Victory in Christ Church had its inception in September of 1981.  It was born out of a Bible study group consisting of the Late Elder Albert Walker, Minister Donald Easterlin, Minister Billy Perkins, Minister Don Brown, and Minister Kenneth Gill.  After several bible studies at Minister Easterlin’s ice cream parlor, located right here at 1444 Broadway where we sit today, the group decided that they wanted to start going out to different churches to bring messages, and wanted a name for the group. They each wrote out possible names for the group. Minister Kenneth Gill’s submission of the name “Victory in Christ” was chosen.  Elder Walker said, “But this is not the name of a study group. It sounds like a church, and we don’t have a church.”  At that very moment Minister Easterlin said, “Let us start right here.” Their first message was entitled “Stop and Understand the Importance of Accepting Jesus Christ in your Life”, which they brought at Zion Hill Pentecostal church, under Pastor Harry Thompson (Elder Walker’s spiritual father). It was not too long afterward that the Lord opened a way for the group to purchase the ice cream shop where they held their meetings at and the entire building for one dollar.

 

Elder Albert Walker became the Pastor of Victory in Christ Church, and together with his daughters Etta Council and Barbara Grayer, Minister Donald Easterlin, Minister Billy Perkins and his wife Estelle, Minister Don Brown and his wife Nancy, and Minister Kenneth Gill and his wife Robin, church services commenced in September of 1981. They began with a small number of chairs and a pulpit made out of a potato chip rack, but, as you can see, little can become much with the Master’s touch.

 

Years later, in the late 80’s, Ministers Brown and Gill took a trip to Jacksonville, Florida to purchase church furniture as well as the pulpit set, which is still here to this day.  The Garden of Gethsemane painting, unveiled in the early 90’s, was created and donated to the church by an outstanding artist named Bernard Cameron.  

 

In the mid-80’s, by the invitation of Minister Daniel Roberts, who was invited by Minister Kenneth Gill; Minister Charles Thomas Sr. paid a visit to a service at Victory In Christ Church and liked what he saw. A week or two later, he came back with his wife, Shellia and son, Charles Jr. and never left.

 

In the early-90’s, renovation began on the church’s first and second floors.  The work was overseen by Pastor Walker’s son Harry Walker and completed in about a year.  During that time, the church continued to grow, taking on new members.

 

Pastor Albert Perry Walker went home to be with the Lord on June 13th of 1996. Minister Charles E. Thomas Sr. was, then, ordained as Pastor of Victory in Christ Church and installed on November 24th, 1996.  He was later elevated again to the office of Bishop, both local and international.  In addition to Victory in Christ, he supported a church in Ghana, Africa and faithfully served in this capacity until he was called home to be with the Lord on February 26th 2009. Minister Charles E Thomas Jr. was then ordained as Elder and installed as Pastor of Victory in Christ Church on June 14, 2009. Pastor Thomas was elevated and installed as the Overseer to the Empire state region and 1st assistant to the presiding bishop with Covenant Of Hope International Assemblies on July 31, 2011. Overseer Thomas was later designated to the office of Bishop on July 24, 2013. Bishop Designate Thomas was later consecrated to the office of Bishop in the Lord’s church on July 25, 2015 thus beginning a new chapter in the church’s history.