Welcome to the Victory Blog

I am not even sure where to start this story. I was raised in a Catholic church and had all the intentions in the world to become a missionary and nun for God. When I was 16, I met a boy (which was not in the original plan) and ended up pregnant at 17. We did not stay together and I ended up getting involved in some very abusive relationships. I lost custody of my daughter in 2002.

In 2003, I had two abortions and was considered an alcoholic and drug abuser. I tried to commit suicide three times over the course of two years. In 2005, I became pregnant a fourth time, and this time I refused to have another abortion. His father left when I was six months pregnant, and I tried to commit suicide (for the last time) by taking a whole bottle each of [a prescription sleeping aid] and [a narcotic painkiller] right after. Praise God there was no harm done to my wonderful son or myself.

In 2007, one year after moving to Atlanta, I was introduced to Fusion and Victory. I got saved, baptized in water and the Holy Spirit, and I thought that all my struggles were over. But later that year, I started drinking again, and in 2008, I became once again an alcoholic and drug abuser. I lost custody of my son and I fully believed and wanted to die…

But, June 8, 2009 was the last time that I had any alcoholic drink or drug. I went into Wellspring Living with the full support and help of Victory. After being there for six months, I am now serving on the Greeters Ministry and the Connection Ministry, and I have already planned to go on at least two mission trips, as well as to Mexico for the Mission Internship in September. I am also allowed to see my children once a month and to call them every week. I cannot thank God enough for saving my life and restoring my faith, family and friendships. ~ Twyla W.

If you’re a regular attender at Victory, we’d love to have you share your story about what God is doing/has done in or through your life at VWC. Click here to submit your story.

Kids are the number one target of the enemy in our culture. He knows their potential and he wants to twist or destroy them before they can reach it. And sadly, relatively few kids raised in the church today make it all the way from elementary school through college without turning away from God, backsliding and turning to the things of the world. But we can raise kids that don’t do that. We can train up champions for God.

There is nothing greater than the gift of kids. They’re a wonder and a blessing. They’re God’s best gift. We need to understand the power of children raised in the right way…they’re weapons – they do damage to Satan’s kingdom.

This is why the devil brings so many things come against our children from the time they’re born until they get out of our houses. Our number one success or disappointment is how we handle our children. How we treat them will determine whether they turn out dysfunctional or as champions. Think about how many of us spend most of our lives trying to overcome the dysfunction we were raised with.

God has put a specific path or calling in each of our children’s lives. For those of us who are parents, or those who will be, it’s our job to help kids discover and to launch them into that calling. In order to do so successfully, we have to help our children grow and mature in each five core areas:

• Emotional
• Intellectual
• Physical
• Moral
• Spiritual

We need to understand how each one of these areas of development is essential to training our kids to be champions. This past weekend, most of my message was dedicated to exploring what these mean and how we can raise kids that are healthy and strong in all five areas. If you’re a parent, plan to be a parent someday, or interact with children at all, I encourage you to download, listen to or watch that message online now. Just imagine the power of an entire generation of champions!

My story is really very simple. I have been a member of VWC for quite some time now and have always heard and believed in the power of prayer and healing. Back in February/March I had been suffering from a very painful sore throat. When I had to swallow, I would cringe because it felt like I was swallowing glass. I knew I had no medical insurance to see a doctor about it, so I kept praying and believing that I could be healed from this.

After about four weeks of this on and off again pain, it was revealed to me that I probably had an ear infection that was causing the pain in my throat because my left ear was also popping. I would be in tears because it was so painful. Well, my 14yr. old son and I were driving home one afternoon when he said to me, “Mom, as soon as we get inside, I want to pray for healing for you.” It was SO ironic that he said that because at that exact time I thought to myself, I’m gonna ask Nat to lay hands on me and pray with me.

As soon as we came in, we sat down, and he took one hand and put it on my throat and the other on my left ear and we both prayed together for healing. I can’t even remember exactly when the pain left, but I just happened to notice in a few days I had NO PAIN at all! I could swallow and felt wonderful! I remembered that when two or more are gathered, GOD is in the midst and how the LORD heard my son’s voice for healing for his mum! Thank you, VWC, for creating a prayer warrior in my son Nathaniel! ~ Joann C.

If you’re a regular attender at Victory, we’d love to have you share your story about what God is doing/has done in or through your life at VWC. Click here to submit your story.

The question of the hour is, “What does it take to have a good marriage that works?” When we first started out, Colleen and I were probably the worst example of what could make a good marriage. We had a lot to learn. Yet, here we are, 27 years later, still married, and happily so. The one thing that makes a difference in any marriage is having Jesus in your life. With him in our lives, our marriages can be so good that they’re a real witness to everyone around us.

Think about this: God wants to take two people who look, act, think and process differently, bring them together and make them one. It’s a great mystery how this happens. And truthfully, very few people actually experience this, which is why so many families are in trouble. But it doesn’t have to be that way, which is why I want to talk about the top three things that Colleen and I have learned over the years that help two people become one flesh. When these things are in place, you’ll have an amazing marriage and be amazing parents, which will produce amazing kids.

1. Two become one when you share a vision together. So many marriages fall apart because they forget that they’re supposed to have a vision that they share together – they stop focusing on “we” and start focusing on “me.” So, if you’re married, what’s your vision? For marriage? For life? For parenting? For your future, etc.? Pray about it; determine what it is and write it down. Make it plain and keep it before you all the time. Without that shared vision, two visions will begin to form and that’s di-vision – a house divided cannot stand. If you’re not married, what’s your vision for marriage? Pray about it until God makes it clear to you and then write it down. Let that vision narrow the field and help you determine the person that God is preparing for. You don’t want to marry just anyone – you want someone who will share your vision.
2. Two become one when you learn to harness the power of agreement. If you want to stay married and have a great relationship, you have to understand this: The place of agreement is the place of power. That means if you can get to a place where you’re agreeing on something and bring it to God in prayer together, God is going to answer that prayer. People with great marriages know how to stay in the place of agreement. That’s not to say they never disagree, but that they don’t stay there; they know how to come back to the place of agreement. The key to this is humility. Pride keeps us from agreeing. Love seeks to understand rather than be understood.
3. Two become one when you share a giving heart. You won’t see a more powerful relationship, or a better marriage, than when both husband and wife are givers. Two takers never last long. A giver and a taker may last long in marriage, but the giver will eventually give out, be left a hollow shell. Marriage is not give and take; it’s give and give. Our relationship goes south when one of us starts to be a taker rather than a giver. So let me ask you this, are you a giver or a taker? When you put two people together who willingly give of their time, resources, energy, etc., amazing things will be accomplished.

I spoke about this in more depth in my message this past weekend. Download, listen to or watch it in its entirety here.

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!

This past weekend, as we celebrated mothers, my wife Colleen brought an insightful and anointed word for the ladies, talking about their place in God’s order and how to be better women. Both men and women have something to learn from what she said. If you missed it, let me encourage you to watch or listen to the whole message here. But for now, here’s a brief look at what she said:

What’s going to help us be better women? Clarity. You see, when we talk about the role of women described in the Word of God, there’s a little confusion. There are some things in the Bible that many women, and men, don’t understand clearly. We need to understand both the instruction AND the intent behind what’s written in the Word.

God, as a lover, wanted and needed someone to love. So he created mankind and put his Spirit in us – male and female. Then he differentiated male and female by creating Eve out of Adam. His primary reason was the relationship of love. Women were created to be an object of love – loved by men.

Men and women together were given dominion over the earth, but sin brought in consequences. Through disobedience, dominion was offset by domination and desire – the curse. But thankfully, God didn’t leave us under the curse. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law…” (Galatians 3:13 NKJ)

As women, we don’t need to fight for something that has already been granted to us by God. Rather, we must learn how to more effectively function in the purpose and liberty he has provided. In other words, our freedom is already there; we just have to learn to walk in it.

This starts by understanding what God had in mind when he created women:

1. Women were created to receive. We were created to be an object of our husbands’ affection and love, and to receive their leadership. If both men and women understood this, it would have an incredible impact on our relationships. This is the way to unlock the unity and power of marriage.

2. Women were created to respond. This is why women are so adaptable, so able to multi-task. Our response to our husbands is respect. We are stewards of the admiration of our husbands. Rather than trying to dig deep for something in them to respect, we have to dig out all the attitudes and judgments that hinder us from respecting them as the wonderful men God has given us. We must avoid comparison.

3. Women were created to enhance. We’re not to just go off on our own, but to add to and enhance what God has given our men. Our husbands need us. Placing value on the vision that the Lord has given to your husband does not devalue you. Rather, it makes you essential to the process. We must come alongside to help graciously, as the Holy Spirit does, not make our husbands feel stupid.

4. Women were created to nurture. We were made to be life-givers; to conceive, carry and give birth to life. But we carry more than babies inside us. We have to be careful what we are conceiving, nurturing and carrying in our attitudes. We need to make sure our influence is pure and helpful.

This is about the amazing power and glory of God. About two and a half years ago, when I was waiting at the altar for people to come to be prayed for, I noticed that there was a family coming towards me. Both parents came with their two little boys. One, who was being carried by the father, had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and the doctors said would not be able to walk. I was astounded to see their faith, believing their son will be able to walk. So I prayed with them, envisioning how Jesus healed a paralyzed man and all who came to Him.

After a while, I forgot who they were and did not even remember their names. Then, a year ago last December, they came to me one Sunday while I was working at Electrocity and told me that they had been searching for me. Excitedly, the father showed me a video of his son in his phone, and I saw the little boy walking. It blessed my heart that day, for I had a military son in Iraq at that time whose life I am so concerned about. Then I lost track of this family again. While visiting my eldest son in Tampa for Christmas, I told him the awesome power of God and how He knows our needs and that He healed this little boy at Victory World Church.

Then, last summer, my military son was redeployed, and once again, I was concerned. During this time, my eldest son and his family were in town from Tampa visiting with us. We invited them to our church, and after the service, although we were in a hurry to go for lunch, this same family stopped me, showing me the little boy. For the first time, I saw him walking….straight to my son who just came from Tampa! It was as if the Lord was telling me, He wants my son to see with his own eyes how powerful He is! And once again, He comforted me about my concerns for my other son in the battlefield.

I wondered about the chances of meeting this family again, not even remembering their names, yet they were there to remind me time and again that our Lord is there for me too. Such is the power of God in prayers, and I am so grateful for our church to give me the privilege of being in the altar ministry. ~ Marilou A.

A word came to me this week that I think God wants us to understand: Order. We serve a God of order. The very creation of the earth follows a path of order. God aligned the Sun and moon and planets in a perfect way so that life could exist here. And, God created mankind with order – created man first, then gave woman to him as a gift – a comparable, complimenting partner with whom he would come together as one flesh.

Yet, we see in Genesis that immediately after this, Satan shows up in the form of a serpent seeking to destroy this relationship. He subverts the created order, knowing that if he can get the woman to step out from under the covering of her husband, all chaos will break loose.

And that’s just what happened. Only a few verses later, we find Adam and Eve hiding from God as he calls out to them, to Adam in particular, “Where are you?” (Read Genesis 3) He didn’t ask where Eve was; he asked where was the person whom he had put in charge of the garden.

That is the question of our day, too – Where are you, men? Today, God is looking for men who will be the men he created and called them to be. It doesn’t seem like there’s a lot of men like that these days, which means there’s a lot of women out there trying to make do without the kind of men they really need. Rather than stepping up and taking ownership, too many men, like Adam, start blaming women as soon as they start getting in trouble, holding them accountable for things God is holding them accountable for.

Guys, it’s time for us to take our place in God’s order. We were neither created to rule over women, nor to be ruled by them. Rather, God’s order is that each woman is to be covered by a man as that man is covered by Christ. That doesn’t mean either the man or the woman is more important or more valuable, but the man is to lead as he is led by Christ – with sacrificial love. Both the husband and the wife have equal footing in the marriage relationship as they lovingly submit to one another. The role of the husband is to lead like Christ, who gave his life for his bride.

When a man treats his wife like Jesus treats the church, she’ll have no difficulty treating him like the church treats Jesus. The key to this is sacrifice. Men, we’re called to sacrifice ourselves in prayer, reading the Word, working to provide, giving up our time and prioritizing our families’ needs in the use of our resources.

Where are men like that? Where are you, men? There are so few men like this, that have this kind of thinking, that love their wives and children and care for them as Christ does the church. Women need real men – not weenie men – who will stand up and lead, even if the woman tries to subvert the order. But remember, a real man doesn’t lead by domination, he leads by serving. We have to listen and work together with our wives as a team. And our children need to see this dynamic in order to grow up with a healthy sense of order, security and love.

So, men, are you ready to accept this challenge? Your wives and children need you. The world needs you. This has to happen if we’re going to unleash the incredible power of family in our world.

This is an excerpt from the message I preached this past weekend. Download, listen to or watch the whole message here.