We have begun a new recycling program here at Victory. Beginning this Sunday there will be a green box in the foyer of the church where you can bring your used print cartridges and old cell phones to be recycled. The items will be collected at the church and then shipped periodically to Planet Green for recycling. Planet Green provides for the shipping for the items, and after receiving the items will send our church a check for the items submitted.
This new program fits with the stewardship goals of our church in two ways.
First, since our Lord created man and then gave him dominion over the Creation instructing him to work it and keep it (cf. Genesis 1.28-30, 2.15), we believe that as human beings we have a divine mandate to be good stewards of the Creation. Recycling is one way in which we can actively be better stewards of the world, which our God has given us.
Second, since this program is dependent upon donations, which would otherwise create clutter and waste, and since Planet Green pays the postage, this program provides us with a way to raise some additional funds for our church with very little effort and no expense on our part.
I hope you will be a good steward of what the Lord has given you, by taking part in this new program.
If you church is interested in starting such a recycling program, we recommend that you check out Planet Green at http://www.planetgreeninc.com.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Shooting
Our church was the victim of a drive-by shooting that occurred sometime between 5:00 pm on Monday July 23 and 4:00 pm on Tuesday July 24. Five rounds, that appear to have come from a 9mm handgun, were fired through the glass doors in the entryway of our church. Four of the rounds shattered the glass in two of our four doors, and one round went through the stained glass between the doors. The rounds also did quite a bit of damage inside the church: taking out our message board, damaging the metal safety rail alongside the stairwell, damaging some trim and leaving several holes in the wall. One round went through the wall and also shattered the large mirror in the upstairs men’s restroom.
Fortunately, no one was at the church during the shooting and there were no bodily injuries as a result. Doors, mirrors, message boards, paneling and trim can all be replaced, but human lives cannot! We praise God that no one was physically hurt as a result of this incident.
The incident was reported to the Kansas City Police Department and the investigating officer managed to recover several of the rounds as evidence. The officer told the pastor that there was a similar incident at a sister church nearby recently. In that instance the pastor was at the church at the time and so that incident is being investigated as an armed assault. Because no one was present at our church at the time the shooting occurred, our incident will be investigated as a property damage incident. There is a possibility that the two incidents may be linked.
If anyone knows of anything regarding this incident we would like to ask them to contact the Kansas City Police Department – Shoal Creek Substation, Property Crimes Investigation Unit. Our neighborhood association is planning to encourage our neighbors to contact the police if they saw or heard anything regarding the shooting. We would like to see the shooters come to justice so that the safety of our neighborhood might be preserved. We thank the neighborhood association for their cooperation.
Fortunately, no one was at the church during the shooting and there were no bodily injuries as a result. Doors, mirrors, message boards, paneling and trim can all be replaced, but human lives cannot! We praise God that no one was physically hurt as a result of this incident.
The incident was reported to the Kansas City Police Department and the investigating officer managed to recover several of the rounds as evidence. The officer told the pastor that there was a similar incident at a sister church nearby recently. In that instance the pastor was at the church at the time and so that incident is being investigated as an armed assault. Because no one was present at our church at the time the shooting occurred, our incident will be investigated as a property damage incident. There is a possibility that the two incidents may be linked.
If anyone knows of anything regarding this incident we would like to ask them to contact the Kansas City Police Department – Shoal Creek Substation, Property Crimes Investigation Unit. Our neighborhood association is planning to encourage our neighbors to contact the police if they saw or heard anything regarding the shooting. We would like to see the shooters come to justice so that the safety of our neighborhood might be preserved. We thank the neighborhood association for their cooperation.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Vacation Bible School
We had a wonderful Vacation Bible School this week. V.B.S. this year was a cooperate project between our church and our sister church, the Harmony Free Will Baptist Church located in Parkville, Missouri. Bible School was held at Victory’s facilities, but our two churches pooled our resources and personnel. The plan is to cooperate with our sister church again next year, and to hold the V.B.S. at their church.Vacation Bible School began on Sunday night and concluded on Thursday evening. There were 46 children who were enrolled in Vacation Bible School. The highest attendance was 41.
The closing program was held on Friday evening, with a cookout and carnival games for the children following the program. The kids did a wonderful job and there were 96 in attendance for the program. At the program Rev. Doug Mingus, pastor of the First Free Will Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas was presented with a check for the amount of the offering for the week. This $250.00 was given to help his church, which had sustained substantial loss from flooding earlier in the year.
We are pleased to have been able to work together with our sister church this week, and we are extremely pleased to have been able to help another sister church recover from her loss. We pray for God’s blessings upon all of our churches.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
June 9 2007 -- Report from the State Meeting
The 94th Annual Session of the Missouri State Association of Free Will Baptists convened on June 4-6, 2007 at the Clarion Hotel in Springfield, Missouri. The theme for the convention was “By Faith…” taken from chapter 11 from the book of Hebrews. Speakers for the worship services included Victory’s former pastors, Rev. Glenn Rehkop and Dr. Timothy Eaton. The Christian Education Board hosted a seminar for those in attendance with Dr. H. B. London, vice-president at Focus on the Family ministries in Colorado Springs, CO.
Business began in the Tuesday afternoon session. Delegates heard annual reports from all of our state boards and several national entities. Officers and board members were elected to the state boards. Our pastor was elected to a term expiring in 2012 on the Christian Education Board.
The following two items of business presented from the General Board:
Item 1: We recommend that the subscription price for the GEM magazine be increased to $6.00 per subscription for the church plan and $6.50 per individual subscriptions.
After a motion and second and a question regarding when this would take effect the item passed without opposition. The change will take place after the next billing cycle, and is necessary both to offset the rising costs and to accommodate some upcoming changes including some special editions of the magazine.
Item 2: We want to remind the General Board of their motion (made at our Nov. 2006 meeting) to the State Association regarding the change to By-law #66. The proposed By-law #66 reads:
We believe that Paul’s statement in 1 Tim. 3.2,12 and Titus 1.6, namely “the husband of one wife,” be looked upon as making ineligible as pastors or deacons anyone who has been divorced and remarried, or who marries a divorced woman, regardless of the cause of the divorce or the guilt or innocence of either partner.
We believe that said persons, whose marital status disqualifies them to be pastors or deacons, not be discouraged in their Christian lives or Christian service, but that they be encouraged to live faithfully for Christ and serve Him in the ministry of the local church; and that such be reminded that pastors and deacons are the only church officers for whom the “husband of one wife” prohibition is given.
While certainly it is the ideal for all believers, it is biblically insisted upon as a requirement for deacons and pastors.
While not insisting that this bylaw be made retroactive, we do establish this standard to be upheld for all new candidates for pastors or deacons.
As this recommendation was a proposed constitution and by-law change it was tabled until the next day as the by-laws demand. There was some opposition to bringing the item off the table. Once on the floor for discussion there was some debate regarding the recommended change. Among the voices in opposition to this measure was our pastor. After some debate a vote was called for and the measure passed, although there were several who stood in opposition.
The delegates were also informed of plans to change the format for State Meeting beginning next year. The plan is to hold the state CTS competition at the State Meeting. The meeting will begin with a Youth Service at 6:00 on Sunday evening, followed by CTS competition until Monday afternoon. The Christian Education Board speaker will speak on Monday evening instead of Tuesday morning. The W.A.C. and General Board will meet on Tuesday. The report from the General Board will be given after the Tuesday evening service and the business session will be held on Wednesday.
The convention will conclude with the Wednesday evening service. These changes were coordinated by the Executive Director, WAC, and Youth Ministries Board and were not subject to approval by the delegates. The delegates did approve to hold the annual meeting at the Clarion Hotel in Springfield again in 2008 and 2009.
During the Wednesday evening session, the delegates heard from missionary Micah Derby via video teleconference, and from Eddie Bowerman, missionary to Panama. Rev. Dale Skiles was honored for his years of service as the Director of Missouri State Home Missions. Rev. Frank Webster was introduced as the new Director of Missouri Missions. Bro. Webster is the first director under the new unified mission board. He also brought the message for the evening service.
Business began in the Tuesday afternoon session. Delegates heard annual reports from all of our state boards and several national entities. Officers and board members were elected to the state boards. Our pastor was elected to a term expiring in 2012 on the Christian Education Board.
The following two items of business presented from the General Board:
Item 1: We recommend that the subscription price for the GEM magazine be increased to $6.00 per subscription for the church plan and $6.50 per individual subscriptions.
After a motion and second and a question regarding when this would take effect the item passed without opposition. The change will take place after the next billing cycle, and is necessary both to offset the rising costs and to accommodate some upcoming changes including some special editions of the magazine.
Item 2: We want to remind the General Board of their motion (made at our Nov. 2006 meeting) to the State Association regarding the change to By-law #66. The proposed By-law #66 reads:
We believe that Paul’s statement in 1 Tim. 3.2,12 and Titus 1.6, namely “the husband of one wife,” be looked upon as making ineligible as pastors or deacons anyone who has been divorced and remarried, or who marries a divorced woman, regardless of the cause of the divorce or the guilt or innocence of either partner.
We believe that said persons, whose marital status disqualifies them to be pastors or deacons, not be discouraged in their Christian lives or Christian service, but that they be encouraged to live faithfully for Christ and serve Him in the ministry of the local church; and that such be reminded that pastors and deacons are the only church officers for whom the “husband of one wife” prohibition is given.
While certainly it is the ideal for all believers, it is biblically insisted upon as a requirement for deacons and pastors.
While not insisting that this bylaw be made retroactive, we do establish this standard to be upheld for all new candidates for pastors or deacons.
As this recommendation was a proposed constitution and by-law change it was tabled until the next day as the by-laws demand. There was some opposition to bringing the item off the table. Once on the floor for discussion there was some debate regarding the recommended change. Among the voices in opposition to this measure was our pastor. After some debate a vote was called for and the measure passed, although there were several who stood in opposition.
The delegates were also informed of plans to change the format for State Meeting beginning next year. The plan is to hold the state CTS competition at the State Meeting. The meeting will begin with a Youth Service at 6:00 on Sunday evening, followed by CTS competition until Monday afternoon. The Christian Education Board speaker will speak on Monday evening instead of Tuesday morning. The W.A.C. and General Board will meet on Tuesday. The report from the General Board will be given after the Tuesday evening service and the business session will be held on Wednesday.
The convention will conclude with the Wednesday evening service. These changes were coordinated by the Executive Director, WAC, and Youth Ministries Board and were not subject to approval by the delegates. The delegates did approve to hold the annual meeting at the Clarion Hotel in Springfield again in 2008 and 2009.
During the Wednesday evening session, the delegates heard from missionary Micah Derby via video teleconference, and from Eddie Bowerman, missionary to Panama. Rev. Dale Skiles was honored for his years of service as the Director of Missouri State Home Missions. Rev. Frank Webster was introduced as the new Director of Missouri Missions. Bro. Webster is the first director under the new unified mission board. He also brought the message for the evening service.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
50th Anniversary Celebration
Victory celebrated her 50th Anniversary among friends and former members on Sunday March 25, 2007. To commemorate this occasion special services were planned for the morning and afternoon. There was also a large meal provided for those in attendance.
The morning service focused on honoring Victory’s past and featured special music from Victory’s choir; Darren Vinson; Larry Noah; and a quartet composed of Jeanie Vinson, Pat Peterson, Joyce Zimmerman, and Darrell Vinson. During this service the history of the church was read by Joyce Zimmerman, and the charter members were remembered by name (none were present). The former pastors of the church were presented certificates of appreciation and their wives were presented floral corsages to commemorate their service to the church. Five of Victory’s ten pastoral families were represented at the celebration. The congregation received a letter of greetings from her third pastor Rev. Glen Rehkop. The church welcomed distinguished guest Bill Sanders who brought congratulations and greetings from Northland Neighborhoods Inc. and the Chaumiere Neighborhood Association. The message for the morning service was brought by Dr. Timothy Eaton, Victory’s fourth pastor and the current president of Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in Moore, Oklahoma. Bro. Tim preached about unity in the church, and Christ’s destruction of the walls that separate us. There was a total attendance of 121 in the morning service.
The afternoon service focused on anticipating Victory’s future and featured special music from Crystal Walsh and Arlo Starnes. Greetings and congratulations were brought to the church by distinguished guests Rev. Dennis Bowman representing the Greater Kansas City District Association of Free Will Baptists, Father Aidan McSorley representing the Northland Ministerial Alliance, and Rev. Gary Fry representing the Missouri State Association of Free Will Baptists. Father McSorley displayed a 17th century Hebrew Bible and told its story to emphasize that we stand on the shoulders of those who went before us and that we have a responsibility to the generations that will follow us. Bro. Fry presented Pastor Kevin and Victory Church a plaque commemorating this special occasion. The afternoon message was brought by Dr. Mark Braisher, Victory’s fifth pastor and currently a FWB National Home Missionary to Overland Park, Kansas. Bro. Mark challenged the church to not become stagnant, but changing with the times in order that it may continue to reach people. The service concluded with Executive Director Gary Fry, and Pastor Kevin D. Williford leading the congregation in a reaffirmation of the Free Will Baptist Church Covenant.
We thank all those who worked to make this occasion memorable and meaningful, and we thank all those who attended and participated in this celebration with us. But most importantly we give thanks to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
The morning service focused on honoring Victory’s past and featured special music from Victory’s choir; Darren Vinson; Larry Noah; and a quartet composed of Jeanie Vinson, Pat Peterson, Joyce Zimmerman, and Darrell Vinson. During this service the history of the church was read by Joyce Zimmerman, and the charter members were remembered by name (none were present). The former pastors of the church were presented certificates of appreciation and their wives were presented floral corsages to commemorate their service to the church. Five of Victory’s ten pastoral families were represented at the celebration. The congregation received a letter of greetings from her third pastor Rev. Glen Rehkop. The church welcomed distinguished guest Bill Sanders who brought congratulations and greetings from Northland Neighborhoods Inc. and the Chaumiere Neighborhood Association. The message for the morning service was brought by Dr. Timothy Eaton, Victory’s fourth pastor and the current president of Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in Moore, Oklahoma. Bro. Tim preached about unity in the church, and Christ’s destruction of the walls that separate us. There was a total attendance of 121 in the morning service.
The afternoon service focused on anticipating Victory’s future and featured special music from Crystal Walsh and Arlo Starnes. Greetings and congratulations were brought to the church by distinguished guests Rev. Dennis Bowman representing the Greater Kansas City District Association of Free Will Baptists, Father Aidan McSorley representing the Northland Ministerial Alliance, and Rev. Gary Fry representing the Missouri State Association of Free Will Baptists. Father McSorley displayed a 17th century Hebrew Bible and told its story to emphasize that we stand on the shoulders of those who went before us and that we have a responsibility to the generations that will follow us. Bro. Fry presented Pastor Kevin and Victory Church a plaque commemorating this special occasion. The afternoon message was brought by Dr. Mark Braisher, Victory’s fifth pastor and currently a FWB National Home Missionary to Overland Park, Kansas. Bro. Mark challenged the church to not become stagnant, but changing with the times in order that it may continue to reach people. The service concluded with Executive Director Gary Fry, and Pastor Kevin D. Williford leading the congregation in a reaffirmation of the Free Will Baptist Church Covenant.
We thank all those who worked to make this occasion memorable and meaningful, and we thank all those who attended and participated in this celebration with us. But most importantly we give thanks to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Monday, March 19, 2007
Derby for the Derbys
Victory FWB Church participated in the "Derby for the Derbys" on Saturday March 17, 2007. This was a pine-wood derby race sponsored by the Greater Kansas City District Association of Free Will Baptists as a mission fund-raiser for Micah and Becky Derby, FWB Missionaries to France. The race was held at the Central FWB Church in Grandview on Saturday from 9:30 until about 1:30.
There were over 70 cars that were registered for the event in three different age brackets. Victory entered a total of 7 cars in the races. Our participants were: Jesus Reuscher, Nathan Heard, Tyler Sparks, Robbie Tillery, Joshua Johnson, Jeff Sparks, Kevin and Dagen Williford. .Only four of our seven cars actually made it to the races, and none of those placed. But we all had alot of fun working on our cars and seeing them race. It was also fun to participate in the friendly rivalry between our sister churches and to watch some of the cars lose their wheels and crash before they made it to the end of the course. Bret Johnson and Pastor Kevin also assisted the race officials in the races.
It was announced by Ken Simpson, our District Mission Co-ordinator, that over $1,000.00 had already been raised for the Derbys from this event. The final number will be higher. The proceeds from the entry fees and concessions were designated for the Derby's Missionary Account. Bro. Ken and Pastor Kevin spoke about making this an annual event, and Pastor Kevin assured him that Victory would look forward to participating in the future.
There were over 70 cars that were registered for the event in three different age brackets. Victory entered a total of 7 cars in the races. Our participants were: Jesus Reuscher, Nathan Heard, Tyler Sparks, Robbie Tillery, Joshua Johnson, Jeff Sparks, Kevin and Dagen Williford. .Only four of our seven cars actually made it to the races, and none of those placed. But we all had alot of fun working on our cars and seeing them race. It was also fun to participate in the friendly rivalry between our sister churches and to watch some of the cars lose their wheels and crash before they made it to the end of the course. Bret Johnson and Pastor Kevin also assisted the race officials in the races.
It was announced by Ken Simpson, our District Mission Co-ordinator, that over $1,000.00 had already been raised for the Derbys from this event. The final number will be higher. The proceeds from the entry fees and concessions were designated for the Derby's Missionary Account. Bro. Ken and Pastor Kevin spoke about making this an annual event, and Pastor Kevin assured him that Victory would look forward to participating in the future.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
New Website
Victory Free Will Baptist Church goes on-line. After months of discussion and development, the newly designed website for the Victory FWB Church was previewed to the Advisory Board at its meeting on March 6, 2007. The board was impressed with the work that had been put into developing the site, and expressed excitement over the possibilities that the site opened for both the members of the church and for those just getting acquainted with the church.
It was decided by the board to try to have the site published by Saturday, March 10, 2007. The intention for this decision is that time might be allowed for the site to be tested by the members of the board before it is officially unveiled to the whole church. Barring any technical difficulties, the board plans to unveil the new website officially at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the church which will be held on Sunday, March 25th.
To the best of the pastor's knowledge, this will be the first time in the history of the church that the church has had its own website.
It was decided by the board to try to have the site published by Saturday, March 10, 2007. The intention for this decision is that time might be allowed for the site to be tested by the members of the board before it is officially unveiled to the whole church. Barring any technical difficulties, the board plans to unveil the new website officially at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the church which will be held on Sunday, March 25th.
To the best of the pastor's knowledge, this will be the first time in the history of the church that the church has had its own website.
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