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Victory Christian builds expansive worship center
The first services will be Sept. 21 with a special concert Sept. 22.
COITSVILLE — The new 62,000-square-foot worship center of Victory Christian Center was built on past experience for present and future generations.
“We knew we needed to do this now. When we were 80 percent filled; it was time,” said Pastor David Thomas, senior pastor of Victory Christian with his wife, Pastor Kathie Thomas. “We didn’t want this to be a burden on the next generation.”
The $7.5 million project, which began last year, will be unveiled during a media and special guests open house set for 6 p.m. Sept. 20. The first services will be at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sept. 21 with a celebration service at 6 p.m.
Christian musician Phil Keaggy will perform at 7 p.m. Sept. 22. Victory will host a pastors’ conference in partnership with Midwest Church Builders to provide ideas and answer questions for other churches planning to build.
The new sanctuary has theaterlike seating for 2,000 people. With continued growth in mind, the seating can be expanded to 2,500. The VCC complex, on 100 acres, is located on Route 422, 3899 McCartney Road, and its business office is at 15 Bedford Road, Lowellville.
The new worship center was a project of Midwest Architects of Toledo.
“They came up with the design with our input,” Pastor David Thomas said. “And local contractors were used.”
The new center also features Quest, a bookstore and cafe. Accessible at the entrance to the worship center, Quest will be open to the public during the week. “We hope to have that up and running by October,” he said.
Vibrant, primary colors designate the children’s areas that include a nursery, play land and day care. There also is a fenced, outdoor playground. “We want church to be a positive experience,” he said, and he noted the playground is “state of the art.”
Dante’s Place is dedicated to special-needs children, Kids on Track for children from nursery to age 4, G.A.P. for fifth- and sixth-graders, junior high for seventh- and eighth-graders, and youth for ninth- through 12th-graders.
“It’s about addressing the needs of the whole family,” said Pastor Kathie Thomas.
Pastor David Thomas said safety and security measures are in place for parents to drop off and pick up children.
And, he said, volunteers in the children’s area are screened and police-checked. “It’s the world we live in,” he said about the safety precautions.
The showcase of the center is the sanctuary, which features a large stage area. Since music is an important element of worship, there is ample space for singers, musicians and equipment.
Ross Lytle, director of communications, supervises a volunteer staff of 10 to 15 who operate state-of-the-art digital audio and video equipment. The multimedia volunteers number about 25.
Multi-media deals with all audio for the congregation and volunteers project words to hymns and Scripture passages on the screens flanking the stage.
Lytle oversees the TV ministry, marketing and promotions.
“In the TV ministry, we broadcast services live on the Web for those who can’t attend, such as shut-ins,” he said.
Volunteers also make podcasts, CDs and videos used by Victory. “We do a lot of video,” Lytle said.
The new worship center also will be used for river services. Pastor Kathie Thomas will lead a service on Sept. 26, and her husband, Oct. 3. The services are at 7 p.m. Fridays.
Pastor Kathie Thomas cited Ezekial 47:9, “Where the river flows, everything lives.” She said these inspiring services are another vehicle where people can experience the word of God and take a new and fresh meaning.
Victory has grown not only in Coitsville, but elsewhere. Living Word Church, 269 Cowden Road, New Wilmington, Pa., became part of Victory in 2005.
Other campuses are in Columbiana at 350 state Route 7, in Liberty at 114 Liberty St., and in New Castle, Pa., at 12421 Sampson St. All are staffed with pastors.
Victory Christian also has expanded its scope globally. It supports a dental clinic in El Salvador and missionaries. It also will be starting a church in Scotland.
“We do leadership training in many places,” said Pastor David Thomas, who noted he and his wife have taught in Scotland, Denmark, Central and South America, and Africa.
“God has given us this gift, and we’re sharing it,” he said.
The new center connects to the Victory Life Center, built in 1999, which seats 1,000. The Life Center also has classrooms, lobby space and rest rooms. There also is the Riot building, which is primarily for youth activities.
At VCC there also is a World Prayer Center building, which is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. The prayer center was completed in January 2007.
I believe prayer to God is at the heart of helping the city and the area,” Pastor Kathie Thomas said.
Prayer requests may be submitted to (330) 536-6310 or visit VCC’s Web site at www.theresaplaceforyou.com.