VFC History
Pastor David Harbison, and his wife, Janet, pioneered Victory Family Church (originaly under the name of A Glorious Church Fellowship) in Belleville Illinois. They were directed by the Lord to come here and start this work in 1991. They were faithful to heed Gods instruction and have been endeavoring to minister to our community as well as Southern Illinois ever since.
After having been delivered from severe drug and alcohol abuse, it has been their goal to minister to all areas of life. Since graduation from RHEMA Bible Training Center, Pastor Harbison, his wife, Janet, and their entire family have devoted their lives to helping people. They have done this in many different ways under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Their family has traveled through out the U.S. conducting tent revivals, open air, auditorium, and church meetings. They have been from the gutter most to the uttermost preaching and teaching the Gospel to a lost and dying world. They have been blessed to watch God save thousands of souls over the years. For nearly five years they ministered as traveling evangelists from the suburbs to the rural communities and the inner cities of America. For 2 1/2 years they had given up their home completely and stayed on the road living in a 6' X 12' aluminum cargo trailer that they used to hall their tent equipment in. When the tent was up they had some place to live when it wasn't, they didn't. This was not a burden to them for they were so blessed to be working in this great harvest field with God. As they remained faithful, God blessed them and they purchased a 28 ft travel trailer, they thought they had gone to heaven. They had air conditioning, a kitchen, a bed and most of all a bathroom. They had also worn out their first tent and purchased a new one. Pastor Harbison can remember one day as he was opening up the tent for an evening service and telling God how blessed they were that God spoke to his heart and said "You must continue to believe me for something, for if you don't use your faith it will grow weak." Little did he know that only days later God would tell him to pioneer a church in that town.
They started holding services in November of 1991 in hotel meeting rooms then they moved into a storefront, after which they renovated a warehouse where they remained for 16 years. In 2008 the Lord made it possible to purchase their own building which they moved into in mid 2009 as Victory Family Church. They have endeavored to stay sensitive to the Holy Ghost and let Him lead them into the areas of ministry that God wants for them. They have been very strong in children's ministry for they realize the youth are the lifeblood of the church. They have done many children's outreaches like, neighborhood children's crusades, dramas, kids fishing derbies, reading programs, etc. Their reading programs have been a great blessing to many children in the community. Principals from community schools have instructed teachers with children having difficulty to send the children and their parents to VFC for help.
In one particular case a girl had been held back a grade because she was at least a year behind her peers. After going through the VFC reading program her parents had her tested at a Sylvan Learning Center and she tested 6 months ahead of those same children. When Pastor Harbison requested the teacher, principal, and even the school board think about putting her in her normal class they refused. They said "we have never promoted someone after we had failed them and we will not start now". Once the school year started the same teacher that had failed the child with tears went to the Principal and said she was wrong and that this child needed to be with her normal class because she was so far ahead of everyone else.
During the fishing derbies VFC has opportunities to spend time with children and allow them to experience the love of God through our many workers. VFC use dramas to present the Gospel to them in a way children can understand. There is an abused children's home that brings their kids out every year and these precious kids get to interact with adults that are full of the love of God. We award many prizes to the kids and provide them with a great time of fun and fellowship.
If you would like to learn more about this ministry, please call 618-235-6373, or come join us for one of our services --- Sunday Morning Worship: 10:30 AM --- Sunday Evening Connections Youth Service: 6-8 PM --- Wednesday Evening Service: 7:00 PM