Our Story

Mountain Vista Baptist Church was started by Pastor Neal Holmes on October 14, 2001, and from the beginning has been a church on a mission to reach others with the wonderful story of God’s love for mankind.

In the spring of 2017, Mountain Vista Baptist Church called Robert Perry to be it’s pastor. After working alongside founding pastor Neal Holmes, for a few months, Pastor Perry assumed the role of Lead Pastor on the last Sunday of July 2017.  After 5 years of faithful service, Pastor Perry resigned in November of 2022.

Through the following months, God worked and brought Pastor Craig Burcham to us where he would be voted in as the new Lead Pastor, and began on the first Sunday of May 2023.

For more than 20 years Mountain Vista Baptist Church has served Sierra Vista and the surrounding area with the love of Christ and desire to see others come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

From its humble beginnings, in storefronts and rental properties, to its location today on 4 acres with beautiful Church facilities, God has always been the focus.

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MVBC Front
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Pastor and Mrs.
Pastor Craig Burcham is blessed with a godly heritage. From his salvation at an early age, he has experienced a regular involvement in various aspects of the ministry. In 1987 he graduated from Midwestern Baptist College in Pontiac, Michigan, with a Bachelor of Religious Education degree. He has since additionally earned his Bachelor of Theology and Master of Theology degrees. Pastor Burcham previously served as a missionary in Japan, pastored in Missouri, and served as Chairman of the Bible Department at Golden State Baptist College. Pastor Burcham accepted the call to become the Pastor of MVBC in May 2023. He and his wife, Stacie, have been married for over 30 years. Pastor Burcham is the author of several books and Sunday School curricula. Along with pastoring, he currently serves as an adjunct professor at Golden State Baptist College in Santa Clara, California.

Craig Burcham,

Pastor

We Believe In...

In the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as verbally inspired of God, inerrant in the original writings and perfectly preserved today, and that they are the supreme and final authority in faith and life. MVBC chooses to use the King James Version in all aspects of ministry.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  
2 Timothy 3:16 KJV

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  
2 Peter 1:21 KJV

In one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  
Matthew 3:13-17 KJV

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  
Matthew 28:19 KJV

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  
Genesis 1:26 KJV

That Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, was born of the Virgin Mary, and is True God and True Man.

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
 — Isaiah 7:14 KJV

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.  
Matthew 1:18-25 KJV

That man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God; that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and in the case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word, and deed.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:  
Romans 5:12 KJV

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  
Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23 KJV

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.  
Psalms 51:5 KJV

That the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.  
John 3:8 KJV

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  
John 10:11 KJV

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  
Isaiah 53:5 KJV

In the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into Heaven, and in His present life there for us, as High Priest and Advocate.

And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.   — Luke 24:3 KJV
After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.  
1 Corinthians 15:6 KJV

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:  
Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 9:24 KJV

In the local Church, which was established by Jesus Christ. The entrance into the church is based on a public profession of Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. The ministry of the church is the propagation of the gospel through means including education

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  
Matthew 28:19 KJV

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  
Matthew 16:16-18 KJV

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;  
Acts 2:44 KJV

In "The Blessed Hope" the personal, premillennial, and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 KJV

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.  
Acts 1:10-11 KJV

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.  
2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 KJV

That all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God.

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison. Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.  
John 3:1-36 KJV

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  
Romans 10:9-10 KJV

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.  
Galatians 4:7 KJV