Welcome to the Victory Blog

“Hi. My name is Carrie Rice and this is my story. [Pastor] Bobby Bolton decided to start Celebrate Recovery at Victory and asked me to lead the women’s group. When I started, I announced to the group that I was here to work on my codependency issues and that I knew I was fat and I knew I smoked, but I didn’t want to deal with those….”

So begins this great story of God’s faithfulness and deliverance. Watch the rest here:

Carrie Rice Interview Sept 2010 from Victory Videos on Vimeo.

Hey, while you’re here, don’t forget to take a few moments to Share Your Story about what God has done in your life as a part of Victory! There are so many people who need to be encouraged by what God has done in and through your life. Even seemingly simple things can make a huge difference. Just click Share Your Story to get started!

This past weekend, Pastor Johnson Bowie shared a dynamic message during our services that was both challenging and faith building. He addressed many of the misconceptions about God’s desire and ability to heal his people and encouraged our faith, both to receive healing in ourselves and to pray for the healing of others. There’s so much truth in this message that so many people need to hear and get down in their spirits, but I’m only going to share a sampling of what he said here. Instead, I want to encourage you to listen to it, even repeatedly, until your spirit is saturated with its truth and your faith in God’s healing power is growing and vibrant. So here’s the sampling:

WITH GOD… ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! And that changes everything! All things are possible. And today… it’s possible for you to be healed. Because you’ve walked into a place that believes!

I KNOW it’s hard to believe, hard to have faith. I know we’ve all had different experiences in life and with God. I know we’ve all got a little doubt. Some of us have a LOT of doubt, but we all have at least a little bit of doubt. We’ve heard that healing is not for today; or that God makes people sick or even that God is glorified when we are sick.

But, if you don’t get anything else, know this – God is your healer. It is God’s deep desire for you to be healed, healthy, and whole. Because God is a good Father! And He wants you to have faith in that… that WITH HIM all things are possible for him who believes.

Now, if you need healing, know someone who needs healing and/or want to be someone that the Lord uses to bring healing to others, click here to watch, listen to or download this message right now. It’s time we experienced the fullness of God’s goodness and power and shared that with others so that they will also know and believe that With God, ALL things are possible!

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

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

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

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

Unite 2010 Recap from Victory Videos on Vimeo.

So He said, “Come,” and when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. (Matthew 14:29 NKJ)

I think this is one of the most fascinating scriptures in the Bible when it comes to understanding living a life with God! Jesus was inviting Peter into the adventure of the supernatural life. And, just as he did with Peter that day, Jesus is calling every believer to live a life of unimaginable adventure.

From the moment we choose to follow Him, life has the potential to enter into an entirely different dimension of living. Throughout our lives, God will give us divine “come” moments – moments where he calls us to do things that require us to step out in faith, like stepping out of a storm-tossed boat in the midst of the sea. Now, you can’t walk on water without God saying, “Come.” But, in those divine moments when he does say, “Come,” he will make the impossible possible.

You see, the truth is that whenever God tells us to move, there’s a stormy sea we have to step out on or a river we have to walk through to get where we’re going – just as the Israelites had to cross the Jordan to get into the Promised Land. To get through, you have to actually step out on the water. Yet, very few of us ever step out of the boat when God calls us to do something that doesn’t make any sense. I wonder, how many of us has God spoken to at different moments in our lives, asking us to come, and we haven’t come, but just let the moment pass?

Life is the sum total of what we do with the moments where God is saying, “MOVE.” The divine potential of each moment is unlocked by the choices we make. Every time we choose to move with God, a little bit more of the supernatural life is revealed. There are things that God is calling each of us to do that require us to step out in faith. They may not always make sense in the natural, but we have no idea how many people’s destinies are tied to us moving when God says move, or who we might influence.

In life, we will be faced with a few key moments that will shape our lives forever – moments where we are one decision away from an abundant life with God or a life filled with heartache and disaster. The good news is that no matter what kind of life you have lived, no matter how many bad choices you’ve made, your next moment is waiting to give birth to a NEW LIFE!

We have no control on how or when we die, but we do have control over how we LIVE! So, my challenge to you today is this: what are you doing with the moments when God tells you to MOVE? What is God calling you to do that requires more of you than just coming to church? What is God calling you to do with Him that requires you to DARE TO MOVE out and walk on water? God is with you; don’t you think it’s time to MOVE?!

Watch the rest of this challenging message online here.

But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27 NKJ)

Do you really recognize and understand the potential that you have in Christ? Imagine for a moment, what would your life be if you shifted from doing life alone to making a conscious effort to tap into His divine ability? This is what you were created for – to live your life with God – and in doing so, you will begin to reap the many benefits of his power and strength. You will find a renewed perspective and purpose in everyday life.

When you purpose to live with God, you begin to see yourself as God sees you and, in turn, see others in the same light. So many people have been deceived, trying to work for His favor rather than purposing to work from His favor. We have been distracted by condemnation, guilt and shame and, as a result, have lost sight of the value that we possess in Him. Our value isn’t determined by individual talent or accomplishments. We are not defined by financial status or physical ability. Our intrinsic value has nothing to do with what we can actually control. He knew you before you even knew yourself. He knew about the mistakes that you would make before you made them. He knows the struggles that you have endured and the burdens that you carry. He knows you inside and out, and He loves you just the same.

With God, you begin to release your potential. If we truly understood the capacity of freedom that we possess in Christ, we would be unstoppable. God doesn’t see you based on your behavior; He sees you based on His blood. Imagine being seen or known, not for the wrong that you have done or the mistakes that you have made, but rather for all that you can become! This is how God sees you. He looks beyond your current circumstance into your future destiny. When we look at ourselves, we seem to forget the many testimonies of the faith where the Lord used ordinary people to fulfill His great work. Actually, the less that God has to work with, the more He can move in your life.

When you walk with God, you begin to believe that the impossible can be possible. You see life through His eyes rather than through the limitations that exist within your own. You recognize that when God is living in you it doesn’t matter what is up against you. Do you need healing? Forgiveness? Restoration? What is it that you need? What is the “thing” in your life that you believe is impossible? Know that it is that very situation or circumstance that the Lord wants to use to move in your life.

Are you going to be a spectator of your own life, or are you going to fully participate by purposely seeking to live a life with God? It is my hope that you will begin to see yourself as He sees you and know that with God, ALL things are possible!

Watch this great message online here!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watch this powerful teaching online here.

Victory is the third church that I’ve attended in the past two years, and I am here to stay! Not only do I get fed here, but I am also challenged here! My faith has increased; I am serving in the children’s ministry; recently baptized (on Aug 18th); and I’m meeting new people who are my age and have the same passion for God!

Victory is a good place to be. And, since I’ve been here, my spirit has been OVERFLOWING! God surely knows how to put you right where you need to be, and for me, that is Victory!

Hey! While you’re here, don’t forget to take a few moments to Share Your Story about what God has done in your life as a part of Victory! (Just click the Share Your Story link, write your story, and don’t forget to upload a nice photo of yourself, if possible!)

This past weekend, we had the joy of welcoming a great friend of ours, passionate author and speaker, John Bevere, as he shared a glimpse of where God has been leading him on his new journey to discovering an extraordinary life. His message was dynamic, convicting and founded in the truths of the Scripture as he admonished us to live out the life that we were meant to live.

A recent survey questioned a number of individuals and asked them to define grace. Of those surveyed, only 2% stated that they believed grace was God’s empowerment. This number reiterates the fact that we have begin to overlook the provision that the Lord has left for us because we don’t fully understand his purpose and intent in providing us grace. His grace was evident when we were brought to a place of repentance and reconciliation through salvation, but we must understand that it didn’t stop there!

We are all called to be extraordinary! We are to live beyond what is usual and to exceed the common measures of this day. Think back on the biblical stories in the Scripture where the Apostle Peter had to convince citizens that he was not a superhero, and the Apostle Paul had to confirm that he was not a god. Think about young Daniel and how he had distinguished himself from those around him because of the knowledge and wisdom that had been imparted to him. Imagine what an influence they had on all those that they came into contact with. They were just a few examples of so many others who were used by God in such a mighty way. How did they lead such extraordinary lives?

Well, it was by God’s grace, which is defined as God’s empowerment that gives us the ability to go beyond our own natural ability. We must understand that the primary function of the grace of God is His empowerment! What an amazing concept to take a hold of as we are called to live out our lives as Jesus did, yet many times, we have allowed ourselves to fall short of this calling, not realizing the power that He has given us to succeed.

1 John 4:17 says, “As Jesus is, so we are in this world” (NLT). Jesus influenced the leaders of His day. He challenged the normal expectations of the believer. What was it that set him apart from so many others? How did Jesus live while here on earth?

1. Jesus walked in extraordinary godliness and purity, and we have so much potential to do the same, but we must understand that holiness is not a work of the flesh, but is a product of the gift of grace, which He has given to each of us.
2. Jesus met the needs of humanity. Great power = great grace. We now live with a great expectation realized through his grace.
3. Jesus walked in extraordinary wisdom. The grace of God gave him the ability to change and impact lives.

The grace of God gives us the ability to rule this life. We were created to live an extraordinary life in the realm that what have been called to. What an awesome thought as we challenge ourselves to be more by depending on the provisions He has set for us.

This was such a stirring and relevant message, let me encourage you to watch or listen to all of John’s message online by clicking here.

I have been diagnosed with deteriorating discs in my spine. I had been unable to bed over as well as sit without support. The pain has been excruciating for the past five years.

But then, during a service in which Pastor Rolando was speaking, he had the congregation stand at the end of service and asked that we lay hands on our neighbors. My back was hurting so bad from sitting, and I was in the overflow room, so it was hard to see that my hand was raised for healing. But then, even as I started to get discouraged, Pastor Rolando made the statement, “If no one can lay hands on you, it’s okay; just trust God.”

Immediately, I felt the pain lighten. Then, Pastor Rolando said that he sensed a burning pain in the lower back that God was healing. Immediately, the pain left completely! Since then, I have been able to do EVERYTHING I was unable to do for the last 10 years! PRAISE GOD! HE IS FAITHFUL!

I can now sit without support and bend over and touch the ground. I even pushed my dad around the aquarium in a wheelchair for hours with no pain. Thank you, Jesus!