In the spirit of reflecting on our “favorite things” this past year, the VBC staff members have shared theirs with you below! We hope you are edified and discover something new to do with your family or implement in the new year!

Ben Orchard, Teaching Pastor

Books - "John Grisham novels are a nice change of pace from reading theology and ministry books. I enjoy the classics, but John Grisham is a modern writer who just knows how to tell a really good story."

Britbox - "Tara and I have always enjoyed British comedies and dramas. Britbox is a streaming service offering a great selection of British TV shows and movies. Like all streaming platforms, we can’t vouch for all the content!"

Walking the dog - "Walking our collie, Blaze, has turned out to be a twofer. Blaze, like all dogs, needs to be walked regularly. The happy bonus is that it has become a way for us to meet many people in our neighborhood. 'Oh, what a beautiful dog!' has led to many great conversations with people we don’t know."

Shopping - "Pine Street Market is a consignment store on Sprague. It features many nostalgic items and unusual treasures that are fun to browse. Sometimes, you might even find a bargain. "

Chris Martin, Pastor of Youth

Texas BBQ - "I have heard legends of Texas BBQ for many years. This year, however, I had the opportunity to visit Texas for the first time and see for myself. The legends are true."

Sunsets and star-gazing in the back of a truck - "We live in a beautiful corner of God's world, and our family has enjoyed a few opportunities to drive up onto the ridges and watch the sun set or seasonal meteor showers. A guitar, a good book, and some hot chocolate complete the adventure."

Simple family worship - "I've spent years experimenting with many over-wrought attempts at family worship that tended to be long, complicated, and difficult to maintain. This year I ran across a much simpler recommendation: read something, sing something, pray. That's it. It has served us well."

Caleb Klontz, Pastor of Life Groups and Global Outreach

Bible Reading Plan - "Professor Grant Horner’s Bible Reading Plan. At 10 chapters a day, this is an ambitious Bible reading plan, but it can be modified to allow for the days when you just can’t get through that much."

The Valley of Vision - "A collection of Puritan prayers richly packed with sound theology and deeply formative for the Christian life. A pastor friend of mine even put together a 13-week reading plan to help guide you through these prayers in a steady, thoughtful way that can meaningfully enrich your prayer life."

Burgundy mushrooms - "Linda and I love mushrooms, and these burgundy mushrooms have become a staple at almost every holiday meal. Tip: DON’T skip the dill seed."

Jerod Jarvis, Ministry Director

Family worship - "This is hardly an original idea, but it is one that was seemingly lost for a bit in the evangelical mainstream. A couple of years ago, Pastor Chris challenged several dads at VBC to make family worship a part of our daily routine, and doing so has proved to be a huge blessing to our family. We don’t typically get it in every evening, but we try to make it a priority as often as possible. The advice I was given to get started? Don’t make it too complicated – Read some Scripture, sing a hymn, and do some praying. That’s it! I commend this tradition to all the families of VBC."

Reforming Marriage - "I have had the opportunity to read a wide variety of books on marriage, and while there are many good ones, I have yet to run across one better than Reforming Marriage by Doug Wilson. This book is thoroughly Biblical, and resists the trap of pragmatism that so many marriage books fall into. I’ve had the opportunity to go through it with several couples in marriage and pre-marital counseling, and I’m blessed every time I do."

Intro to Biblical Counseling: Anxiety  - "There were a great many excellent topics covered at the Intro to Biblical Counseling seminar this year, but this one on Anxiety was a standout. Eminently practical and thoroughly Biblical, this is a talk every Christian should listen to. Even if fear and anxiety aren’t your particular struggles, chances are high you are close to someone who does struggle in that way, and this talk can help equip you to minister to them."

Ben Doehle, Ministry Director

Harney & Sons Fine Teas - “Especially the Chocolate and Mint flavor—pure comfort in a cup!"

Discovering a Great Book List - “I love planning a year of reading. G3 Ministry’s book genres have helped me mix things up and explore new topics."

Books + Coffee = Happiness - “If you’re in Post Falls, check out Kindred & Co—a cozy spot for both..”

Fishing Adventures - "Nothing beats the calm of the water and the thrill of the catch."

Burgers - "Side note: Boomers is closing soon—last chance for a burger run before January 10th!"

Lord of the Rings - "Epic stories, unforgettable characters—Middle-earth forever."

Camping (or Glamping!) - "Whether it’s roughing it or doing it in style, just getting outside and camping is fun."

Quality Time with Family - "The best thing on the list, hands down."

Stephanie Painter, Office Administrator

Taiwan trip with my children - "It was such a blessing to visit and explore the beautiful country of Taiwan with all three children! Seeing God’s beautiful creation, observing Josiah’s ministries, trying new foods, learning to navigate using Google Translate, and experiencing God’s protection and grace are things that I will not soon forget."

Sunday meals at my parents' house - "My parents (Larry and Nancy Klingler) host a Sunday lunch almost every week for our extended family. It is a wonderful blessing to gather together, eat delicious food, and talk and play games! Some of our favorite games are Quirkle and Ticket to Ride."

Women’s Bible Studies - "I am truly blessed to be a part of the Wednesday evening Bible studies here at VBC! I learn from each lady who attends and appreciate the wisdom and insight they share."

Jennifer Dokken, Admin. Assistant and VBC Kids Coordinator

Favorite hobby - “Scrapbooking to document memories in a creative way, especially like doing craft retreats with my friends so we can visit for a whole weekend and craft away with no interruptions."

Exercise - “I have a hard time exercising but I do love being in nature, hiking on a trail, exploring on an adventure like finding a waterfall or hot springs, or paddleboarding on the lake or swimming.”

New favorite coffee place - “Beans and Berries. They have great avocado toast and sandwiches. The owner is so friendly. They make fresh-pressed juices to go with each meal. They have some cute seating with both couches and tables, and also a private meeting room.”

Amanda Jarvis, Communications Coordinator

Paideia Conference - “This annual conference for Christian mamas comes around in November of every year, and features speakers who challenge me in my Christian walk as a woman, wife, and mother. Keep an eye on the website (and join the mailing list) for information about the 2026 conference!”

Josiah's Gluten-Free Bakery - "Josiah Aguirre is one of our youth group students, and he runs his own GF bakery! He recently made ALL the GF cookies for the Paideia Conference and GF for the youth group Christmas party. I'm not gluten-free, but I love his cookies more than ones with gluten!"

The Woobles kits - “I started crocheting a couple years ago, but there is so much information out there (not to mention needle sizes, stitch abbreviations, types of yarn ...) that it can be overwhelming to find a project and stick with it. I love The Woobles kits because they provide everything I need for one project and videos to follow for each step! I recently completed the Lord of the Rings collectors' box (soon to be displayed in my office!) and am working on Bluey Veranda Santa bundle for my kids' Christmas presents.”

No Time to Be Dumb - “I have worked on VBC youth staff for 10 years, and this book really synthesized the thoughts I've had about the challenges and blessings that young ladies face in their teenage years. Every teenage girl (and young adult woman, and mom, and grandma ...) should read this book and discuss it. It also includes recipes for hosting (like Rachel's cinnamon rolls!)." There is also a study guide that moms and daughters/small groups can go through together."