Welcome to the Victory Blog

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been talking about the importance of being in community. In that regard, we face a unique challenge here at Victory as we seek to do community with different cultures and races. A lot of pastors don’t attempt racial reconciliation in their churches because it just seems too risky or the obstacles seem too great to overcome.

Considering the facts that 90% of people go to their-race-only churches and only 5-7% of churches in America are truly racially diverse, what we are attempting here at Victory is very special. While society continues to grow more diverse every year in our nation, the church continues to ignore the fact that it can’t seem to host different cultures together.

But take a look at Psalm 133. There is something about reconciling culture in community that causes the Lord to place His anointing and blessing there. A perfect example of this is the early church in Jerusalem. It was comprised of believers from all over the known world at that time. Acts 2:44 says that “all who believed were TOGETHER and had all things in common.” It was in this environment that the church began to explode in numbers and the Spirit was poured out in power.

The primary thing that separates us in the earth is not skin color. The prejudice we experience between people is not really about race. Rather, it’s much more about our earthly cultures. We all have a culture that has been developed in our upbringing – whether it’s white, black, Hispanic, Asian, country, city, lower class, upper class, southern, northern, eastern, western, American or whatever culture – we develop certain music, food, ways we talk, thinking patterns, lifestyles, etc, all based on human culture. This is what ultimately divides us!

But God gives us a picture of a new culture: THE KINGDOM CULTURE. If the people of God are ever going to come TOGETHER, at some point, we have to grasp an understanding of the Kingdom Culture. So, what does the Kingdom Culture look like? As we grow in the Kingdom Culture, we will:

• No longer form JUDGMENTS of people based on their SKIN COLOR or their human CULTURE.
• Learn to LOVE people of other cultures IN SPITE of how they might TREAT us.
• Keep a WATCH on our hearts to NOT ALLOW bitterness or anger to grab us and cause prejudice to start forming.
• Give up our RIGHTS to live only in our culture for the higher order of UNITY.
• Be INTENTIONAL in reaching out to people of OTHER CULTURES.
• Move past outright SEGREGATION, mere TOLERATION and basic INTEGRATION into full RECONCILIATION – a change of the inward heart condition that adopts a Kingdom mindset of doing life together.

Jesus was very intentional in what He did on the cross. What a lot of people don’t get, was that not only did he reconcile us with God, but the cross also represents a reconciliation with people who were once alienated from one another. (Read Ephesians 2:14-16)

When was the last time you were intentional about reaching beyond your culture? Let me challenge you to be proactive about living in the Kingdom Culture – whether it’s by showing random acts of love to people of other cultures that aren’t expecting it, tipping a waitress, opening a door, taking a co-worker to lunch, inviting a neighbor over, inviting children to spend the night or inviting someone to church. Let’s really live this thing out and see the power of Racial Reconciliation in Community!

Watch or listen to this message online here.

I was awfully sorry for just up and leaving my lovely wife Aurora, but God had a loving plan in the works for us. After being divorced three years, God would not let me rest without placing the love of my life on my mind almost all the time – to the point that I called her and begged forgiveness. I asked if there was any love left in her heart for me – enough that she’d be willing for us to pray and ask God for direction in our lives about the possibility of us getting remarried.

We use to argue about everything and fight at the sound of the other speaking. We were always on the defensive, blaming each other for everything – not happy, no love, the spark was gone. We had no hope, and I wanted out. We needed help. Unfortunately, I listened to my non-Christian friends, and made the wrong choice. BUT, God didn’t give up on us.

So, when I called her to ask forgiveness and about the possibility of remarrying, the very first thing out of Aurora’s mouth was, “You must first take a few classes and speak to Pastor Randal.” “What classes would you like me to take?” I asked. She responded, “Ancient Paths and Matrimonio Para Siempre (MPS) (Married Forever in Spanish).” She also said she would do the same.

Upon meeting with Pastor Randal, he suggested MPS and said he would cover the cost if we were serious about getting married again. He also wanted to be sure that this was what God wanted as well. He asked us to get up a half an hour before our normal routine and to pray, read the Word, allow God to speak to us in silence and then jot down whatever thoughts came, allowing God to assure us of his loving and infinite ways. Pastor Randal also immediately picked up the phone and asked Gladys and Pete Torres to place us in their class which had just started one week before. They were so nice and accommodating that they offered to give us the catch up class at their home at our convenience. Wow! Thank you, God!

My wife had already taken Ancient Paths 1 and had a little jump on me. Needless to say, we learned how wrong we both had been in not trusting in God for all our needs. Everything we needed, I mean everything, was in front of us all the time. But we had just relied on our upbringing. The things our parents, family and friends did were all we knew. But, thanks to our loving God and the Word he left for us, we learned that there’s is a way to live in harmony, if we learn the way God tells us to. The truth is, it’s all in the Bible – everything we need to know about keeping a marriage healthy.

We are very thankful to the compassion and brotherly love and devotion of our two caring teachers, Gladys and Pete Torres, who sacrificed many hours patiently helping us through a very hard and trying time in our lives. We’re also grateful for Pastor Randal’s compassionate vision to help couples in distress; for Pastor Emilio, and Luisita, his dear wife, who interpreted with love and concern for us.

Full of excitement and love for one another, we learned not to jab one another, but to honor instead. We learned to put God first in our lives so we can love our spouse and treat them as a gift, instead of having to fight and argue. That’s the way to beat Satan down – read the Word and pray daily for God’s blessings for your spouse.

I’m so thankful to God. Now, he is first in our lives; next is my spouse; together we are one in Christ. There is hope for us all. We are God’s children, and he loves us so much and doesn’t care what we did. He loves us just the way we are.

I then took three classes of Ancient Paths (AP1, AP2 and a training seminar to teach others and pray for others needs) and got rid of a lot of junk. I wanted to serve but I first wanted to demonstrate my love for God by going to church and paying my tithes regularly and showing that I truly had a pure heart to serve.

Finally (praise God!), Aurora and I got married. My walk with God had become so real. Soon, I started serving in translation, helping my precious wife hand out translation earphones, greeting those who needed them and all who walked by our booth with a smile and a hearty welcome.

There, I met Ricardo, the husband of one of my lovely wife’s friends , who serves at Victory Vida, our Hispanic Ministry. He noticed that I worked with passion (after all, God was at the forefront of my life and I was working with my wife, wow!!). He asked if I was willing to help in his ministry as an usher. I said, “Yes,” and he started me right away because they were short-handed.

I just wanted to do everything for God because once again there was happiness and meaning in my life. Full of purpose and love for my fellow Christians, I continued to press forward while God continued to mold me and transform me as a person who trusted in him more and more each day. I still have my bouts with Satan, but I allow God in my corner and he controls Satan a lot better than I can.

Finally, about a year after I asked to serve, God blessed me to serve with Ancient Paths and Sendas Antiquas in Spanish, so I now have been an intercessor for Ancient Paths three times, once for Sendas Antiquas, and soon, twice for the process group in between Ancient Paths 1 and Ancient Paths 2. I praise God for being the most important part of my life. Second, I thank him for giving me such a great loving and caring woman of Christ, my wife Aurora, and my church body that we are a part of, like Pastors Dennis and Colleen, Randal, Olin, Emilio, Pete and Gladys, Linda Hinton, Rafael, Juan Carlos, Ricardo, Etervina and on and on! May God bless you, and yes, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! (Philippians 4:13) Amen!! Thank you, Lord Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!! ~ Anthony & Aurora R.

God wants us to be the church everywhere we go. In order to do that, we have to understand the concept of biblical community – doing life together with a group of people that are committed to living out the purposes of God. Too many of us have fallen for Satan’s counterfeit – RELIGION – which is designed to keep people living in superficial environments that replace true biblical community.

In order to truly understand what biblical community looks like, we need to go back to the early Church, as it’s described in Acts 2:41-47. As you read this, take notice of a few key characteristics:

• “They were like FAMILY”
• “All the Lord’s followers often met TOGETHER“
• “They SHARED EVERYTHING they had”
• “They broke bread TOGETHER in different HOMES“

True Christianity doesn’t really take root until we start living it out in some form of REAL or BIBLICAL COMMUNITY.

So, what does REAL COMMUNITY look like?

1. In real community people are COMMITTED to each other
2. In real community people are AUTHENTIC with each other
3. In real community people are SHARING with each other
4. In real community people CARE for each other
5. In real community people experience UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

What would it look like if everyone in this church was living in biblical community? What if, instead of trying to do life alone, you decided to get connected in some form of a small group of people and start doing life together? I think we’d be amazed at the result. So, what are you waiting for? I urge you to get in biblical community today!

There are many ways to do this, but one of the easiest is to get involved with a V•Group. Click here to learn more about V•Groups and how to get connected.

Click here to watch or listen to this past weekend’s full message online.

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.)

We have become an incredibly individualistic society. We have so many avenues for communication that we have lost the simplistic value of building relationships through quality time and interaction – email, social websites and text messaging to name just a few. While all of these venues are helpful in maintaining relationships, they do very little for us in actually building real relationships.

The early church knew all about building lasting relationships. They set a strong example for us to follow as they based their entire ministry around the community. They met in each other’s homes, they broke bread together, they rejoiced together and they grieved together.

The Bible provides so much wisdom on the power of biblical relationships, stressing the importance of community and togetherness through the countless examples given in marriage, working relationships and church family.

The enemy knows the value of relationships and, thus, has tricked us into believing that too many relationships invade our precious privacy. We hide behind the visage of shyness or “busyness,” when in actuality, we are being deceived and robbed of the benefits of biblical community. Many of us are just too lazy to invest in our church community. Whatever the reason, it’s obvious that we just don’t understand the value of godly relationships. This has to change!

V•Groups, our small community groups, are a powerful resource available to everyone within this church. They are vital to cultivating and encouraging our walk of faith. Too many times we fall by the wayside because we face challenging circumstances alone. We have also missed the wonderful opportunity for spiritual accountability.

Additionally, V•Groups are not only about what we can get out of it, but also what we can give. Biblical community gives us the chance to look beyond our personal interests to see the needs of those around us, just as Philippians 2:4 challenges us to do.

What an amazing concept! True community allows for each of us to be a part of something so much greater than ourselves. It allows the Lord to use us in each other’s life as we become available to serve and to look past our own challenges and struggles to see those of our neighbors.

If you’re not already part of a V•Group – or at least some kind of community – what are you waiting for? Get in community today!

To find out more about V•Groups and/or to find one you can join near you, click here.

To listen to or watch this past weekend’s message on this topic, click here.

“I’m 69 years old. I was diagnosed with cancer in the 3rd stage. I said, ‘I’m alright.’ I lied. I was screaming and hollering and saying, ‘God, why me?!’” ~ Gloria

Watch this powerful Story of Victory and healing!

Hey! Has God done something amazing in your life as a part of Victory World Church? Please help encourage others in their faith – Share your Story of Victory here!

For a while now, God has been speaking to me about the importance of children in his kingdom. They are the most important people in the church. Anyone who understands how to change a society, a nation, the world, understands that the future is always determined by what happens in the lives of children.

I read somewhere that:

• Nearly 1/2 of the world’s population is under the age of 20.
• 2/3 of a person’s lifetime impressions are determined by the age of 5.
• 2/3 of a person’s lifetime knowledge is gained by the age of 7.
• Around age 3, our conscience develops.
• By age 6, a child has learned more than a person graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree.
• By age 9, a person’s basic moral foundation has been formed.
• By age 13, a child has irrevocably formed the majority of their beliefs about God, Satan, the Bible and salvation.
• 83% of all people that embrace Christ do so by the age of 14; only 4% do so between 14-18, and only 6% do so after 20.

You may have heard of the 10/40 Window, but now need to understand a new mission slogan – the 4/14 Window. If we want to have the most success, we need to reach our kids during this very formative and receptive age range.

Unfortunately, when you study the history of most churches’ budgets and ministry focuses, on average, you will find that approximately 90% of their efforts are dedicated in areas outside of children. Inexplicably, despite the fact that we as Christians claim that we want to change the world, children are the most overlooked, undervalued group of people in the church.

That’s why, when I look at everything we do here at Victory, there is nothing more important than changing and directing the lives of as many children as we can while we have the chance. Yet, as in most churches, there seems to always be a shortage of people who really get the importance of children.

So, I’d like everyone at Victory to understand and take to heart the following things about children:

1. Children are the model God uses to describe the characteristics of greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven.
2. The way we receive and treat children is the way we receive and treat Jesus.
3. The strategy of the enemy is to attack humanity in their childhood so they spend the rest of their lives in a cycle of dysfunction.
4. We have the opportunity every week to release God’s power of blessing over the children that come into our lives.

Children’s ministry in our church is the most essential ministry we have. Anyone that will take up the mantle of ministering to children has just entered into one of the highest callings in God’s Kingdom! We’re looking for people with a spirit of excellence to take up this mantle. Will you do it? If you’re interested, or would like to find out more, please click here.

Listen to or watch this message in its entirety online here.

In the high-tech, low-touch culture of America, many of us are searching for a place to belong. We wrestle with issues of life such as relationships, money, self-discipline, insecurity and fear in our search for peace and significance. We weren’t meant to walk through life alone; and true growth, spiritual and personal, often take place in loving, supportive, grace-giving, truth-telling relationships – like those found in V•Groups.

Still, sometimes it’s hard to take that first step. So, as an encouragement to anyone who may be unsure, here’s what one recently new V•Group member wrote to her V•Group facilitator:

Thanks so much for taking me in and treating me like you have known me forever. You don’t know how much that means to me. I been trying to come to this group for about a month and always found an excuse not to show up. But God’s timing is perfect … When I felt there was no exit, when I felt I couldn’t keep on anymore … I got another invitation and, even though it’s only been two weeks, and I am still struggling to show up (because I am so shy!), I am starting to feel that there is hope, and that somehow, I am going to be okay. My smile came back, and slowly, I am getting my strength back. I am starting to get hope in my heart and I am starting to learn to trust God again … And I just started coming to group! I can’t not wait to see what’s ahead!!

Thank you so much for all the unconditional love and support, for making a difference and for reminding me that I am not alone and God is always looking out for me.

You ladies rock! =)

~ Lindsay

Don’t keep putting it off; get connected to a V•Group today. You won’t regret it!

To learn more about V•Groups or find a V•Group near you, visit victoryatl.com/doyoubelong.

And, if God’s been doing something in or through your life at Victory, please be an encouragement to others by sharing your story here.

For the last few weeks, we’ve been talking about How to Think About & Handle Money. Thus far, we’ve talked about shifting our values, having the right vision and seeking wisdom. The idea is that we need to make the shift from being consumers to being stewards.

If you’ve been coming to Victory for a while, you know that one of our core values has always been to steward the money that we receive in such a way that we can give outside this church to make a difference in the world.

It’s clear in Jesus’ teachings on money that He wants us to capture the essence of having a giving heart. I realize we all come from different backgrounds concerning money, and much of our thinking has been formed by our circumstances. However, at some point, when one decides to become a true Christian, one of the greatest signs is in the area of giving. So. as a means of encouragement, and to help anyone who is struggling in this area, I want to share from my heart seven reasons Why I Give:

1. I give because I want to demonstrate a THANKFUL HEART to God at all times. When I began to study the Bible, I noticed how the Israelites were constantly forgetting what God had done for them; turning to idols because of ungrateful hearts. From this, I realized that my heart is affected by what I do with money!
2. I give because I want to demonstrate a FULL SURRENDER to the God I serve. I’ve made my decision, I want to give full control to Christ.
3. I give because I made a COVENANT with God and the people of this LOCAL CHURCH. I learned a long time ago that God functions with a covenant mentality. Rather than be a covenant breaker, I decided to live with a covenant mentality; and this is true in marriage, serving. giving, etc.
4. I give in order to POSITION myself for God’s BLESSINGS AND PROTECTION. I’m very mindful of the promise of scripture. Read Malachi 3:8-10. Regardless of how tough times may get, I’m fully convinced that as long as I remain faithful to God in giving, He will take care of me – and not just financially, but also in health, protection, favor, etc.
5. I give because I really believe in the VISION of our CHURCH. From time to time, Colleen and I will ride past the daycare where we first met as a church and reflect. I love the fact that:
   • We are doing things to bless the community (Norcross Co-Op, transitional housing, paying people’s bills, etc.)
   • Marriages heading for divorce get turned around
   • People are set free from drugs, alcohol and depression
   • People with serious illnesses are healed
   • Young people are inspired to live for God
   • Entire families are transformed
   • Over 100 nations gather every week
   • New churches are planted
   • We support missions projects all over the world
   • Every week something is happening with the money I give that makes a difference in eternity!
6. I give because I want to be an EXAMPLE to my CHILD. Over the years, my daughter Lauren has been able to share in our giving model.
7. I give so that someday I will hear the COMMENDATION of the one I love: “WELL DONE!” I’ve had to sort out over my life what I’m living for.

If you’re one who already tithes and gives faithfully, I congratulate you. You’re operating under the blessing and promises of God. If you’re someone who has struggled in this area, let me challenge you to put your full trust in God and put him to the test in this, even as he has invited us to do. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

Listen to or watch this message online here.