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The frigid temperatures of a recent cold front could not contain the men of Victory World Church. Friday, October 21st made way for what the men of Victory know as M90. Generations came together to take part in the final M90 event of the year that carried the theme of sports and tailgating. A chili cook-off, flavorful barbecue and a host of games including a slam dunk contest, flag football and a cheerful team atmosphere set the tempo for a festive evening of Christ-centered fun.

The highlight of the evening came from keynote speaker Bishop Wellington Boone. Bishop Boone’s charismatic message was one that focused on the importance of men leading a Christ-driven life. His delivery gained a roar from the men of M90 as he encouraged them about right priorities. Boone put one in the mindset of a coach giving a winning strategy to his team. The men seemed charged up and ready to tackle the remaining months of 2011 with victory.

Psalm 100 exhorts us to “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands,” and that’s exactly what we did at the recent M90 Fuel event for the men.  The “joyful noise” included lots of car and motorcycle engines revving at high RPM; plenty of oohs and aahs at the cool vehicles on display; people cheering during the outdoor games and events; lots of munching and compliments for the outstanding Low country Barbeque; and plenty of laughter and hearty praise for the Lord once the event moved into the sanctuary to hear comedian Michael Jr perform.

Why would the church reach out to men through an event with cars, motorcycles, food, games and comedy?  How does that build the Kingdom?

“It’s the goal of the M90 movement to act as a springboard for men to have intentional conversations about life and the issues we deal with,” says Pastor Rich Mace. “Our long-term goal is to move these conversations to a coffee shop, the ball field or a small group so these guys can stay connected after the event and before the next one.”

In addition to great food and good company, cars and motorcycles that were on display by the event sponsors and attendees were a big draw. Atlanta Classic Cars had several Mercedes-Benz examples represented.  Hyosung Motors America, whose national distribution headquarters is nearby in Duluth, brought in a number of 250cc and 650cc V-twin cycles. When asked why a dealership would support an event like M90, beyond the obvious marketing value of “exposing people to the Mercedes-Benz brand,” Paula Locke, Marketing Manager for Atlanta Classic Cars, said that as a family-owned business, they are “all about supporting the community.” When contacted by the VWC events team, Hyosung was quick to respond, according to National Sales Manager Doug Whelan. “The motorcycle community in general is a very social community. There’s a lot of comradery and brotherhood,” he said.

M90 drew lots of VWC members, as well as plenty of participants from the community at large.  Buchi, a member that serves as a greeter, came out to support his first M90 event after hearing it announced in one of the worship services.  Aric, another participant, attends a different church, but joined us for his third M90 event. He said he keeps coming back because he enjoys the atmosphere at Victory. “It just seems to be the way church should be. It shouldn’t be that you go on Sunday and that’s it.” Long-time VWC member Andrew Harris showcased his 1973 Cadillac Coupe de Ville and competed for a $150 prize. These and other participants shared a common bond that evening as we all came together for a highly charged time of entertainment and Kingdom purpose.

When the festivities moved inside, three attendees who recovered small footballs from under their seats each won a $50 gas card. Then four teams of guys that did well in the outdoor games went head-to-head on stage for a Wii challenge event:  runners-up won toy cars; second-place winners received a team night at Andretti Indoor Karting and Games; and the first-place team won a night at a Braves game, complete with dinner and a limo ride.

Pastor Dennis called the house to order, led us in prayer, and acknowledged the single fathers in the audience, who were also blessed with gift cards.

After a brief crowd warm up by James Earls, Michael Jr took the stage.  He introduced us to his “seven ways” of looking at things, told us stories about George Wallace and Jay Leno, and made us laugh out loud in at least seven different ways.  He showed a trailer for his film, “Comedy:  The Road Less Traveled.”  For those not familiar with Michael Jr’s work, his film documents his comedy ministry to those in prison, the homeless, young folks in youth shelters—thus, the road less traveled.

At the end of the show, the funny Michael Jr exposed his serious side. He reached out to men in the audience that had not accepted Jesus, asked them to look him in the eye, raise their hands and come to the front.  It was amazing to see how many men came forward at this point, as he calmly talked them down to the stage.  Michael Jr announced that this is what it’s really all about for him.

“You don’t get to do this on Jay Leno’s show,” he said. “In fact, they kind of frown on it.”  He quietly left the stage as Pastor Dennis led the men down front in the believer’s prayer we often hear at the end of worship service. It was the perfect closing to a fantastic M90 event.

Make sure you don’t miss the next one!

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We want to hear about what God has done in and through you at Victory. Whether long or short, complex or simple, your story is worth hearing, and there are others who need to hear it. Won’t you please consider sharing your story with us? If you’re willing to do so, please click the Share Your Story quicklink above, write your story, upload a nice photo (if you can) and click submit. It’s that simple. Now, don’t be shy. God’s given you a story for a reason! Share it today!

Imagine it: the smell of barbecue in the air, the DJ’s got the music thumpin’, nearly 1,500 men – ranging in age from 10 to over 80 – hanging out, talking, laughing, shooting hoops, kicking soccer balls, throwing footballs, pitching fastballs, driving golf balls* and having a great time. There’s a sense of excitement in the air and the anticipation is growing…it’s just about time to eat! (And, you know the way to a man’s heart…)

Although it’s been a hot and steamy day, the sun’s heading rapidly toward the tree line, shade is growing more abundant and a welcome breeze is picking up. It’s a perfect evening for another spectacular men’s event at Victory World Church…it’s Champion’s Night 2010.

Soon, dinner is served and the guys line up for heaping plates corn on the cob, BBQ baked beans and of some of Atlanta’s best barbecue**, generously served with a smile by a squadron of Victory ladies…and don’t forget the great sweet tea (we are in the South, after all!) and some amazing peach cobbler and banana pudding for dessert.

Now, with our bellies full of great food, and our hearts full of mirth, it’s time to head into V1 for the main event – special guest speaker, three-time NBA champion, Bruce Bowen. But first, a bit more fun and the awarding of some sweet prizes! If the air was filled with excitement before, now it’s positively charged! The music is rocking the auditorium, lights are flashing, great sports moments are playing on the big screens, the stage is set like a basketball court, every seat is fill and there’s even a few guys standing along the walls.

Emcee Billy Boughey, along with 212º Pastor Rolando Gonzalez and Fusion Pastor Johnson Bowie, gets things really hopping by tossing basketballs autographed by Bruce Bowen to the most enthusiastic guys in the crowd. This is followed by an off-the-chain dance routine by the 212º dance team, then, an arm wrestling contest – this is, after all a men’s event; displays of strength are in order – and the awarding of prizes. Congratulations to:

Henderson, winner of an autographed basketball – arm wrestling
Eldridge Harris, winner of an iPod Touch – longest golf drive
Oloalu Bolu, winner of an iPod Touch – most soccer goals
Juan, winner of a Wii Console – fastest pitch
Mike Bowen, winner of an Xbox 360 – most touchdowns
Sam Dennard, winner of the Breakfast with Bruce Bowen Raffle

Having awarded these prizes, there’s still one prize left…one really, really sweet prize…the Grand Prize – a 50″ Plasma TV and PS3 bundle! For this contest, the two highest scorers in the outdoor hoops contest plus one randomly picked from the audience wildcard player are invited onstage for a shootout. Whoever makes the most free-throws in 30 seconds wins the Grand Prize. And, with 19 baskets, the winner is…Jeremy Simmons, guest of Victory member Tony Bolin. Congratulations, Jeremy!

And now for the main event…Pastor Dennis introduces our special speaker, Bruce Bowen, a man who is regarded as one of the best defenders in the NBA, was elected eight times to the NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams and was a member of the San Antonio Spurs teams that won the NBA championships in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

As he speaks, we find out he’s also a man who loves the Lord and has a powerful testimony of overcoming tremendous odds only by the grace of God. He tells of his alcoholic father who was mostly absent and drug-addicted mother who couldn’t give him the care he needed. Bruce had a rough childhood filled with hard lessons.

He speaks of fatherhood, challenging every father in the room to connect with their kids, to be there for them, to stay aware of the fact that they’re watching and learning from everything we do, to pour into them selflessly and not take from them selfishly. He talks of learning to trust Christ to be the father he never had. He challenges us to not fear failure – it can mold us and make us better, if we let it. True failure is when we don’t try.

In closing, Bowen challenges all of us to be optimistic using his name and quirky bow tie as a memory aid – B.O.W. – Being Optimistic Wins. He’s met with a standing ovation before Pastor Dennis closes out with a brief Q & A session and then a prayer. The night’s over, but the memories will last. From start to finish, this was an awesome men’s event. What a great time!

*Inflatables by Funtastic Events Inc.

**Catering by LowCountry Barbecue

Nearly 700 men came out on a sunny Saturday morning to enjoy a pancake breakfast and talk about a subject that could actually take away your appetite: Pornography.

As breakfast got underway, comedian David Dean lightened the mood with some good humor explaining the secret to a happy life and marriage…you have to giggle…a lot…at yourself. In the midst of the humor, he brought a good message: Your giggle, the joy in your heart, could be your greatest testimony.

Next, Craig Gross, Pastor and Founder of XXXchurch.com, a.k.a. “the porn pastor,” told the story behind XXXchurch.com. It started because he wanted to create a safe place online where people could get the truth about porn and get help.

Then, Gross continued by candidly speaking about the issue of pornography and sexual addiction. He said, “What you’re looking at online will eventually take you offline. You can never get enough.” He exposed the lie that no one is really hurt by porn. “The truth,” he said, “is that there are people that are hurt by this stuff – the consumers, their wives and families and the models and producers as well.”

Gross said, “This issue is very progressive. Once you get into it, you keep having to get a little more, and soon, that’s not enough, and you have to go deeper and deeper to get the same thrill. Unfortunately, most of the time people with this issue don’t even want to get help, at least not until they’ve hit rock bottom. Pornography is a very selfish thing; it pleases no one but self.”

Closing out his segment, Gross listed six ways to ruin your life:

1. Fight temptation with willpower – we’re men, aren’t we?!
2. Believe this lie: “just a little porn is okay.” “It’s just______.” “porn training wheels” You can’t delete the images from your mind. It’s progressive, you’ll want more and more.
3. Spend more time online and less time in God’s Word.
4. Wing it when it comes to your integrity. “Looking once means I’m alive; looking twice means I’ve dissed my wife.” We’ve got to address our issues before they take us out.
5. Go solo. Joining up with others, opening up don’t come naturally to guys. Never met anyone who’s gotten over a problem with porn by themselves. Use X3watch.
6. Believe this lie: “If you fail, just give up.”

Next up, Donny Pauling, a.k.a. Donovan Phillips, ex-porn producer, shared this powerful

testimony:

Raised a pastor’s son, he grew to hate the people in the churches, which were very legalistic. It seemed like everything was wrong. From his perspective, God wasn’t fun and kept people from having fun. People in church were hypocrites. Then, he met a “real” Christian girl and started pretending in order to keep their relationship going. He became the very thing he had grown to hate: a hypocrite.

Pauling started producing porn secretly after he got married, doing it behind his wife’s back for three years, making tons of money. Eventually, he ended up cheating on her and when he confessed to her all that he was doing, it effectively ended their marriage.

He said, “I watched the light go out of a whole lot of [girls’] eyes right before me.” The models’ lives usually fell apart. Even free sites contribute to the trail of broken lives. “Still, I proudly told former church “friends” that I was a porn producer,” he said, “defending myself by saying that if there was no demand, there would be no supply.”

Over time, however, hearing story after story of people’s lives being destroyed and broken, it started to get to him. Then he saw the xxxchurch.com booth at a porn convention. As he began interacting with Craig Gross and his team, Pauling saw them showing unconditional love to himself and others. And this blew away his paradigm. He could no longer justify his hatred of Christians.  His heart started softening. He even started praying. When offered an amazing contract by Playboy, he gave thanks to God, and then immediately knew how petty it was. He started trying to bargain with God, but then he knew his porn career was over; that he couldn’t do it anymore. He hadn’t yet given his life to God, but he just  couldn’t pick up his camera. A few months later, he realized he needed to start trusting God, and gave his life to Christ.

Although they had gotten divorced, Pauling had continued to support his ex-wife. While he had been producing the porn, he was living lavishly and hadn’t saved any of the money. So when he quit, he lost pretty much everything. He was completely blown away with gratitude and humility that during this time, the xxxchurch people started supporting him, and his wife’s bills never went unpaid. After a period of detox, his ex-wife began to share with him how God helped her through the pain.

Now Pauling has started a new business, and his ex-wife actually works for him, and sometimes they talk of reconciliation. He continues to receive letters of support and encouragement through the xxxchurch.com site, as well as from others seeking his help. He also regularly gets letters from some of his former models whose lives are still being ruined by their past. He read one of these by a former photo-only model. The pictures that he had take in the past are still haunting and destroying her life. She was desperate and there isn’t really anything he can do. He stated this poignant truth, “Nobody in the [porn] business ends up being grateful for being involved.”

Pauling closed with this exhortation: “If you’re struggling with porn, know that God has a purpose for your life. After He gets you free, He’ll use you to minister in others’ lives. Come clean to God so He can come along side of you. If God can get me free, He can get you free. No one is hopeless!”

Pastor Dennis concluded the morning saying, “This has been one of the major issues that I’ve seen men have to deal with over the years that I’ve been a pastor – sexual bondage was a huge issue in my life when I came to the Lord. We need to have accountability in our lives. Accountability is being regularly answerable about the issues in your life to someone who is qualified to help you. Every guy needs to have at least one or two guys that they’re accountable to – guys who will ask the hard questions. Porn is no respecter of persons – it doesn’t matter who you are – it is taking people down from every walk of life. I want to challenge every one of you guys to get an accountability partner if you don’t already have one. We’ll only be accountable to the degree we want to be accountable. If you want to be free you’ve got to be truly accountable. No one can go it alone. God wants to set captives free and deliver us from demonic strongholds. He wants to set our lives on a course of purity!”

On September 5th and 6th a group of Victory men attended Men’s Advance themed, Band of Brothers: No Man Down. Hosted by Pastor Dennis and special guest speaker Chip Judd and held at the beautiful Simpsonwood Retreat Center, this Men’s Advance included four power-packed sessions and an Extreme Rescue Mission that gave us the tools we need to help keep ourselves and our brothers from becoming the “man down”.

All of us, from different walks of life, came together to be challenged and equipped spiritually, mentally and physically to effectively deal with those areas in which the enemy attacks hardest and has had the most success in taking men out. We had times of dynamic worship, challenging instruction and open, honest sharing. Of course, we also enjoyed fellowship, building relationships with other guys and good food.

The Extreme Rescue Mission consisted of a number of team-based physical challenges which forced team members to rely on one another and cooperate in order to succeed. It was a lot of fun and at the same time, provided an excellent interactive illustration of principles learned during the teaching sessions. One of the guys, Pete, had this to say: “The messages from Chip and Pastor Dennis were right on. The challenges were a lot of fun. Every man at Victory should take advantage of this great opportunity and attend Men’s Advance in the future. It’s truly life-changing! I can’t wait until the next one!” (If you attended this event and were impacted by it, we would love to hear your story. Please submit it here.)

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There were quite a few photos taken at the event. If you’d like to view the entire gallery, download photos or order prints, click here.