Welcome to the Victory Blog

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.

Twenty years ago, as we were starting this church, we were faced with a challenge: Where do we locate it? Out in the suburbs? In the city? Then, as it is for the most part now, the Body of Christ (and the nation as a whole) was divided between those who focus on moral issues/righteousness and social issues/justice. Churches located in urban areas have typically been great champions of justice issues, but many have ignored moral issues. Conversely, churches in the suburbs have typically placed a heavy emphasis on issues of righteousness, but ignored pressing social issues. And rather than working together, these two factions, if you will, have often worked to invalidate and tear each other down.

This is NOT what God intended for his Church!  It is supposed to be a positive influence in BOTH of these areas. And so, we decided to locate Victory somewhere in between the urban and suburban areas of Metro Atlanta. This was a risky move; many said this location would be death to the church. But God wanted us to be a bridge between the two groups of people and the two types of churches and the two focuses. He put a vision and passion in our hearts to work toward reconciliation between the races and cultures…and that can only happen when we are founded on both righteousness AND justice.

Righteousness = living right; conforming to a moral code of conduct prescribed by God’s Word.

Justice = doing right; doing the right thing for other people; correcting the injustices of society; defending the poor and marginalized; caring about and for people who’ve had injustice done in their lives.

We need a church that is based on righteousness AND justice. It’s when these two things are working together that the throne of God is established. Every church should champion BOTH.

In order to illustrate this, let me mention two particularly hot topics on which much of the church in America is divided today:

1. Homosexuality
2. Immigration

What kind of thoughts did those two words stir up in you? Judgment? Compassion? I’ve preached whole sermons on both of these topics previously, so I’m not going to get into them here. Listen to what I said about them in my message this past weekend, or listen those messages in the HOT TOPICS series and you’ll get the point. We need to interact with these issues (and many others like them) from the standpoints of both righteousness and justice.

We as a church have been strategically placed right on the dividing line between urban and suburban, righteousness and justice, placing us in a unique position to address some of the key issues in our city and people’s lives.  But, in order to make it work, each of us must:

• Seek to understand rather than be understood.
• Let the Word be our standard for living and loving.
• Treat others the way we would want to be treated.

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

It was such a pleasure and a privilege to have John Maxwell, one of our dearest friends and long-term mentors, speak this past weekend as we continue our 20th Anniversary celebrations. The word he brought was, not surprisingly, excellent. I’m not going to repeat it all here, beyond the few key points which follow, so I strongly encourage you to watch it, listen to it and/or download it from our website. If you were there this weekend, you know this message is worth hearing again, and if you weren’t there… well… what are you waiting for?! You don’t want to miss this!

For now, here’s a small sample of his challenging, yet uplifting message:

• What we do on the outside is a result of who we are on the inside. Everything happens from the inside out
• When you’re better on the inside than you are on the outside, and when you’re bigger on the inside than you are on the outside, over time, your influence will be greater on the outside.
• Conversely, if we’re bigger and better on the outside than we are on the inside, our influence will become less on the outside.
• The first person you lead is not someone else, it’s yourself. If you wouldn’t follow yourself, why should anyone else?
• There are four basic levels of getting better on the inside than on the outside:
  1. The Give Me Stage
  2. The Use Me Stage
  3. The Search Me
  4. The Make Me Stage

If you want yourself as an individual, and Victory as a church body, to have increasing influence in our world, you need to get the truth of this message embedded in your spirit. Listen to it and meditate on it. And as John said in his message, if we’ll continue in this path, over the next 5-10 years, it’s going to be unbelievable what God is going to do through Victory. We haven’t seen anything yet!

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 Flag Ceremony

It’s really an honor to be celebrating our 20th Anniversary as a church this month. It’s been quite a journey and God has done some amazing things, and continues to do so. We’ve learned a lot over the years. And one of the key things is that God wants his church to be built to last. He wants us to stay relevant, connected and ministering in the community. Yet, most of the top ten churches of the 1980′s no longer exist. Why? More often than not, it’s because they weren’t built on the right foundation – things like the personality of the pastor or popular teaching rather than solid biblical truth. You see, the foundation upon which a church (or anything else for that matter) is built is crucial to its ability to endure the test of time.

Early on in the history of building this church, God began to show us some key foundation stones, or principles, without which the church would crumble. And we worked diligently to put these in place. And, just as these principles must be in place to build a lasting church, the same is also true if we want the kind of life that lasts.

Foundational Stone # 1: Principle of First – Who is going to be first in this church and in our lives. A lot of people want themselves to be first, rather than God. If we cater to people first, it may make them feel good, but it will never change them, never challenge them or make them go deeper with God. Is God first in everything that we do – in our time, relationships, activities, finances, etc.? Biblically, this is one of the key principles from the very beginning of time that God implemented in his children.

The principle of first operates in every facet of our lives. Our hearts fashion after what we worship first.  As soon as I put God first, over and above dating, finding my wife, etc, along came Colleen. We have to put EVERYTHING in line after God first. As long as we put God first, it doesn’t matter what’s wrong with the economy, God will take care of us. If God isn’t first in our lives, we’ve got a weak foundation. It doesn’t take much to rock us. Let’s put God first this year!

Foundational Stone # 2: Principle of Others – From the very beginning of our church, we realized that there’s a purpose that every church has beyond itself, beyond the group of people who make up that church body. “Others” means a whole lot more than just the others in our close circle of family and friends. If we don’t get this vision, we’ll get all religious and inward focused and miss out on the wonderful things God wants to do through you in this world.

Do you love people of other cultures and races as much as you love yourself? This is not an easy thing to do. Most of us aren’t raised to love like that. Most of us don’t “hang” with people who aren’t just like us. But, if we do love others the way God wants us to, it will show in who we hang out with in our private life. Years ago, Colleen and I were told that incorporating mixed cultures in our church would kill our church, but we believed that there is a culture that supersedes human culture – kingdom culture. We have committed to loving other people and God has blessed us.

We’ve got to break this “me” mentality that is so prevalent in our culture and replace it with an “others” mentality – serving one another. What would life be like if we all began living land doing church like it wasn’t all about us, but about others?

I want to build a lasting life and be a part of a lasting church, don’t you? If so, we’ve got to start by putting God first in everything and loving others as much as ourselves. As we go forward in this year, let’s renew our commitment to these things and watch as God does amazing things both in and through us during the next twenty years because of it!

Want to be challenged and encouraged? Listen to, watch or download this message.

• 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

On January 9, we began our annual 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. In conjunction with this, we held special services on each of the Sunday evenings during the fast called, Thirst. The purpose of these special services was to gather corporately as the body of Christ to seek after God. We sought Him in song, dance and prayer. What better way to start the New Year!

Week 1

Here are some key phrases that express the essence of our first Thirst service for 2010:

Deliverance from Addictions

One of the main words spoken was God’s supernatural power to break addictions. Those who wanted true freedom from any addiction were asked to raise their hands. Many hands went up! Pastor Coleen prayed that everyone would receive the healing of the Lord. If you missed this Thirst service and are struggling with any addiction, you need to know that the Lord wants to deliver you from ANY and EVERY addiction that you may have.

Prayer for our Youth

Our teenagers – the next generation – were called to the altar. Everyone else stretched out their hands and covered our teenagers in prayer. We claimed them for the Kingdom! A powerful prayer was prayed by one of our teenagers, and another youth did a dance dedicated to the Lord. Our teens are on fire for God! What an awesome example they are setting for the adults!

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit? This was the question asked by Pastor Dennis. Anyone who had not was invited to the altar, where a number of pastors and leaders laid hands on them and prayed with them to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  If you haven’t done so yet, you can come to the front after any of our services and ask one of the altar ministers to pray with you for this.

Dancing for Jesus

Do you recall the scriptures that speak about David dancing? Why do you think he danced? He was dancing for his God! During Thirst, Pastor Dennis led by example as he joined others on the stage and danced for God! We dance because we are FREE!

Freedom in Christ

2 Corinthians 3:17 (Amplified): Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). We are free from sin so that we can know, love and serve Him! When you go to the Lord, go Thirst y, but also go in expectation – knowing that the Lord will fill you. Be encouraged! God’s love is available 24/7!

——————

Week 2

The second week of Thirst was AWESOME!  An evening filled with powerful prayers, singing, dancing, jumping for joy and praising the Lord.  As the Spirit led, Pastor Colleen prayed that we would learn how to come before the Lord courageously and allow Him into our hearts.  That was a powerful prayer.  It even touched our teens and school age members.

We were also reminded that we should never feel helpless and say “all we can do is pray.” Rather, the most effective thing we all can do is Pray.   We all know prayer changes things. It’s not dependency but interdependency, God depends on us too, and we have work to do.

Pastor Colleen referenced John 15:4-8.With this on our hearts; specific points of prayer were made on behalf of the Republic of Haiti.  Pastor Dennis invited Haitian members and guests with ties to Haiti to come and stand as a proxy for those in Haiti.  One powerful prayer followed after another as we lifted Haiti up in prayer in every area we could speak of.

Pastor Dennis boldly made a request that the Spirit of the Lord fall down on us.  As we all stood to our feet to dance before the Lord, Pastor Colleen told the teens and children to be bold about Christ.  She invited them to come down to the front of the sanctuary and on stage to dance before the Lord.

We danced boldly before the Lord with our future evangelists, prophets, disciples, ambassadors for Christ and ministers. Then, this Thirst came to a close as our teens prayed over each and every child that was present…it was Awesome!

——————-

Week 3

A spirit of seeking and surrender.  An atmosphere of expectancy. Lovesick worshippers crying out for the Lord to come down.  Many seekers reminding the Lord of His promises.  Some kneeling, some walking with their Bibles open, some laying prostrate. These phrases describe the scene at the final THIRST during our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting, a time set apart for us to worship and seek the face of God corporately as a church, crying out for fresh encounters with His presence and for more of Him in our lives.

As these things continued, Pastor Colleen prayed over ministers who had become discouraged in their calls, and they gratefully received.  Joyous worship and dance gave way to prayer over V•Group leaders, for more of God’s manifest presence and gifts to operate in their home groups.  Those leaders were released to pray over those in need of employment, with Pastor Dennis declaring that the answers to these prayers would manifest swiftly.

Pastor Dennis spoke about the anointings of priest and king that had both rested upon David, and then had the “priests” of Victory (our ministry leaders) anoint our “kings” (owners of businesses and leaders in the marketplace) with oil, praying that they would prosper in order to release resources into the kingdom of God.  Pastor Colleen read the mighty decrees in Proverbs 8, declaring that this is the word of the Lord for our kings.

Pastor Dennis charged us to be faithful stewards of all that God has given us, going on to proclaim the greatness of our God even in the face of apparent impossibility.  The leaders prayed over those facing natural impossibilities in their bodies and finances. Then, we departed, worshipping as we went with the assurance that our mountains had surely been “threshed and beaten small” in the presence of the Lord.