VICTORY TABERNACLE APOSTOLIC INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED

Historical Reflections 2003 – 2023

Atthe core of the human experience is the longing for belonging. We need to be connected to the supernatural and a source from which we find answers to the vexing issues and questions of life. Nothing fills the void and emptiness created by the need to satisfy the spiritual hunger and longing in the human experience, than an encounter with Jesus Christ. The complexities and uncertainties of life are best unraveled and settled by the invisible guiding hand of God. Man has an innate need for spiritual guidance, stability, and direction. This helps people to find rightness with God. Proverbs 14:34 suggests that being right with God makes a nation great, but sin is a shame to any people (NLV).

In keeping with the commands of Jesus to go into all the world and preach the Gospel (Matthew 28:19), to facilitate rightness with God, Pastor Wayne Williams has responded well.

On the cool Sunday morning of January 5, 2003, a group of people gathered at the Avon Park Community

Center. Under the divine guidance of the Holy Ghost, brother Elisha Singh led the charge and delivered the message at the first service of the new church plant. A clear statement was made to the neighborhood that Avon Park and the surrounding communities would never be the same.

They were not exempt from the challenges which accompanied new church startups. They moved between the Community Center, the Quality Inn Hotel, and other places, for approximately one year. Equipment rolling off vehicles, while being transported to and from the temporary places of worship, were just some of the challenges the pioneer group encountered. Sometimes it appeared as if there was no end to the overwhelming challenges.

Influenced by the empowering impact of the Holy Ghost, the team of twenty were inspired by the challenges and obstacles. They were gifted, positioned, and focused. However, they lacked the immediate resources needed to purchase a place to call home for the newly established ministry.

On March 24, 2003, the assembly was registered as a Not-ForProfit organization with the name Victory Tabernacle International Inc. The name Apostolic was added later. By December of 2003, the dream of acquiring a permanent home for the church became a reality when property was purchased (off Highway US27), at 1008 Peel Street in the city of Avon Park, Florida. The pioneer group, along with members of the community, worked unselfishly to modify the old animal feed store building into an acceptable place of worship. The team spirit, commitment, and dedication of the group were evident as they labored. By January 11, 2004, the first service was held in the smaller section of the building. Worship services were held there for approximately seven years. On March 20, 2010, the congregation moved into the current sanctuary which has a seating capacity of approximately 250. The total building occupancy is 400 persons.

Victory Tabernacle Apostolic International Inc. is a member of the global Apostolic family of the Christian Faith. The Apostolic movement has its genesis in the Acts of the Apostles, an unveiling of Old Testament types and shadows and the progressive revelation of Jesus Christ. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central theme and focus of the movement. The fundamental tenet of the Apostolic Church is that Jesus Christ is the expressed image of the invisible God; meaning that God manifested Himself in flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary. The Church embraces the Bible as the unqualified, ultimate, and final authority on the existence of God, the birth of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins through the salvation of sinners, the second coming of Christ, and the eternal punishment for unrepented sin.

The Vision Statement of Victory Tabernacle captures the essence of the command of Jesus in St. Matthew 28:19 to go and preach the gospel to all people.

Vision Statement

“To reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ, to develop and bring to maturity those who believe in Him, so that we may realize our life’s mission on earth and ultimately our eternal purpose, in order to bring Glory to God’s name.”

“Focus on Jesus” is the central theme of the assembly.

There are six strategic focus areas of the assembly’s operations:

Faith, Worship, Evangelism, Fellowship, Ministry, and Discipleship

The assembly seeks to inculcate in members, the principles of the following Lifestyle Statement, with the hope of influencing the daily interactions of congregants.

Lifestyle Statement

V Victory is our name and nature

I I must decrease

C Christ is the head of my life

T Tithe and tell others of Christ

O Our purpose is to fulfill God’s Purpose

R Read and obey the Bible

Y You are an important part of God’s plan

Victory Tabernacle is a member of the Central Florida Apostolic Kingdom Alliance. The assembly has joined forces with five other Apostolic Churches in fellowship, evangelism, and other endeavors. Victory Tabernacle also maintains a strong bond of fellowship and cooperation with Pentecostal Tabernacle of North Miami. The entire congregation, and more specifically our youth, have benefitted from our affiliation with Apostolic Camp International (ACI). Each year a large contingent of our members have attended the residential camp and have returned edified, empowered, and energized for service. The assembly has also been very supportive of other Apostolic Ministries in the state of Florida, Jamaica, and other parts of the United States. Through these strategic collaborative efforts, we have learnt to function as a ‘Body Fitly Framed Together’.

In addition to the foundation members, the Victory Tabernacle Ministry is supported by a team of dedicated volunteers whose unwavering commitment has facilitated the timely growth and development of the ministry.

The following individuals lead the various ministries of Victory Tabernacle:

Christian Education

Sister Rosalee Lewis

Ushers Ministry

Sister Thelma Ramsey

Pastoral Aid/Hospitality Committee

Sister Remona Morris

Youth and Media Ministries

Minister Rashaud Thomas Williams

Music Ministry

Minister Jumar Moffatt

Marriage Ministry

Elder Elisha and Sis Ilett Singh

Men’s Ministry

Minister Michael Isaacs

Women’s Ministry

Evangelist Arlene Williams

Prayer Ministry

Minister Michael and Evangelist Joan Garrick-Isaacs

Prison Ministry

Evangelist Arlene Williams

Food Pantry and Care Ministry

Sister Clair Samuels

Prayer Tent/Evangelism

Elder Albert Morris

Pastors

Bishop Wayne and Lady Arlene Williams

Victory Tabernacle’s Ministry has experienced significant growth over the twenty years of its operations. Since the first meeting in January 2003 of approximately twenty members, including a core leadership team of Pastor Wayne Williams, Deacon Neville Fletcher, Deaconess Peggy Fletcher, Minister Elisha Singh, Missionaries Jacqueline Myrie and Janet Russell and Sister Carlene Dixon, the number of congregants has steadily increased.

Over the twenty years, more than two hundred and eighty persons were baptized in Jesus’ name. Approximately one hundred and twenty persons received the Holy Ghost. Over sixty babies have been blessed. The assembly continues to focus on meeting the spiritual and some of the social needs of congregants as well as outreach programs to the community. The ministry includes the preaching and teaching of The Word of God, in keeping with the mandate of the Church to help persons establish rightness with God through repentance, baptism in Jesus’ name and the infilling of the Holy Ghost. The assembly facilitates pre-marital and post-marital counseling, other forms of Pastoral counseling, conducts weddings and funerals, and blesses babies. Victory Tabernacle provides a haven for the expression of faith, worship, and fellowship to enhance personal growth and development of members. The Prison Outreach Ministry is a significant and growing part of the Church’s programs.

The number of congregants has fluctuated over the years for various reasons. Some have moved to other states or towns, others were seasonal residents/visitors to our city and assembly, and others may have left the fellowship for various reasons. It may take some time for attendance to return to pre-Covid 19 levels of capacity. However, we are grateful to God that our doors remained open during most of the pandemic, even if it meant having worship services in the huge parking space at the rear of the Tabernacle. We are also grateful to God that none of our members lost their lives as a result of the pandemic. Today, we also give thanks that our doors remain open as the assembly remains on the path of continuous praise and worship to the Lord.

We wish to place on record our deepest thanks and appreciation to Almighty God for twenty years of ministry in Highlands County and more specifically in Avon Park - the City of Charm. We place on record our appreciation to our team of dedicated ministry workers, congregants, and community members for their continued support.

As we forge ahead, the history of Victory Tabernacle is still being written to the glory of God.