Women of Victory

SPRING FLING APRIL 11-12,2008 IN SHERMAN, TEXAS

Ladies, get ready for the Spring Fling! You do not want to miss a minute of this powerful gathering of women! This year’s theme is The Unveiling—Exposing The Darkness And Walking In The Light. Our purpose is to expose real life issues that we deal with throughout our lives and to show how God can work in them for our benefit and His glory. You, in turn, may then help others. God's will is for us all to walk in freedom so we may be a living testament to His goodness. The cost is $30 until March 28, 2008; after that, the cost will be $40. There will be a table set-up in the foyer of each *Victory Life Church for pre-registration. Space is limited, so register as soon as possible. On-site registration and sign-in on Friday, April 11, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Victory Life in Sherman, 3400 Texoma Pkwy. The services begin at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served before and after services Friday evening. Saturday morning services are from 9:00 a.m. until noon.  Lunch will be served. This will be like no other Spring Fling you have ever experienced—come prepared to worship and praise God! If you need further information, call Cathy Stiles at 580-916-1339.

*If you desire to attend, but are too far away for church registration, send a check or money order payable to Victory Life for the appropriate amount and showing “Spring Fling” in the memo area to: Women’s Ministry, Victory Life Church, PO Box 427, Durant, OK 74702.

AFRICA TRIP REPORT

February 2008

       A team of eight men from the Victory Life Brotherhood departed Durant January 31 on a journey to Port Shepston, South Africa (100 km south of Durban). The primarily mission was to put a roof on the chapel of the Norwegian Settlers’ Church [the body responsible for the Genesis Project, which includes the AIDS clinic/hospice.] During the flight, we were joined by nine more men from the St Louis area. Thirty-four hours out of DFW Airport we arrived at the Skogheim Christian Camp, which we would call home for the next week.

       After attending church on Sunday morning, we went directly to work on the chapel roof. We spent most of the next five days on and around that roof, building and installing.  The chapel is approximately 35 feet in diameter, in an octagonal shape (see the pictures below.)

       On Wednesday there was a major setback to the schedule when the inspectors and engineers met and added an immense amount of bracing and support strapping to the project (beyond the point of normal understanding.) This kept the team working on the roof for the week, curtailing the work on other scheduled projects. On more than one occasion, we experienced electricity ‘blackouts’ due to power plant problems in the area. This created the need for the generators and rerouting electrical tools and wiring, slowing the work pace. Add to that multiple rain showers each day and more time was lost. The way the roof was capped was quite odd and very time consuming even before installing the slate roofing. By working late into Friday evening (our last day there), we were able to finish the job!

       Outside of the work, events took place, which were possibly more important than the roof:

       1) This was the first time that our men were at the set-up phase of a project. (We normally come in after everything has been set-up, then just go to work.)  In this case though, nothing was set-up and we had many opportunities for offense, working with the other team, while getting the project started. Our team acted in a decent and orderly manner through it all, representing the kingdom and Victory Life very well! Because of the manner in which our team walked, God honored us late in the week. The other team watched us closely and turned completely around, creating an atmosphere of unity, to the point that one of their team members changed his life, and we led him to the Lord on our last morning there!! By the end of the week, we looked and acted like a kingdom team.

       2) Each day, several of our team would slip off to the clinic to help the chaplain or a visiting pastor praise and share the Word.  We spoke life over the patients and helped lift the spirits of the staff. We were so welcomed that anything we ever asked, we were allowed to do. We got to know the patients and staff very well. On our one day off, some of us went back to the clinic and spent most of the morning. We were able pray and lay hands on all but three of the patients (they were in quarantine) and talk with those that could understand English. We got to see both sides of the clinic life; one patient got to go home, another was due to leave the day after we left, but sadly, one of the quarantine patients died right after we left the clinic that day. On our last day of work, we got to meet the clinic’s physician, Dr. Mike Nash. We asked some questions and he gave us a stat sheet concerning AIDS in the world and in Africa. 

       3) On the afternoon of our day off, we went into the mountains and met up with a Pastor Joseph Ndevelo and his wife. Joseph is a retired South African police officer, who is spending his retirement (money and time) building churches in the remote villages by feeding children. At the site we visited, he is feeding 100 children, two meals a day. (Picture below)   That night, we all put some money together for his ministry and the next morning presented it to him.  

       4) Our team did some serious growing and maturing on this trip. I believe that was the main reason for us being there.  We took Jesus with us, and God honored us for it. We Thank You for supporting us and praying for and with us during our trip. I believe it to be one of our better ministry endeavors, and I believe that many lives were touched and changed by it. Representing Victory Life were: Darrell Bailey, Brett Lane, Matt Lane, Jacob Lepka, Ed McCurry, Garry Reese, Tony Winslett and Tim MacEntire.

Editor’s Notes: Africa information and pictures courtesy of Tim MacEntire.

Many thanks for his timely, graphic and informative materials.

Thanks be to God for this group of godly men who are doing the works of Jesus.