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!