left the bowling alley and held Sunday morning services at the YVCC Gymnasium. After a year of searching for a new permanent facility, the old First Christian Church in downtown Yakima was purchased. Built in 1907, the building held a rich legacy of ministry and beauty and became the perfect home for the Yakima Vineyard.

Then in January 2005 Wayne announced his decision to plant a new Vineyard church in Everett, Washington. Through a long process the Purdom family left their lifelong home of Selah, Washington on June of 2006 and moved to the west side of Washington state. They are joined with Dennis & Kathy Dufault and John & Amy Balmer from VCF Yakima in their church planting adventure.

Through the transition of searching for a new Senior Pastor, Jimmy John Morris felt God's calling to care for the community of VCF Yakima. Jimmy John & his wife Donna were one of the first couples added within the first year of the church plant in Yakima. Jimmy John has served in a large variety of roles since 1992 such as, the coffee bar, children's church, youth ministry, and served as the worship pastor for eight years as well as becoming the associate pastor.

Jimmy John became the Senior Pastor in December of 2005. He was also serving as the worship task force overseer in the Northwest region for the Vineyard. Jimmy John served the northwest in a number of roles and capacities all through the time he was the Senior Pastor of the Yakima Vineyard.
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In June of 2015 Jimmy John and his family left the Northwest and the role of Senior Pastor at the Yakima Vineyard for Sugarland, TX. He has been serving the Sugarland Vineyard in the capacity of Senior Assistant Pastor. He is now pastor of the Kent Vineyard

Upon his departure Jimmy John turned over the role of Senior Pastor to a team; Dave Hanson, and Bob and Debbie Blehart. They have assumed the role and as a team have been serving the Yakima Vineyard for the last few years.  They then added to the team Dusty Arenson as a Co-Senior Pastor and Ryan Stahl as an Assistant Pastor.
The Yakima Vineyard has a great history of amazing and quality people. We are honored to continue the legacy that this church was built on many years ago in 1991.

As of January 2019 Dusty Arenson was ordained and is serving as the lead pastor of Yakima Vineyard. He has been serving God's people in one form or another from children's church puppet ministry to preaching internationally since 1989. 

A legacy of Loving God and Loving ALL people is who we are as a church. We are a church that was founded on hearing God, Healing Ministry,Prophetic Insights, Reaching and Serving the Poor, Discipleship, and the list goes on. Our prayer is that the Yakima Vineyard will carry on for many years to come and will be remembered for God's Love that we showed and shared.