Serving the City’s Peacekeepers: A Holistic Response to a Growing Burden

Serving the City’s Peacekeepers: A Holistic Response to a Growing Burden

We believe our part in nation-building has always been, and will always be, discipleship. As a church, we consider it a privilege to contribute to nation-building and witness the good work being done, particularly in the City of Manila.

This began during the pandemic, when a door opened for us to start a small group within the Manila Police District. There was a season of waiting, and in that waiting, a deep burden grew within us to press on, believing that meaningful transformation, both personal and institutional, could happen among the police officers who serve our city.

We saw this unfold as Pamilya Muna Pilipinas partnered with us and facilitated a seven-week well-being seminar titled “7Fs Well-being Alignment Seminar” at Victory Taft. The seminar brought together 41 non-commissioned personnel, mostly Sergeant Majors. The program, built on universal values like family, integrity, character, faith, and hope, became a powerful platform to support the uniformed personnel in a holistic way—addressing not only their work-life alignment but also deeper personal challenges.

In one session, a retired police general courageously shared his story of maintaining integrity amid pressure. Officers listened closely as he recounted his experiences in the service. It was a powerful moment—authentic, relatable, and deeply moving. From there, conversations about purpose and hope naturally followed. Several officers expressed, “Kailangan namin ‘to. Kailangan namin si Lord.” These moments were never forced; they were sincere responses to the messages of truth and hope being shared.

Some participants chose to respond personally. Several prayed, seeking guidance and strength. One officer has since started attending church with his family and is actively encouraging others around him.

Another participant expressed his desire to see real change in his family life. Today, he, his wife, and their two children are journeying together to build a healthy home—a living testament to the impact of supportive environments and intentional engagement.

More stories are yet to unfold, and we remain hopeful. We also recognize that the work has just begun. We are committed to walking alongside our city’s peacekeepers—not just in spiritual matters, but in the practical realities of family, leadership, and personal well-being.

We invite you to join us in continuing to support our nation’s police force with prayer and encouragement:

  • Pray for more open doors to serve more police officers across the city.
  • Pray for deep, sustained growth among those who have begun to seek God.
  • Pray for long-term transformation in the Philippine police force, rooted in dignity, purpose, and integrity.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” — Matthew 5:6

New Series: The Sounds of Pentecost

New Series: The Sounds of Pentecost

Imagine yourself being there on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.

The rushing wind echoes, people speaking in different languages, and, amidst it all, the presence of God is loud and clear.

That day changed everything: it fulfilled an ancient promise, empowered believers, and launched the Church’s mission to bring the good news to the ends of the earth.

In the next two weeks, join us together with our Every Nation global family as we celebrate Pentecost, through these topics:

Week 1: The Sound of Heaven

Week 2: The Sound of the Nations

See you at our weekend services!

You may check the worship service schedules here or by visiting your Victory location’s Facebook page.

New Series: What Shapes Us

New Series: What Shapes Us

The world around us offers different ideas, beliefs, and truths here and there.

Yet, there is one that leads us to the ultimate truth of God’s love, and that is His word, our lasting and sure foundation.

His word shapes us and sets us apart for His purpose and glory in this lifetime and beyond.

Join us over the next six weeks as we cover these topics:

Week 1: Scripture

Week 2: Salvation

Week 3: Sanctification

Week 4: Sacraments

Week 5: Second Coming

Week 6: Mission

See you at our weekend services!

You may check the worship service schedules here or by visiting your Victory location’s Facebook page.

New Series: What Shapes Us

New Series: What Shapes Us

We aren’t merely a product of life’s circumstances. 

God shapes us to live a joyful, fulfilling, and purposeful life– through the power of His unchanging word.

Together, let us dig deeper and find out how God’s truth shapes the core of our being.

Come join us for our upcoming series, What Shapes Us, where we will explore these topics over the next six weeks.

  • Week 1: God
  • Week 2: Creation and Fall
  • Week 3: Jesus
  • Week 4: Gospel
  • Week 5: Holy Spirit
  • Week 6: Church

Join our worship services by checking the schedules here or visiting your Victory location’s Facebook page. 

Beyond the Series: What is the Holy Spirit teaching us in this crisis?

Beyond the Series: What is the Holy Spirit teaching us in this crisis?

When we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, faith is built up in our lives. We get a sense of what God is doing and about to do. As we continue to face this crisis, let us take time to pause and reflect on what the Holy Spirit is teaching us in this season. 

To know more about the Holy Spirit, here is our interview with Pastor Raymond de Guzman, our senior pastor in Victory Katipunan.

 

Who is the Holy Spirit? 
I came to know the Lord in a deeper way through the Holy Spirit. On the day I got saved in 1988, I experienced God like never before. I felt the Holy Spirit strengthen and empower me.

The Holy Spirit is a Person, not a force or an influence. He is the third person in the Trinity. According to R.A. Torrey, “If we think of the Holy Spirit as merely a power or influence, our thought will be, ‘How can I get more of the Holy Spirit?’ But if we think of Him in a biblical way as a divine Person, our thought will rather be, ‘How can the Holy Spirit have more of me?’” That was one revelation I got on the day I got saved. The thought that the God of the universe lives in me—and is ready to use me—is simply humbling and overwhelming.

The Holy Spirit is a Helper; He was sent to be with us forever (John 14:16,17). It’s a comforting thought, especially to the disciples at that time who, for several years, walked with Jesus on earth. Before leaving, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to them, so that with Him, they can do greater works. In the same way, with the Holy Spirit, we can do even greater things.

The Holy Spirit is a Counselor—which means He will come alongside every believer. His Spirit is with us, just like how Jesus was with His disciples when He was doing ministry on earth 2,000 years ago. The Spirit that empowered the ministry of Moses and Elijah during their time is the same Spirit that is with us today.

 

How do we know if the Holy Spirit is in us?
We know that He is in us because we know what our condition was like before. We were spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1,4) and unable to receive the things of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14). We were in what Paul calls the “mind of the flesh,” which is not able to submit to God or please God (Romans 8:7,8). When that is reversed and we become spiritually alive, that’s when we know that He is in us.

When God reveals His word to us, it is inspired by the Spirit. One way that we know that the Holy Spirit is in us is if we have faith in His word and believe that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 5:1).

A few years back, we had a tree in our backyard, and it was without leaves or fruits; it looked like a dying tree. But one day, its leaves came out and it bore fruit. That’s how we found out what kind of tree it was. In the same way, we know that we have the Holy Spirit if we possess its fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23).

In the first outpouring of the Spirit, people spoke in other tongues, preached the gospel, prophesied, and performed miracles. Another way that we know that the Holy Spirit is in us is when the gifts are manifested in our lives (1 Corinthians 12:7–11).

 

What is the Holy Spirit teaching us this season?
Because of the pandemic, most of us are weakening in our faith; we get discouraged and anxious. But if we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, our faith is built up. We have a direct line to God through the Spirit. Even if everything seems uncertain, God will reveal to us through His Spirit what He wants us to do in this season.

It is one thing, however, to know what God is revealing to us and another thing to obey what He is telling us to do. Just like in the book of Acts, before they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they were in prayer: united, extending forgiveness, and preparing their hearts before God. They were in the right posture to receive and obey all that God was telling them to do. I think it is very important for us as Christians in this hour to hear and obey what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to us. There is a divine imprint that he is putting in our hearts in this season.

I’m in faith that the harvest God will bring is great; that’s why He’s preparing us. He’s making us more patient—allowing endurance to be developed in us—because when there’s endurance, character is formed. He’s preparing us for the next great thing that He’s about to do in and through us.

We easily get discouraged when our minds are set on what is happening. But when our minds are set on what the Spirit desires and is about to do, we are filled with life, encouragement, and hope. This pause is given to us by God for a reason. He is setting new rhythms and new priorities in us. This pandemic may be unprecedented but so is the number of people who, I believe, will soon come to Him. It will overwhelm us.

 

Pastor Raymond de Guzman is our senior pastor in Victory Katipunan. He is married to Malou and has two children: Daniel and Allison.

New Series: Behind the Seen

New Series: Behind the Seen

Join us this weekend as we kick off our newest series entitled, “Behind the Seen”! After this series, may each of

us have a greater dependence on the Holy Spirit as we preach the gospel wherever we are. Here is the list of weekly topics:

  • Week one: The Healer
  • Week two: The Miracle Worker
  • Week three: The Liberator
  • Week four: The Extraordinary

Join us at a Victory location nearest you! Victory is one church meeting in fifteen congregations across various locations in Metro Manila. We also meet in multiple locations across the Philippines. If you’re tweeting about our “Behind the Seen” series, please use our official hashtag #BehindTheSeen. Invite your family and friends! See you at our services!