Victory (church)
Victory Christian Fellowship of the Philippines, Inc. is an evangelical Protestant church based in the Philippines. It is a member of Every Nation Churches, with churches and campus ministries in over eighty nations.[1]
Victory Christian Fellowship of the Philippines, Inc. | |
---|---|
Honor God, Make Disciples | |
Location | 32nd Street corner University Parkway, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City |
Country | Philippines |
Denomination | Every Nation Churches |
Membership | 65,000 |
Website | victory |
History | |
Former name(s) | Victory Christian Fellowship, VCF, Victory Church |
Status | Megachurch |
Founded | 1984 |
Founder(s) | Steve and Deborah Murrell |
Architecture | |
Functional status | Active |
Style | Modern |
History
Victory was started by Steve and Deborah Murrell, who came to the Philippines in 1984 together with Rice Broocks and 65 other American university students on a one-month summer mission trip.[2] Since 1984, Victory has grown until it presently has churches in 60 Philippine cities.[3]
During a difficult time when Victory Manilla was struggling, Emanuele Cannistraci ("Apostle C"), Founding Pastor of Gateway City Church in San Jose, California, took Steve Murrell and church leaders under his wing, and treated them like they were part of his own staff and family and mentored them and ministered to the church and its leaders during Apostle C and his wife, Shirley's ("Sister C"), annual ministry meetings at Victory Manilla, in the 1980's and continuing for over a decade. Steve Murrell wrote, Apostle C taught us, by example, how to "do ministry with integrity, how to do life with joy, and how to do family with no regrets.”[4]
In 2015, Victory's Metro Manila church had 15 congregations, all with multiple services and locations, and many offering more than one language (English).[5] The church has multiple locations and holds 94 services every weekend, each of them led by live preaching, training Filipinos to reach their cities, the nation, and the world.[6] Over 10,000 leaders conduct small weekly discipleship groups.[7] Victory is a global megachurch[8] and reports 80,000 members in Manila alone. [9][10]
Discipleship and leadership training process
Since its inception in 1984, church members are equipped to compassionately engage communities, intentionally establish biblical foundations, strategically equip believers, and continually empower disciples.[11] Its primary vehicle for discipleship is the Victory group, a small group of people who get together, build relationships, and study the Bible.[12][13][14][15]
Victory Worship
In 2014, Victory Worship released its first live worship album, Radical Love.[16][17] Radical Love and its 2015 follow-up, Rise Heart, were certified Gold by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry, Inc. (PARI).[18] On March 25, 2017, the group released Awit ng Bayan, its first full Filipino-language single; on June 1, 2017, Safe, its latest digital single, was released to radio and on digital formats.[19] An extended play, For Your Purpose, was released on December 1, 2017. On March 16, 2018, it released its latest extended play, In Your Name.
Doctrine
Victory, as a member of Every Nation, adheres to the statement of faith of the World Evangelical Alliance,[20] of which Every Nation is a member. Victory is also a member of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, and thus adheres to the council's statement of faith.[21]
See also
References
- Stetzer, Ed, "The Lego Principle: An Interview with Joey Bonifacio", Christianity Today, 2015-04-08. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
- Bird, Warren, "Philippines: Victory Megachurch Building on Discipleship", Outreach Magazine, 2015-11-25. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
- Stetzer, Ed, "The Lego Principle: An Interview with Joey Bonifacio", Christianity Today, 2015-04-08. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
- Murrell, Steve and William. The Multiplication Challenge: A Strategy to Solve Your Leadership Shortage. Creation House. ISBN 978-1-62998-574-9.
- Bird, Warren, "Philippines: Victory Megachurch Building on Discipleship", Outreach Magazine, 2015-11-25. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
- Stetzer, Ed, "CPLF Recap: November 2012, How North Americans Can Learn about Church Planting from the Rest of the World", Christianity Today, 2012-11-20. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
- Stetzer, Ed, "On the Path to Discipleship", Outreach Magazine, 2016-12-01. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
- Warren Bird, World megachurches, leadnet.org, USA, retrieved February 15, 2020
- Bird, Warren (November 25, 2015). "Philippines: Victory Megachurch Building on Discipleship". Outreach Magazine.
- Bird, Warren (2019). "The World's Largest Churches, a country-by-country list of global megachurches maintained by Warren Bird, PhD". Leadership Network.
- Stetzer, Ed, "Leadership Book Interview: Steve Murrell and Wikichurches", Christianity Today, 2011-11-22. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
- Esplanada, Jerry, "Ruffy Biazon Like a Fish in an Aquarium", Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2013-10-27. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
- Glorioso, Bot "Ogie Proud Dad On and Off Cam", Philippine Star, 2011-12-05. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
- Lo, Ricky "Coney Reyes on the perils & pleasures of single parenting", Philippine Star, 2004-03-10. Retrieved 2016-04-11.
- Stetzer, Ed, "Monday is for Missiology: Movemental Christianity Presentation", Christianity Today, 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
- "Pinoy Christian Worship Album tops iTunes Philippines Album Chart for One Week", CBN Asia, 2015-09-22. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
- James Banaag, "Local Christian band Victory Worship has been making waves in the OPM scene", One Music Philippines, 2016-03-23. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
- "List of PARI Gold, Platinum & Diamond Awardees". Retrieved 2016-04-04.
- "New Single from Victory Worship - "Safe"". www.multitracks.com. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
- "World Evangelical Alliance Statement of Faith". Retrieved 2016-04-01.
- "PCEC Members". Retrieved 2016-12-12.