Victory Pioneer started out as a church plant in Mandaluyong City by two adult churches Victory Ortigas and Victory Fort. Most of the leaders and attendees who decided they would leave their home church and start a then very small congregation came from Victory Ortigas. Pioneer church plant had a vision that to reach out the students around the city as it has a central location in Mandaluyong. As a student of Rizal Technological University which is 5 minutes away from Robinsons Pioneer by jeep or 20-30 minutes by foot (yep, we used to walk to church as students), I decided to move to Pioneer because of its proximity convenience. Later did I know that God intended more for me than benefit from the convenience of the place... that this is the church He would use to level me up from a typical youth service attendee to a full-pledged Christian who would lead others to Jesus.
I remember the first ever services we had was held NOVEMBER 11, 2007 at 11am and 5pm with attendance of more or less 800 for the whole day. Pastor Luther Mancao preached at these two services while the leaders would have to stay for both services too as our commitment in helping grow the church. Too bad I couldnt get photos from 2007-2008. Who's got a good camera back then? :P
A little later on, we started the youth gathering called "The Block" which happened every Wednesday at the leadership of then Youth Pastors Dan Monterde and Armin Torculas. We couldn't call it a youth service then because our attendance peaks at stunning 50, including us the volunteer.s :) As pioneers of the youth culture in Victory Pioneer, we did every Godly possible strategies we can execute to grow in attendance, knowing that God's power would bless our commitment. I remember we used to serve snacks in The Block, which we definitely can't do now that Level Up (youth service, evolved version of The Block... and it was us who though of that name!) is ranging to 500 attendees! We did stuff from Music fests, Dance workshops, Music Clinics, Campus Nights, etc., just to make the service inviting to the students. Level up got along the leadership transitions to Pastor King Reyes, Tristan Degollacion, Ian Daguman and now Pastor Christian Cornejo.
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Campus night segment where we ramp to represent different student groups in the Campus. :P[/caption][caption id="attachment_757" align="aligncenter" width="470"]
LIFE teachers who volunteered to reach out with Bonifacio Javier High School[/caption][caption id="attachment_724" align="aligncenter" width="470"]
Youth Service held at Legend Villas during Victory Weekend Fridays since the Main Hall was used for counseling/ministry time :P Masaya to!!![/caption][caption id="attachment_728" align="aligncenter" width="470"]
Survival! First ever youth camp of Victory Pioneer youth in Sierra Madre Tanay[/caption][caption id="attachment_719" align="aligncenter" width="470"]
Youth service Christmas Party themed "Noodle Party". Who would've though of that? :P[/caption][caption id="attachment_716" align="aligncenter" width="470"]
Oh this one's dated December 2007!! :) This is the joint Christmas Party of Victory Ortigas and Pioneer youth :)[/caption][caption id="attachment_713" align="aligncenter" width="470"]
Oh come on, this is a hard-core friendship. :) This is during one of the prayer and fasting january (2008 or 2009 maybe)[/caption][caption id="attachment_718" align="aligncenter" width="470"]
Victory Pioneer Youth during the Ignite 2010![/caption][caption id="attachment_733" align="aligncenter" width="470"]
Pastor Christian orienting volunteers in the old Kids Church room![/caption]Victory Pioneer also had the best methods of equipping and empowering its members to grow in their relationship with God and to bring out the potential in the leaders! There were a number of events, classes and programs under the strategic leadership of Pastor Robert that greatly helped the leaders to grow and multiply. One of the things I miss the most is the Leaders' weekly convergence which happened every Thursday!
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Yep we used to have note binders before and named tags for the Leadership Group :)[/caption][caption id="attachment_742" align="aligncenter" width="470"]
This is during the the 1st ever Training for Victory batch graduation/commissioning.[/caption][caption id="attachment_736" align="aligncenter" width="470"]
The Just 1 campaign to increase the leadership net in Pioneer.[/caption][caption id="attachment_725" align="aligncenter" width="470"]
Volunteer Appreciation Night themed This Is It! Black and white we all![/caption]It wasn't just the youth and main services and the programs that were significant in this church but it's also the Victory Groups which then was coined "Small Groups" that really has a great impact personally for me. Friends I met here are really the ones I can keep until now. :)
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Victory group that ran until the mall was already closed! Haha.[/caption][caption id="attachment_729" align="aligncenter" width="470"]
Prayer and Fasting with the girls![/caption][caption id="attachment_743" align="aligncenter" width="470"]
Victory group at Kahve! :)[/caption][caption id="attachment_715" align="aligncenter" width="470"]
More throwback photos![/caption]With all these incomplete memories, I just wanted to thank God for putting in a church where Family is the Culture, Excellence is the only option and Honor God and Make Disciples is the vision. Happy 6th year Anniversary Victory Pioneer! :)
