Welcome to the Victory Blog

May 1^st the parking lot near the cross had been transformed into a baptismal arena.  Five large pools blanketed the asphalt below the platform stage constructed for this life changing event.  Changing tents outlined the sidewalks leading to the cross, accompanied by large barrels of water on this hot pre-summer day.  If you were unaware, one would have thought there was a pool party or concert about to transpire.

Hundreds pre-registered to fulfill their proclamation to Christ.  There were many who decided at the spur of the moment as they were led by the Spirit.  The registration tent abounded with adults and children of all ages; lines went out and around the dry changing tents and continued to arise.   Several times the lines extended the length of the parking lot between the registration tent and the swimming pools.   Tee shirts and towels were available for anyone who needed one.

Pastor Dennis opened up with a brief prayer as the Victory band played softly.  The men of the church really came out in great numbers to assist in this massive baptism as lines formed on each side, one waiting to and the other registering to be baptized.  The lines were continuously growing, one for the younger children and one for the adults.  Both lines went as far back as the changing tents and throughout the lines you heard everyone explaining what led them to be baptized today.   This baptism was simply amazing to witness.

The VicKids teachers were on hand to baptize the children which made them feel comfortable because they approached their pools with boldness. Everyone enteredtheawaiting waters with a look of certainty covering their faces.   One after the other emerged wiping water from their smiling faces as the crowd cheered.  Shouts of joy were heard as families were baptized together.   It was moving to witness mothers and sons and mothers and daughters being baptized together.  As the men assisted an elderly women and a young lady with crutches so they too could be baptized, the crowd clapped and cheered with great joy.  No one was exempt; accommodations were made for anyone who desired to be baptized.

After being baptized, many were embraced and congratulated by those present to witness this awesome event.Those who desired to change or dry off did so in the wetchanging tents; which was set up like a huge dressing room. Victory wet towels went into one bin as bags were distributed to each individual for their wet clothes.  Upon exiting the tents, volunteers handed out literature and briefly talked to those desiring to know what the next steps were going forward.

This massive baptismal was magnificent and an emotional testimony for all who participated.

~~~~~

Hey, what’s God done in YOUR life as a part of Victory World Church? Please tell us about it. There are so many others who need to be encouraged in their faith by your story. Please, click this link to Share Your Story today!

Each year since 2003, during the first weekend of October, churches across metro Atlanta have partnered together to serve the community during Compassion in Action Weekend. Well, this year was no exception. In fact, it was a big win for the body of Christ in Gwinnett County, and for Victory as well!.

For Gwinnett County, because over the course of this weekend, some 2,560 believers from over 100 churches came together to serve on 108 different outreaches throughout the county. Participants did everything from mowing lawns to painting a rooms, clearing brush, distributing food, beautifying local schools and parks, visiting nursing homes and detention centers, and much, much more.

And, this was a great weekend for Victory because of those 108 outreaches, 24 were facilitated by Victory. And of the 2560 participants, 1,108 came from Victory. These were men, women and children, young and old, of all races reaching out to their neighbors and others to show the love of Christ. How awesome it is to see the body of Christ serving our community in this way! So many people were blessed…and not just those on the receiving end of these loving acts of service. As one Victory volunteer said, “This was the first time we volunteered as a family. It was powerful in more ways than one. It was really important for my children to experience. We loved it!”

Were you there? We’d love to hear about your experience. If you’d like to tell us about it, click to Share Your Story. And don’t forget to do this anytime God does something in or through your life as a part of Victory so others can be encouraged as well!

Unite 2010 Recap from Victory Videos on Vimeo.

Anticipation was evident as people began to gather for our first “Supernatural” service on Wednesday, October 6th. You know people are hungry when you arrive a full 30 minutes before time for service to start and have to park at the very back of the parking lot! Over and over again before service, one participant after another expressed eagerness to hear what the Bible had to teach about the supernatural. From those who were new to a relationship with Jesus to those who had walked with Him most of their lives, the desire for more understanding about this subject was apparent.

Fusion Band started the evening off with worship that led us to focus our attention solely on Jesus. And those who normally attend Fusion on Wednesday nights gathered with those who came for the series in a demonstration of bridging of the young with the older – a united expression of praise to the King.

After worship, Pastor went quickly into the teaching – this first message was designed to give us a foundation for understanding how the spirit world operates. We learned several point that form the basis for understanding demons. First, they are fallen angels that operate only in the realm of darkness – within a specific satanic order and authority. Their primary role is to deceive and inflict suffering on humanity. Their primary goal is to take control of people’s lives. Pastor also talked about the three levels of demonic function in people’s lives: oppression, obsession and possession. However, in any discussion of demons, we need to remember the good news: both demons and Satan have been defeated by Jesus!

After the teaching was over, Pastors Dennis and Johnson fielded questions that had been asked via email. Several wanted to understand demonic influence on believers. Another question concerned objects that seem to have demonic influences that have been brought into the home. The final question revolved around media and the demonic – and the parental role in guarding not just their children’s minds and hearts, but their own. A couple of questions were asked that will be covered in the next sessions as well. Pastor Dennis encouraged people to send their questions to ask@victorywc.org, promising to do his best to answer the most pressing questions. He closed the evening with prayer.

Even after we were dismissed for the evening, the same excitement hung in the air. Comments I heard were, “I can’t wait until next week!” and, “I’ve never before had teaching like this!” The altars were full as people came forward for prayer concerning issues they were facing in their lives. But the fruit continued long after the night was over. Victory received an email from someone who listened to the teaching online. He and his wife are not yet members of Victory (yet), as they are in the process of relocating to this area. Although they are separated by distance, he reported that the live stream of the teaching was a great opportunity for them. He said, “I will be a member [of Victory] shortly. I just want to say how awesome the streaming video of tonight’s message was. My wife is currently in (another city) and we were on the phone and the video together to get this spiritual food. I hope this method of reaching out becomes a commonplace event at Victory! WOW! I’ll be here next week and possibly in person, God willing. Amen.”

Amen indeed! Come expecting – whether by in person teaching live at Victory, or via the Internet. Join us for Part 2 of The Supernatural series TONIGHT, Wednesday, October 13th, at 7:30pm in our Atlanta Campus Main Auditorium (V1) - but come early, or you may not get a seat!

Watch this powerful teaching online here.

On Saturday, August 14th, over 200 men women and children from Victory took one of our four pillars – Transforming Community – to the streets of Avalon Park subdivision in Lawrenceville.

Like our previous community outreach in the Alcovy Springs subdivision, our V•Groups Pastor Rich Mace and Missions Pastor Dennis Russell led the charge. “About three or four days after our Alcovy Springs community outreach, Banae Honeycutt, V•Groups Administrative Assistant, thought her neighborhood could benefit from a community outreach.” Pastor Rich explained when asked how Avalon Park had been chosen, “Like many neighborhoods in metro-Atlanta, Avalon Park is experiencing a number of foreclosures resulting in homes and yards falling into neglect.” He continued, “Banae participated with Alcovy Springs, and after having the thought, she arrived home one afternoon to find a note on her front door from a neighbor asking that something be done.”

Avalon Park, a community with approximately 170 homes does not have a homeowners association and “the first night, only 12 homeowners came out to hear the vision being cast for their community.” Pastor Rich explained “We sent flyers out and encouraged them to participate. Only 60 homeowners wanted to participate but once we arrived this morning, more came out.” In addition to bringing Jesus to others, the idea of the community outreach is to “pay it forward” and have the homeowners blessed by the outreach, be a blessing to someone else in turn. Pastor Rich was pleased to see Alcovy Springs homeowner Howard McIntyre doing just that.

As teams of volunteers, assigned to “zones”, worked tirelessly, Banae Honeycutt, an Avalon Park homeowner for 13 years, shared her thoughts, “This is important to me to bring the community together and let them know we care about them.” At first the homeowners were skeptical, but the excitement grew. When asked how she responds when people say this type of outreach is only for people in impoverished neighborhoods she said, “I share with them that it is not just the poor and impoverished that need Jesus. God paid it forward for all of us. I hope the community will embrace this. I want the community to come together and keep it up.”

As rain clouds darkened the skies, a light rain began to fall, but the volunteers, including Vivian Roman and her daughters, Nadia (15), Makayla (11), Jada (8) and Brianna (5), were undeterred. “I felt it was necessary to be here to demonstrate the need to help others,” Vivian explained while lovingly directing her daughters as they painted a mailbox post. “The world tells kids that it’s ‘me’ first, and this shows them the importance of serving others.” Tiny Brianna, barely able to reach the mailbox, worked diligently on her part of the post, carefully applying the paint, completely unaware of the white paint streaks in her hair. When asked if she liked helping others she replied, “Yes. I like helping, and I like painting. I learned how to paint in school.”

Avalon Park homeowner Carlene Beck, quickly moving between work zones, clipboard in hand, took a moment to assess the activity, “It’s very important for the community. Hopefully, homeowners will see the importance of upkeep and instill pride of ownership. This gives everyone the chance to meet others. It’s great all around.” When asked about the importance of the community outreach, Milay Vargas put it simply: “Para ver nuestra comunidad bonita.” (Translation: In order to see our community beautiful)

With lunch time quickly approaching, Victory member Amy Edwards set up the food tables, while husband Torrey and fellow Victory member Andrew Schneider manned the grill. “It’s important to show that the church is not just inside the walls of Victory,” said Amy. Keeping a watchful eye on the sizzling hot dogs, Andrew commented, “It’s very important to be here to show, and not just tell, who Jesus is.”

Showing who Jesus is deeply touched homeowner and Honduran native Mary Corea. Holding her baby daughter and watching as a team worked to repair her mailbox, she was overwhelmed by the kindness of people she had never met. “My husband and I want to go to a church where we can help others. We will be going to Victory tomorrow.”

Thanks, Victory, for “alcanzando a la comunidad con el amor de Dios!” (reaching the community with the love of God!)

Want to get in on the action next time? Join us for one of our next set of community transformation projects on October 2 as we unite with churches all over Atlanta through Compassion in Action. (Find out more info and how to sign up by clicking here.)

The proof was in the pudding on a recent Friday night when close to 200 married couples came out to fellowship and spend time with their spouses at Married Couples Date Night, hosted by Family Ministries and emceed by Pastor Randal McNeill. The V-3 building was transformed into a movie theater and the doors could barely swing open before people started to rush in. Talk about being excited, the married couples took it to another level, for it was their night. What movie wouldn’t be complete without the right fixin’s to snack on; there was a concession area that included pizza, popcorn, sodas and candy…at a reasonable price (significantly less that what you’d usually pay at the theater).

Among the attendees were David and Margaret Brown from Richmond, VA. They have two boys, ages one and three. Ms. Brown said that the boys are very active, so she and David don’t get a lot of time to spend together. “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to spend some quiet time together. It’s hard for married couples with young children to have a date night because often we don’t have childcare. When we heard the announcement about Date Night, we jumped at the opportunity.”

After the couples were settled in, the lights were dimmed and the movie – No Greater Love – began to play. A lot of the couples said they needed to see this movie, which centered on the separation of a husband and wife, who later reunited after ten years of being apart. The father raised his son alone and had met another young lady. After spending much time with her, he was contemplating on asking her to marry him. But as fate would have it, he sees his wife at a Christian summer camp where his son was attending. That’s when God did something magnificent. He brought the two of them back together towards the end of the movie, but not without some controversy. They were able to work things out and reconcile their differences.

This situation was all too familiar for Betsy and Jarvis Mejias. Their marriage was nearly over. According to Betsy, it was Jarvis’ fault for the break up, and he agreed. But after attending the Matrimonio Para Siempre (Married Forever in Spanish) class led by facilitators Pete and Gladys Torres, their marriage was fully restored, and they are now enjoying their brand new baby girl, Esther!

The focus of the movie centered on reconciliation. God is constantly reconciling us back to him and each other. It’s up to us to recognize the recurring theme of reconciliation in our lives. In closing, Family Ministries Pastor Randal McNeill offered prayer for those who needed to be reconciled back to God. It was a poignant moment when several couples stood together, hand in hand…restoring their commitment back to HIM!

Be on the lookout for our next married couples date night – Jazz on the Lake – later this fall. In the meantime, if you’re married or thinking about it, you may want to consider taking one of our Fall 2010 Marriage or Premarital classes, which begin next week, and for which registration ends this weekend (August 29th). Click here for more info.

Hey! Has God done something amazing in or through your life here at Victory? If so, please Share Your Story here!

The teachers, staff and support team of Victory Children’s Ministry are an Amazing group of people!! Each week we drop off our child or children to their classes, and we know they’re in good hands. Well, behind the scenes, much more than what we see takes place. That’s where the Blitz Conferences come into play. And we’ve got another one coming up at the end of this month. To give you an idea of what these conferences are like, here’s a look at the last one, held earlier this year:

As we entered the V3 auditorium we were cheerfully greeted and invited to have some breakfast. With a football theme, there were jerseys, helmets, shoulder pads and a referee. Everything we needed to get the game started off right, although no equipment was necessary for the women vs. men football toss. As the hula hoops hung down over the stage the challenge was to throw the football through the hula hoop without hitting or knocking it down. Congratulations to the football toss finalists, Lana Soviravong and Keith Hall.

Pastor Colleen, who could not be present due to a conference in Nicaragua, pre-recorded a message emphasizing the value and importance of the children’s ministry. “These children are our mighty warriors and we must make the connection now. They are the church of the right now.” She also expressed that just as a football player must understand the importance of their position on the field, it’s vital that each member of the children’s ministry understand they too have a valuable role. It’s not just one person that wins the game; rather, it takes a team effort to achieve a victory.

Instant Replay

Family Ministries Pastor Randal McNeill, our referee for the day, enlightened us on how his Sunday School teacher impacted his life, and how we must impact the lives of Victory’s mighty warriors. Referencing Genesis 26, he encouraged each person to keep on digging, regardless of his or her situation or past experiences. When we encounter opposition and strife, keep digging! Our children are depending on us. God wants us to open up new wells for ourselves, as well as our children. So keep digging!

After a brief huddle/review of the schedule, the teams broke for their assigned classes. I briefly observed each class while they were in process. I was so excited for the children that attend these classes weekly. Their teachers were learning how to interact with them in ways that are sure to impact their lives, from the nursery to elementary. Wow!!

Our Children’s Ministry leaders and teachers are incredibly dedicated. They desire to make a difference in our children’s lives. They want to ensure our children are well equipped with the knowledge it will take to have a personal relationship with Christ, our Lord and Savior. It is so important for us parents to make sure our children go to their classes so they can continue to grow in Christ, just as we grow in Christ.

After the class sessions, we all met back in the V3 Auditorium for the drawing for a 37″ flat screen television. Congratulations to the winner Myrtle McIntyre. Other prizes were given out as we played the “how well were you listening” game). After all the excitement calmed down, Pastor Olin Holly opened up the floor for comments. He then closed us out in prayer.

As we were dismissed, all I could think of was Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go. And when he is old he will not depart from it.” (NKJV) Exactly what the scripture states is what Victory’s Children’s Ministry is all about! Teaching the Word of God, making an impact and developing leaders by making the connection now!! ~ Renee J.

If you’ve ever given thought to helping out with Children’s Ministry, this is a great way to get started. In fact, we invite you to join us for our next Blitz Conference titled, Blueprint: Wisdom Builds the House on Saturday, August 28th, 9am-3pm. Click hear to find out more.

Enter the main sanctuary of Victory World Church and take a look around. On the walls you will notice four large pictures, each with a statement: Reconciling Cultures, Building Families, Transforming Community and Impacting the World. Those statements are Victory’s pillars and on Saturday, July 10th members of the Victory World Church family brought the pillar of Transforming Community to the Alcovy Springs Subdivision in Lawrenceville.

When most people think about transforming a community they imagine a poor neighborhood in the inner-city or a desolate village in Africa, so I was more than a little surprised as I turned into what appeared to be a very nice, middle-class neighborhood. “This is where we’re serving?” I asked myself as I navigated the sidewalk-lined streets and waved as I passed several teams of people wearing blue tee-shirts proclaiming “This is What Community Looks Like” and bravely battling the 95º+ heat as they cut lawns, painted mailbox posts and trimmed hedges.

As I climbed out of the air-conditioned comfort of my car, and was nearly knocked down from the intense heat, I was convinced that the extreme heat was causing me to hallucinate. I checked my directions and confirmed that I was indeed in the right place so I headed off to find the organizers of the event. I quickly caught up with our V•Groups Pastor and newly-elected Alcovy Springs Homeowner’s Association President, Rich Mace, as well as Missions Pastor Dennis Russell.

As we walked through the neighborhood, Pastor Rich explained that he and Pastor Dennis Russell had wanted to organize a family-friendly outreach that focused on the pillar of Transforming Community. Pastor Rich explained “We often focus on the needs of the poor, but there are many people living in middle-class neighborhoods that are suffering and many do not know the Lord.” It was this revelation that led him to propose the idea of a community outreach to the Alcovy Springs Homeowners Association, and within five weeks, he was given the go ahead.

“The community has responded well” he commented. “They are seeing the blessing and coming out. The idea is to pay it forward. Hopefully they will go out and do this in another neighborhood.” Pastor Dennis Russell further explained, “This is a model. A lot of our outreach focuses on the poor and the homeless. We wanted a way to minister to the middle-class and bring Jesus to them as well.” He continued, “It allows us to connect and build relationships. It is a spiritual connection and brings healing and restoration.” Pastor Dennis Russell added that it will take a few months to see the impact, but the mid-term effect will be in how well the homeowners maintain their homes and community.

Karri Street, an Alcovy Springs resident came out with her children, Victoria 11 and Kyle 9, to participate. “I think this is a great idea. It’s nice to have a lot of people chipping in. Every neighborhood needs this. I hope this fosters community spirit.”

Peter Dawkins, a Victory World Church member for almost 4 years, brought his small group out to help. His wife, Lorna, shared how a homeowner had approached her team with tears in his eyes and stated that this outreach was “huge” and should be taken world-wide. Like Carol Holcomb, many volunteers were moved by the reaction of the homeowners as they realized the impact their effort was having.

After all the hard work, volunteers and community joined together for a cook-out complete with music and games. While cooling down and enjoying the food and festivities, Victory World Church members Carrie and Robert Raboud explained their reason for volunteering. “We have been asking the Lord for ways we could serve” said Carrie “and the Lord has been giving us opportunities.” While unsuccessful in getting daughter Izabella to participate in the Hokey-Pokey, they both agreed the experience had been great.

Finally, in response, neighborhood resident Mike Vincent wrote the following:

Thank you for your parish’s time and service. The day of service/volunteer work you provided our subdivision was amazing. Since the birth of my first child, I haven’t been able to do all the things I would like to maintain my home. I am still trying to find a good work/life balance with the new one.

Your help a couple of weeks ago served as a reinforcement that good people do exist and that teamwork always win. I hope this act of kindness brings our neighborhood together like I know it will.

Once again thank you for the time and generosity. We hope as a community we will be able to return the favor.

Well done, Victory! This is another great example of your commitment to being the hands and feet of Jesus to everyone around us and around the world!  (by Karla E. – VWC Press)

Hey! What’s God been doing in or through your life at Victory? Please share your story here.

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

Black Shirts with white designs and bright green letters stating “FUSION ON TOUR” speckle each train car that takes off from the Doraville train station heading to the Atlanta Airport. A group of thirty people, split up in five different groups, all with the purpose of spreading the love of the Lord. Equipped with bags filled with bottled waters, hearts overflowing with God’s truth, the Holy Spirit and boldness that only the Lord himself could provide. As the train departs, anticipation gets stronger.

On a normal day, the door opens and many people rush on the train, find a seat, and get occupied with various things – men and women with headphones in their ears listening to various types of music, students doing homework and many eyes closed while leaning up against the window. The only noise heard is coming from the train tracks and walls being scraped at random times throughout the trip. The good thing is, this was no normal day. This day was made by the Lord, for the Lord, and it’s time for people to know and understand; so let’s take it back.

The doors open and many people rush onto the train hearing, “Good evening,” and “How are you?,” along with other questions and statements directly to the individuals. Each person trying to find a seat, scrambling around before the train takes off. As they find their seats, they are greeted with a bottled water and many kind words. If they had an empty seat and were welcoming of a neighbor, the seat filled up fast for conversation. Many were still trying to sleep, do homework or listen to their iPod.

Brayden goes from person to person giving hugs from God, which lifted many spirits and opened some hearts that were not welcoming to begin with. Ken, Celara, Dee and myself listened to different individuals, giving them a genuine ear that wanted to hear how their day was or what was going on in their lives. Some didn’t open up completely, while others broke down; one girl coming back to the Lord after hearing what He desired for her. Even after the water was out, we went from person to person and checked on them, telling them that God loves them. As the people got off, we told each one to have a blessed night and anything else that was on our hearts.

Being able to see the love of our Lord was a blessing in itself. To see the smile on others’ faces and gain understanding of the selfishness that plagues our society was something that couldn’t be taught by lecture, only by actions. This was just a small glimpse of what they should be seeing and what we ourselves should be doing and seeing. The Bible states that we are to first love the Lord, then, to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Those are just basics and most haven’t been doing that right. So how can we, as Christians, go about claiming the Lord without having the basics down?! Fusion on Tour has begun, and it is time to be doers of the word, not hearers only. It’s time to look in the mirror and see what God has in store for us and what Christ would have done. It’s time to see Christ in our mirror and know that we are getting closer and closer to being just like Him. ~ Lauren W.

~~~~~

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:22-27 NKJV)

On May 1st & 2nd, torrential rains pummeled Nashville, TN and surrounding areas, bringing more than 13 inches of rain in less than 48 hours. The result was creeks, rivers and lakes overflowing, washing away roads, homes, livestock and livelihoods. In all 29 people died, thousands lost everything and the places we’ve come to know and love in Nashville were completely underwater – the Grand Ole’ Opry, Opryland Hotel, the Titan’s stadium, the Predator’s Arena, historic downtown and much more.

The storm and its catastrophic results are being called things like, “the 1000-year flood,” “the costliest non-hurricane disaster in the nation,” and “the worst disaster to strike Nashville since the Civil War.”

As Nashville’s sister-city to the south, many of us have friends and family there who’ve been impacted by the storm. A good deal of those we know reside in the residential areas hardest hit by the storm – Bellevue, Kingston Springs, Pegram & Dickson, TN. So, we’ve partnered with Cross Point Community Church (crosspoint.tv) to assist them as they focus their clean up and recovery efforts within these communities.

We are supporting Cross Point both financially and with volunteer assistance. Our first response team from Fusion departed on Friday, May 7th for a weekend trip to help demo homes and salvage belongings. (See the video update from that trip below.)

Additional teams continue to depart each weekend throughout the month of June. If you would like to be a part of a Nashville Flood Relief team, please email Josh Wilkinson at jwilkinson@victorywc.org for the information.

FLOOD RELIEF TEAM INFORMATION:

It is important to remember when considering volunteering for one of our teams that the work will consist of all manual labor – pulling up carpet, stripping dry wall, shoveling debris. Additionally, the accommodations will require you to bring a sleeping bag and air mattress.

View the Video Update from our Second Flood Relief Team:

View the Video Update of our First Response Team from Fusion:

View Our iCare Nashville Flood Relief Video:

View Cross Point’s Flood Relief Photos: