Here are some of the VLF highlights for 2009: (for those of you that weren’t able to attend the Family Meeting a couple of weeks ago)
1. VLF is family, and we love to fellowship. We had numerous opportunities to get together for meals, Drive in Theatre Night, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and many more.
2. It is important to have a strong foundation in our families. In order to build these areas up we hosted: Marriage Matters (building strong couples), Finance Matters (instilling biblical truths & practical applications by Craig Hussey), and Parenting Matters (acquiring the tools to ‘raise our children in the way they should go’).
3. Guest Speakers in 2009 were: Riley Stephenson, Chip Brim, Steve Munds, Pastor Doug Klan, Go Ministries and Pastor Teri Pearsons.
4. Our Crave Youth started up again! They are a fired up group of 13-28 year olds who love the Lord.
They had wonderful worship services lead by the youth, games nights, and a slip & slide day.
5. Pastor Dieter celebrated his 50th Birthday in style. The congregation blessed him with a lovely birthday card and money to purchase his own project car; a Plymouth of course!
6. VLF is very community minded and we reach out into the city of Kelowna in lots of different ways. Our three Free Community Events: Easter Pancake Breakfast, Back to School Bash and our Christmas Day Dinner were a success. Our KidZone (children’s ministry) reach out to a low cost housing complex- Columbus Housing, bringing God’s message of love through practical hands on application. Games, cookie decorating, skits, and of course candy were just some of the things they did. The Boys & Girls’ Youth Center is VLF’s focus once a month when we provide a BBQ or a meal to all the youth there. Also on weekly basis members of the VLF congregation provide a meal, snacks & desserts.
Street Chats is a very large part of our outreach into the community. Every Monday during the year you will find our people on the street corner of Lawrence & Bertram handing out hot-dogs, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and beverages to those who live on the streets. They also have a tremendous platform to minister from. Our Random Acts of Kindness/Missions in Our Own City days spanned the year with members giving out roses, Tim Horton’s gift cards and taking opportunities to pray for people.
7. VLF celebrated its 20th Anniversary this September. We enjoyed a picnic with food and games.
We were also able to take a VLF family picture.
8. Our annual Word Explosion was on the same weekend of VLF’s 20th Anniversary. Pastor Dieter, Chip Brim and Steve Munds were the guest speakers.
9. Our own Victory School of Ministry Bible School celebrated a graduation. It truly goes with our mandate to ‘Reach em, Teach em and emPower Each of em’.
10. Prayer continues to be a vital part of VLF. There is Spirit led prayer every other Wednesday evening and every Tuesday morning. What a great time we have with the Holy Spirit moving at these meetings; Holy Ghost laughter & healings.
11. Our new building project on McCurdy road is progressing. We see the building to lock up with the parking lot paved and ready for our vehicles. The plans were finalized and we are anticipating everything to go smoothly. We look forward to the day in the near future when we hold our first Sunday morning service there.
12. Over 325 Salvations in 2009! We are an evangelistic church; over 100 Re-dedications and numerous people filled with the Holy Spirit.
Victory Life tithes and gives offerings as well. We are so blessed to have a body of believers who love to give because they love the Lord. In addition to the events listed above, here are some of the projects you made possible in 2009.
13. Close to home, we support Teen Challenge Okanagan and Kelowna Gospel Mission on a monthly basis. Both of these organizations do great work in the community and we have seen the fruit of that seed in our very own Andy Johnston who heads up Street Chats. On a monthly basis we also support,
Kenneth Hagin Ministries, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Joyce Meyer, Billye Brim Ministries Canada and Jerry Savelle Ministries. We also support Morning Star Fellowship in Israel under Operation Outreach. We were a part of them being able to purchase enough lighting for their whole building. What a blessing! Go Ministries is also very dear to our heart as some of our own youth-Davina, Michael, Shala and Jason were interns at Go. We are able to sow into Go Ministries on a regular basis. Our church was also a part of sowing Kenneth Hagin books into Taiwan. We were able to sow into Victory Christian Center for their Christmas Dinner outreach; their Pastors were responsible for us starting our very own Free Community Events!
14. Our annual Women’s Christmas Tea was a huge success! The ladies did a beautiful job decorating and many ladies from the community were blessed. We were able to sow gifts and money to Esther Place and the Kelowna Women’s Shelter.
15. Not only does Victory Life care for the spiritual welfare of its people it also cares for its members in a practical manner and was able to bless some VLF members with gifts of food and gas.
Thank you so much for being a part of VLF! Look at what the Lord has done… through you!!
Haiti: February 12th: The Day 2 Chronicles 7:14 became Reality in Haiti,
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” –(2 Chron. 7:14)
On February 12, 2010, President Préval of Haiti called his nation to 3 days of fasting and prayer in place of the regular Mardi Gras celebration.
Not long after the devastating earthquake wreaked havoc on Haiti, President Préval made a monumental decision; together with his people, he would humble himself before the Lord, calling on Him for forgiveness and healing for his land. It was the time of the Mardi Gras celebration, but the people of this impoverished nation were more than willing to change their plans, as their hearts had already been broken.
Hundreds of thousands of Haitian people gathered in a picture of true repentance; hands uplifted to God, tears streaming. The prime minister arrived. He didn’t speak a word, but he cried for an hour, then left and returned with Haiti’s President. Reportedly, thousands came to Christ during that time, with over 100 voodoo priests turning to Jesus.
I invite you to watch a video report of what took place that moved me to tears. CLICK HERE <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30rWm84z-zg&feature=related> to watch it.
Aimee Herd (Mar 8, 2010)
“I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.” – Psalm 18:3
“I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.” – Psalm 9:1
Are you in POSITION? …Are you READY? …ASSEMBLE! …It’s WAR! We are NOT WHIMPS! We ARE MIGHTY WARRIORS! – Chip Brim
Chip’s powerful messages encouraged, challenged and empowered each of us to take our rightful place in the army of the Lord!
Thank you Chip! We praise God for the divine connections we have!
CD’s are available for $15 (from the office, or sign up at the front foyer at the CRC building)
The first week the wall was up, we took a $50 brick and began to believe God. Later that week we were blessed with the money to sow. Later in the week that we sowed the money, Alea got a $1/hour raise at work, and increased hours. Glory to God.
Now we have a $100 brick on the fridge and we’re excited to how God is going to meet our faith and the blessings he’s going to pour out. I’ll keep you posted… Lance Verwoerd
- Pick up a FREE CD at the front entrance table entitled: ‘Am I In Faith?’ by Keith Moore. It is one of the best teachings we have heard on FAITH.
- Be praying about your involvement at the Easter Pancake Breakfast on Good Friday (April 2nd). There are many opportunities to serve. We will be collecting the ‘purple’ sign-up forms on Sunday.
- Bring in any prizes, clothing, & donations for the Easter Pancake Breakfast to the Church or the church office.