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During the month of June, as you my recall, our iCare giving was focused on supporting one of our close local partners in ministry, the Norcross Co-op. Through both financial and material donations, we joined together to bless this ministry and those they serve in a big way – hundreds of families will be given the help and hope they so desperately need. Here is an excerpt of a letter that Shirley Cabe, the Co-op’s Director, wrote in response:

Dear Pastors, leaders and members of Victory World Church:

On behalf of the Norcross Cooperative Ministry Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and clients, thank you so much for your recent donation of $35,042 from the iCare offering during the month of June. This awesome blessing will help many families in our community who are struggling to make ends meet. I also want to thank everyone for the food donations that came in during the month. VWC members donated over 500 bags of food and personal care items.

Over the last few months, we have experienced a 25% increase in the number of our client visits. Currently we are serving over 1,100 families per month. Many of these families have never come to us for help before. Your donation will be used to help these families with basic needs: food, help with utility bill payments, rental assistance and temporary lodging for our homeless families with children.

Thank you again for your donation and your continued support of the outreach and ministries of Norcross Cooperative Ministry. Please continue to pray for our clients, this community and the staff and volunteers of Norcross Co-op. Working together we can transform this community, one family at a time.

In Christ,

Shirley Cabe

Thank you, Victory for your compassion and generosity!

If you’re a regular attender at Victory and God’s been doing something in or through your life here, please consider helping to build the faith of others by sharing your story here.

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:

Over the last four months since the catastrophic earthquake decimated the impoverished island nation of Haiti, many people from Victory World Church and others in our community, have generously given of their resources in an incredible way. Here is a synopsis of the things that God has accomplished thus far (as of May 12th, 2010) through this outpouring of compassion:

• We have sent 27 people to Haiti in three different mission teams, with more on the way.
• Provided $800K of relief for $40K investment on trip 1
  • Delivered full day’s ration to over 150,000 people
  • Delivered over 38,000 gallons of water
  • Provided wood for Canadian Navy to build 2 shelters for 96 orphans
• Had a role in the building of 6 more shelters for 288 orphans
  • 4 shelters built by Canadians using wood we provided
  • 2 shelters built by team 3 using wood Canadian Navy provided
• Provided mattresses and pillows for 240 beds for orphans (trip 2 and 3)
• Provided sheets and pillowcases for 96 beds for orphans (trip 2)
• Provided Medical Relief
  • Dr. Donavan Christie saw hundreds of patients (trip 1)
  • Progressive Medical saw hundreds of patients (trip 2)
• Sent by 20’ container #1: Over $25K worth of clothing, food, and medical supplies. Items were distributed by team 2 to two orphanages and one displaced persons camp
• Sent by 40’ container #2: Over $82K worth of clothing, food, water, medical supplies, tents (420), tarps (300), generators (3), and construction tools. Items were distributed by team 3 to two displaced person camps, an orphanage, a TB hospital, Operation Hope and Grace International
• En route by container #3: $272K worth of goods is on its way now [1800 tents, $80K in medical supplies, 40’x60’ tent (temporary church and school for orphanage) food, and clothes]

And here’s a closer look at our work with the orphanages:

After the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Victory World Church and International Crisis Aid (ICA) first responded by providing food and water to an orphanage in Leogane, Haiti that once provided a home for up to 100 children, a school for 400 children and a church for the community, but which had collapsed in the earthquake. Thankfully, none of the children were in the buildings during the earthquake. However, since that time, they had been sleeping on the grass under thin sheets, and their food would have lasted just two more days when Victory World Church and ICA arrived.

That night ICA President Pat Bradley said, “As we walked in, we found the kids singing Bible songs. It was music to my ears! At the same time, it was the worst destruction I’ve ever seen. Everything is completely leveled. No one has been to help them yet. No one would have found this place. Most of the children are very young — around three to ten years old. These are children were orphaned before the earthquake, and now, the little they did have is also gone.”

We believe God took us to Haiti to find this orphanage. Over the next few days, as the number of children quickly increased to 100, ICA was able to secure enough food, water, powdered milk and blankets from the US Marines to last several weeks at the orphanage. The Canadian Army led the debris clean-up and assisted with distributions. Today, most of the debris on the compound has been cleared. This was the first of four orphanages Victory World Church and ICA assisted.

With the assistance of the Canadian Navy, we have already completed four shelters for more than 240 children at four different orphanage compounds. The first two shelters were built at what we have come to call “Our Orphanage” — the first compound Victory World Church and ICA discovered. As this number continues to grow, ICA is planning to rebuild the one orphanage for 100 children, school for 400 children and church in its entirety. If funding allows, the goal is to enlarge the compound to allow for more orphans to have a home.

More info about this orphanage

• The orphanage was founded and built by a Haitian businessman who used the profits from his business and very few donations from the community to build the compound over time.
• The orphanage sits on approximately 3 acres of level land.
• The average age of the children at the orphanage is 10 years old.
• There were originally 50 girls and 35 boys in January, but the number of children is growing due to the number of new orphans displaced by the January earthquake.
• The average length of time the children have lived at the orphanage is more than 4 years.
• ICA and the orphanage director are working with a professional construction engineer for site preparations and to design the new compound.
• ICA plans to use concrete blocks that are made to be hurricane and earthquake resistant, providing a safer facility for the children. ICA is in conversations with businesses that specialize in this type of building materials.
• There was a fence surrounding the compound which will need to be taken down and rebuilt.
• ICA intends to build the orphanage using both experienced construction worker volunteer teams from the U.S. and Haitians. We believe it is important to involve the local Haitian community in this project. The Haitians will be paid labor.
• This orphanage will provide a safe home for at least 100 children who are orphaned or whose parents are unable to meet their basic needs. It will also serve as a school for at least 400 children from the community. The orphanage has been and will continue to be a Christian orphanage where the children are brought up under Christian principles and the Word of God. ICA’s goal is to raise these children to be the next generation leaders of their nation, rather than adopting them out of the country.
• In the future, and as funding becomes available, ICA intends to implement vocational training programs at the school, which will not only teach the older children trades they can eventually start their own business from, but that will also provide sustainability for the compound. Before the orphanage collapsed, they had a bakery which was just starting to produce some income for the operational budget. ICA plans to rebuild the bakery in time. In addition, ICA plans to obtain a Cement Block Making Machine which will allow us to make blocks for the orphanage and also sell them to the community.

Thank you!

Update 3/7/2010

Here’s a brief video update about our ongoing relief efforts in Haiti:

Update 2/24/2010

Here’s another update we receive last night from Missions Pastor Dennis Russell in Haiti:

Hey all,

Yesterday was the first day with the team. Spent the morning showing the team the earthquake damage with a tour of Port au Prince. During the afternoon, we visited the latest shelter project we have in partnership with ICA and the Canadian Navy. Three structures are going up (two shelters, one storage) and a wooden fence has been erected around the perimeter of the property. When completed, this will be seven structures total (4 shelters, 2 storage, and one latrine). We also worked at our first orphanage putting in mattresses and pillows and finishing with pillow cases and sheets. Looks great, I think … but they don’t all match (sorry, Pastor Colleen, there are serious shopping limitations in Haiti for those without your shopping skills

Today, I took the doctors to meet with Hospitals for Humanity in St. Mark. They hit the ground running seeing gunshot and chainsaw accident victims, etc. Carrie organized medical supplies and I took the video camera and got footage. I think Craig will be proud of me!
The other part of our team is spending the day in Leogane doing recon and assessments for future teams.

Thanks for praying for the people from Haiti.

Blessings,

Dennis.

Update 2/23/2010

Our second team is on the ground in Haiti now, working diligently to get the food, clothing, and medical supplies that you graciously provided into the hands of the people who need it the most. Thank you for your generosity. As the rainy season in Haiti approaches, there is a new need that we must address – the need for tents. With most Haitians living in makeshift tent cities under tents made from bed sheets, there is no shelter for them in the massive rains that are about to come. We’ve partnered with Atlanta’s Courageous Church and their aHomeInHaiti.org campaign to become a distribution and drop off point for tents. Through their efforts, we’re able to purchase tents directly through Coleman® well below cost. So, we’re asking that you prayerfully consider making an extra donation to iCare to help purchase much needed shelter for the men, women and children of Haiti.

Also, over the weekend, we received this update from Missions Pastor Dennis Russell concerning the orphanage we’ve been helping:

A good day. Just delivered mattresses and bedding for 96 beds at the orphanage. Will set everything up on Monday after the team arrives. The kids will finally be off the ground and in a bed. God is good!

Update 2/18/2010

Missions Pastor Dennis Russell is now back in Haiti preparing for the arrival of our second team. We received the following update from him last night:

Hey all,
First day back and mostly got reconnected with Haitian contacts. Got enough wood, and much more, to begin another shelter project for a different orphanage. Will visit new site tomorrow. Also preparing for the team’s arrival on Sunday. Still waiting to hear what humanitarian and building supplies we can expect to pick up from the marines tomorrow. At the first free moment, we will work on securing mattresses and bedding for the 96 beds of our first 2 shelters. Please pray for continued success in our endeavors.

For the people of Haiti,
Dennis

We just received this exciting update from Jace Rabe, about the well we drilled in Benin, West Africa. (See the original post about this project here.)

Pastors,

What a great day!!!  Yesterday our PFP (Projects For Progress) team in Benin had the “Official Ceremony” forthe VWC well, where the village elders came and gave their thanks/blessing and the plaque was placed on the well, etc.  It is so awesome to see how lives are being drastically changed from this well.

The well was built and officially launched and only used by the village since the first half of Sept, 2009, but we are already hearing reports of better health in the village, and all the women are telling our team on the ground that the “water tastes so good.”  They are coming from all over to use this fresh, clean water.  What a great testimony to God!

The village of Sanson is predominately Muslim, voodoo, and Catholic (mixed with indigenous local religion/beliefs a lot like Santeria).  All in all, just like the rest of Benin, Sanson is a very dark place.   [The plaque,] says in French, “He who believes in Jesus, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.- John 7:38.”  Here we are, smack dab in the middle of Satan’s territory, and because of VWC, we were able to build a well that provides water to about 10,000 folks.  And on top of that, the well proclaims Christ!  That in itself is a miracle, that we got no push back from the elders on this.

It’s because Jesus was about relationship, and that is what we are trying to do.  Just following what Christsaid to do. The people know our hearts and know we love them with a weird, crazy love and that we are not there to just “preach a foreign god” different from their own and move on, but we are there to help
them and love them and desire relationship with them.  When you break down a wall like that, you better watch out, because God is going to do some awesome things.

Wow!  This is just so exciting in what God does.  That scripture really is my prayer for that well.  I pray that every time water is drawn from that well, they will get a taste of the true living water and power and cleansing and healing that comes from Christ, the REAL GOD.  He is going to break through and wash over Benin and West Africa.  I can feel it.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for making this happen.  I hope we can continue to partner with you guys on projects in Benin and West Africa.  I have attached some other pics as well from the ceremony.  Have a great day!

Regards,

Jace Rabe
Universal Commodities

What a privilege to be a part of life-changing projects like this! Victory, your generosity is what makes this possible. Thank you!

• Watch the Haiti Update

Update 2/8/2010

Yesterday (Sun, Feb. 7th) the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on the relief efforts of Pat Bradley of International Crisis Aid and our very own Missions Pastor Dennis Russell in conjunction with the US Marines and the Canadian Navy. Although we’ve written about much of this heroic story here, it bears repeating – all to God’s glory! Read the article online here.

Update 2/4/2010

Here’s the latest text update from Dennis:

12:30am
Today was a medium day for distribution but still a good one. We were able to get out enough food to feed 11,520 people for an entire day as well as 400 cases of water. We lost a couple of hours because of a military briefing we were invited to, but it was worth it. We were one of  3 NGO groups invited to the meeting, which included 3 four-star US generals, the US ambassador to Haiti, the head of USAID and all the top commanding officers of the US and Canadian armed forces – talk about feeling out of place! Apparently, one of the reasons we were invited was because the upper officers liked the model that we developed – by the seat of our pants I might add – so much that they have adopted it as the new standard for their future distribution operations. How cool is that?! I don’t know how many times Pat and I have looked at each other in bewilderment at the latest divine surprise.

Praying for Haiti,
Dennis

And, we just received this from Pat Bradley of International Crisis Aid who is working with Dennis Russell, our Missions Pastor, in Haiti:

Greetings to all!

I received the letter below today from the US Marines. I want to tell you that Dennis Russell has been absolutely invaluable to our work here. Without him I don’t think I would have accomplished half of what we together have done. He has much wisdom and insight. In this type of operational theatre are prices less. Victory World should be extremely proud of him. I can’t thank you enough for sending him and allowing him to stay an additional week. I do know the sacrifice you have made allowing this. Below is the letter:

Pat,

I would like to take a minute to thank you and Dennis for all that you have done as a part of International Crisis Aid (ICA) and Victory World Church over the past two weeks since arriving in
Haiti. As we transit ted down here with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, I tried to imagine what our role would be in assisting the Haitian people and prepare my men accordingly. Shortly after our helicopter arrived, I realized that there is nothing I could have done to prepare them because the majority of the problems we faced were outside of our control. For all the power the United States Marine Corps brings to bear, we remained unable to get the supplies to the people who needed it most. The first 24 hours on the ground proved frustrating and for the first time in my 16 years, I began to question our ability to accomplish our assigned mission. That was when God answered our prayers by gracing us with you and Pastor Dennis.

Over the next 14 days, I was amazed at the integrity, dedication and tireless work ethic you, Dennis and your organization have demonstrated (interested in becoming a Marine?). Your ability to locate the people in need and get them the supplies they so desperately needed has been nothing short of remarkable. The partnership that our Marine unit had formed with ICA and Victory has become the blueprint for success in this devastated region. Our ability to bring the resources ashore and provide the necessary security, coupled with your complete devotion to an efficient, honest and timely distribution has saved thousands of lives and will positively shape and influence generations in Haiti.

The fact that you were able to do all this with only a couple of workers on the ground is nothing short of a miracle. It sets ICA apart from other NGO’s and is something you should be proud of. I can’t help but wonder what else you are capable of and how many lives you will save and change in the future with continued support through donations. I have become such a believer that, effective immediately, my donations will begin to ICA through our annual Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). I am encouraging others to do the same.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t beg ICA you and Dennis to remain in Haiti for the foreseeable future and continue to set the example for the other NGO’s. As media coverage of the devastation dwindles, people must be reminded that the work down here is far from over. I will continue to pray that donations will allow you to remain here and continue your great work.

As for me, I am grateful for our time spent together and what we were able to accomplish. Please know that I will remain one of the biggest advocates of the ICA and consider your organization a true gift from God. I wish you the best and will stay forever in your debt for the magnificent example of humanity you and Dennis have shown us all.

God Bless,
Gunnery Sergeant Joshua Wruble
22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit