Celebrating 25 Years in Asia

How wonderful it is to look back on 25 years of ministry and see the amazing things that God has done. October 9th, 2006 marked the start to the Victory Asia Conference entitled, Apostolic Momentum. Not only did it solidify what God had done over the past 25 years, but it set the course for the next 25 years! With our keynote speakers being Drs. George and Hazel Hill, it was sure to be amazing.

Apostolic Momentum is built, caught by others and then passed on to other generations. It, by definition, is bigger tomorrow then today.

In 1981 Dr. Al and Terry Purvis came to Thailand
with a desire to see this nation taken for Jesus. Quickly, they found their home filled with children who had been abandoned or orphaned due to the Vietnam war. Little did they know that this modest beginning would be the start to a powerful ministry.

Today the ministry has grown into over 8 nations: Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines, Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia, Vietnam, China and Thailand. God can do marvelous things with small beginnings
and big dreamers!

The Conference

Leaders from all over South East Asia came to the conference in anticipation
of what God was going to release. With the theme being Apostolic Momentum, it was no surprise that most of the messages were aimed at catapulting people into their destiny.

Drs. George and Hazel Hill were able to impart to the people. 15 new pastors were ordained, and as well, Pastor Al Purvis was given an honorary doctorate.

In sitting and talking with the National Leaders
about Victory Churches International, I was struck with a similar mindset. Each leader expressed their deep appreciation that they were part of a family. They now had prayer support, love and mentoring.

With Victory they found that they had a wider, global vision. Pastor Rich Conte, from the Philippines, shared that when he joined Victory there was a supernatural momentum that came with it. Things started multiplying and the ministry went from struggling to soaring! What a great family to be a part of.

The Nations

Each leader gave a brief testimony of what God is doing in their nation. Here is a summary:

• Pakistan, Pastor Jamshed Peter
• 8 Victory churches
• 2 Elementary Schools
• 2 Sewing schools
• Nepal, Pastor Chandra Poudel
• 1 Victory Church
• 4 house churches
• 32 rural congregations, Bible Training Center
• Myanmar, Pastor Ram Than Oak
•  4 Victory Churches
• Thailand, Pastor Boonden Wichaipa
• 7 Victory Churches, Headquarters for Victory Churches of Asia
• 1 International Church
• 3 El Shaddai Childre's Homes,
  Victory Bible College International, The Crossing: youth church, One Way: youth church, English Center Outreach, Continuum Media
• Vietnam, Pastor Moses
• connected to more than 200 underground
  churches, preparing for a Victory Bible College plant
• Philippines, Pastor Rich Conte
• 15 Victory Churches, Risk Taker Generation: Youth church, preparing to establish a Victory Bible College
• Cambodia, Pastor Joel Reimer
• 1 church, four Bible study groups, leadership training, English
  outreach, 90 baptisms last year
• Malaysia, Pastor Ezekiel Eswaran
• 1 Victory Church,
• 1 Outreach Church, youth ministry, women's
  ministry