Victory Malate

Victory Malate Celebrates 20 Years

November 18, 2016

With the theme, “ALL OUT,” Victory Malate celebrated their 20th anniversary last November 15 at the Every Nation building. The event gathered their Victory group leaders and volunteers, with the objective of inspiring them to look forward to the next five years as we enlarge our sphere of influence as a movement. The theme is derived from Isaiah 54:2: “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.”

Their program highlighted God’s goodness and faithfulness to Victory Malate through the years.

From a small prayer meeting in U.P. Manila, the church has grown to 4,000 people in the weekly worship services, 453 Victory group leaders, and 800 volunteers today. Addressing all the leaders and interns present, Pastor Jun Escosar also talked about the importance and crucial role of the church today in the world. Expounding the theme, he said that Christians cannot live an all-out life for God and be distracted. He drove the point home with this memorable line: “The key to a miserable Christian life is to give only 97 percent.”

After spoken word performances from guest performers, the music team led the singing of “Pour Us Out.” The night ended with a prayer from Pastor Nixon Ng, a video presentation, and more celebration songs sung heartily by everyone. It was indeed a wonderful time of connecting with one another, and a reigniting of passion for preaching God’s word and making disciples.

Faith for my Family

August 25, 2015

The Bible encourages each of us not to let anyone look down on us because we are young, but to set an example “in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” University student Anthony Beltran believed God for the salvation of his family. Read more to discover how God answered his prayer.

Before I had a relationship with Jesus, I had many different kinds of relationships with different groups of people. I desperately wanted to belong. That’s because I wanted to look for a group of people I could call a family.

I wasn’t close to my family at all. My siblings and I were insecure, and so, because we envied each other, we often fought and competed against one another. My dad and I hardly talked. Sure, my mom took care of us, but there was still something lacking. I guess you could say there was an uncomfortable tension in our family.

One day, a cousin invited my siblings and me to youth service in Victory Malate. It was at a series called “Weird Love,” and I instantly liked it there because I didn’t think such a place existed. Being a musician, I really enjoyed the music they played, plus I learned something new about God. That’s where everything started, basically.

I got invited to a Victory group. I got discipled. I volunteered in the Music ministry. I met new friends who were a good influence to me. God put me in a really good place, and my life began to change. It was not my doing at all, but His.

All this time, I was praying for my family members. I held on to God’s promise in Hebrews 11:1 that says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” I knew God would save my entire family. I trusted He would fulfill this promise, and did not give up in praying for them.

After much prayer and persistent invitations, my parents joined my siblings and me at church. They were eventually plugged into a Victory group, and were both water baptized last May.

We’re not just active churchgoers now. From being insecure and competitive against each other, my siblings and I are now more open with each other. My dad and I talk now, and we talk about God’s Word. There’s so much more joy in my mom, too. Because of Jesus, the tensions in our home have dissolved. And we know that He is at the center of our family.

It is by faith that Jesus saved me, transformed me, gave me a spiritual family, and now saved my family. It’s not the things I did or even how faithful I was. It’s all Him. And truly, there is nothing impossible with God.

Equipping and Empowering the Nations

October 5, 2013

A Ten Days mission team from Victory Malate was sent to Bangkok, Thailand in May 2012. For them, it was “a journey of knowing God deeper.” Know why by checking out our article here!

Our trip to Bangkok couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. By the time we arrived, Every Nation Church Bangkok was going through a leadership transition. The church was first started by a team of Filipino missionaries, trained at the Every Nation Building in Bonifacio Global City. Now, this thriving church was going to be handed over to local leaders who we believe would be instrumental in making disciples among the Thai people.

When we arrived, our Every Nation church in Thailand was having a two-day camp. This event helped strengthen them, as our church members and leaders were reminded of the importance of spiritual family. Our team facilitated some of the activities, and we were able to build relationships with the local leaders. The camp culminated with the water baptism of five new disciples in the church. One of them was a young student who almost became a Buddhist monk.

Campers from our Every Nation Church Bangkok are excited for what's next. — Campers from our Every Nation Church Bangkok are excited for what’s next.

The camp helped leverage our relationships with the church members. We spent time soon after equipping and encouraging our Every Nation Church Bangkok leaders. We also held a youth event, where we talked about love and relationships to the students.

Of course, our time in Bangkok would not be complete without going to the campuses. We got to spend time and talk to some students from Ramkamhaeng University, the largest open university in Thailand. Ken, a communications student, was one of the students we interacted with. She received the gospel well and is now connected with our church members in Every Nation Church Bangkok.

We’ve seen how God has been sovereign in our short time as a missions team to Bangkok—and this is a privilege for all of us. Thank you for your support and prayers!

The Ten Days program gives Victory group leaders the opportunity to experience cross-cultural missions first-hand by engaging local contacts, encouraging the local team, and equipping the local leaders of Every Nation Asia churches. If you are a Victory group leader and would like to be part of a Ten Days mission trip, please contact your local church missions coordinator.

Ten Days leaders are trained for the Ten Days experience using materials developed at our leadership development facility at the Every Nation Building. We are currently building a second facility, the Every Nation Building Phase 2, which will serve as our leadership development facility upon completion. For more information on the Every Nation Building Phase 2, please visit everynationbuilding.ph.

Beyond Limits

March 2, 2012

“I was called to something that I felt I wasn’t fully qualified to do, but somehow I was compelled that this was something I had to fulfill.” In spite of setbacks, Tina Cabrera of Victory Malate was aware of how important it was to reach the nations for Jesus. Check out her account of her Ten Days experience here!

I took a Ten Days missions trip in November in a restricted nation. One of our tasks was to do a prayer-walk in one of the major universities there. We spent time interceding for its students to come to know Jesus.

After spending time in the campus, I visited one of the local restaurants with a Ten Days teammate. We asked for the menu and the waitress gave us a full list of the food servings—with no pictures and no English translations at all! We didn’t want to risk pointing to a dish at random. Because of the language barrier, we spent a few minutes trying to explain what we wanted to eat, to no avail. Finally, our server asked the female customers from a nearby table to help us out.

It turns out that these women were students of the university we just came from earlier. One of them shocked me with the level of English she had. She sat beside me and introduced herself as Miriam.*

After finally getting to order, small talk ensued. I didn’t expect that I could actually meet locals, aside from our hosts! We exchanged mobile phone numbers and email addresses with the female students, and said our goodbyes shortly after. I knew this would not be the last time we would meet.

Through that encounter, God made me understand that language can never be a barrier to pour out His unfailing and unconditional love. Indeed, He breaks any barriers or hindrances to proclaim and shed His light to others. With God, there are no restraints when it comes to advancing His kingdom!

Miriam and I met again on our very last day in that nation. In the middle of our conversation, she suddenly asked me about what I believed in. It’s amazing how God opened the door for me to share my faith with her! As we continued to talk, she revealed that she learned English by reading a dual language Bible. “If I were to choose a religion and believe in faith, I will choose Christianity and I believe that there is one God,” Miriam shared.

Out of the fourteen days I spent there, God gave me one opportunity to trust Him in a deeper way. He orchestrates events in the lives of His children. I am amazed at His faithfulness and truly, I am grateful for this opportunity to be part of what He is doing in the nations!

Let’s not waste any time to be His salt and light to the world!

To know how you can take part in a short-term mission trip, please visit our Ten Days Philippines website or contact your local church coordinator.

*Name changed to protect privacy