Fri 11th May was the launch of our first Women’s conference

‘Victorious 2012′

The theme was ‘positioned for a purpose… For such a time as this’-Esther 4:14 The level of expectancy had been growing throughout the week as a great team set to prepare and organise. By Friday evening, there was a buzz about the place as women of all ages started to arrive, and by the time the first worship song began, the atmosphere was electric. God was in the house and everyone had open hearts ready to receive as the worship began.
We had Nia Price as our guest, who sang, shared some of her testimony and spoke to us on how we are positioned for a purpose, and how we can be the women of God, God has called us to be; how we can be like Mary at Jesus’ feet and how we can be a Naomi to a Ruth.

Saturday morning we kicked things off with some more praise songs and pastor Faye shared her testimony and instilled within us that we can do great things for God, regardless of our background. It was a blessed time of encouragement which was promptly followed by a refreshing time of fellowship as the ladies lunched together chatting and sharing what God was revealing to them.
Saturday afternoon, we then had a pampering session, where we could relax, in the pamper zone, and think on what we had been listening to from the morning sessions by Pastor Faye, and also the night before from Nia.
This was also the perfect opportunity to get to know other women from other churches and make new friends. That’s a gift all women have bestowed upon them-we can talk to anyone and everybody!
It also gave us time to prepare our hearts and minds for what we were going to receive in the evening session from Lynda Heron. Because we had been so blessed by how God had ministered to us, everyone was so expectant for the evening and God did not let us down!

Saturday evening, saw Lynda Heron, a vibrant, engaging speaker, bring us an encouraging message about knowing who we were in Christ and realising how great our potential is within this identity. She spoke honestly and humorously, sharing her heart and her testimony with the women who had gathered together. One potent point she made was that we, as women need to stop sizing each other up, thinking we’ve sussed each other out and instead rise up together for Christ, as some of us need to stop acting like princesses and step into the role of Queen,( just as we read about in Esther.) As the evening drew to a close, there was salvation in the house, and much rejoicing in Heaven.

It was a remarkable weekend of ministry, fellowship and memories, and we are already excited to begin planning Victorious 2013! All glory to Him, who is able to do immeasurably more all that we ask or imagine!

(Ephesians 3:20)

Come and join us next weekend at our Cwmbran Campus for our Easter Weekend Convention, Friday @ 7pm, Saturday @ 7pm and Sunday @ 11am, As we celebrate together the Death, Burial and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Cwmbran the reverse has happened, a converted ex-convict, Pastor Richard Taylor, has converted a factory building into the Victory church, a modern independent Pentecostal Church, drawing a weekly congregation of 300 plus.

With modern musical backing to hymns, good sound amplification and TV screens, delivering hour-long inspiring sermons it is described as awesome by those who attend.
It seems someone has got it right while traditionalists are stuck in the past.

R John Smith, Greenwood Avenue, West Pontnewydd, Cwmbran

Written by Luke, Acts is the sequel to Luke’s Gospel, furthering his story of Jesus, and how he built his church. The book ends quite abruptly, suggesting to some scholars that Luke may have planned to write a third book to continue the story.

In Acts, as Luke describes the spread of the gospel and the ministry of the apostles, he focuses primarily on two, Peter and Paul. The book was written between 62 and 70 A.D., with the earlier date being more likely and was written to Theophilus, meaning “the one who loves God.” Historians are not sure who this Theophilus (mentioned in Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1) was, although most likely, he was a Roman with an intense interest in the newly forming Christian faith. Luke may also have been writing in general to all those who loved God. The book is written to Gentiles as well, and all people everywhere.

The book of Acts details the spread of the gospel and the growth of the church from Jerusalem to Rome. The book of Acts begins with the outpouring of God’s promised Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. As a result, the preaching of the gospel and the witness of the newly formed church sparks a flame that spreads across the Roman empire. The opening of Acts discloses a primary theme throughout the book. As believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit they bear witness to the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. This is how the church is established and continues to grow, spreading locally and then continuing to the ends of the earth.

It’s important to recognize that the church did not begin or grow through its own power or initiative. Believers were empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit, and this remains true today. Christ’s work, both in the church and in the world, is supernatural, born of his Spirit. Although we, the church, are his vessels, the expansion of Christianity is God’s work. He provides the resources, enthusiasm, vision, motivation, courage and ability to accomplish the work, by the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

Another overriding theme in the book of Acts is opposition. We read about imprisonments, beatings, stonings and plots to kill the apostles. Rejection of the gospel and persecution of its messengers, however, worked to accelerate the church’s growth. Although discouraging, resistance to our witness for Christ is to be expected. We can stand firm knowing God will do the work, opening doors of opportunity even in the midst of severe opposition.

We will examine the development of the early church, the acts of God and the men and women used by God in the spread of the Gospel. If you want a suggested reading before we launch the series may I suggest, F.F. Bruce, “The Early Church in the Roman Empire”.

Im looking forward to unpacking some incredible truths that will shape us as a church and people!