Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:1-3

As Christians we are not supposed to just stand still and feel comfortable with where we are, as soon as we feel comfortable and relaxed, thats when we are the most dangerous, this is when we are more likely to stop really letting God having total control of our lives. Now this might be a controversial statement to make. But I really believe that its true. I have witnessed it happen, and the person cant actually see it for themselves.

As a believer of Jesus Christ we are supposed to run the race. We have a race to complete and we need to run it! with our eyes totally on God letting Him direct our paths, letting Him have His way in every situation. Thats quite hard to do, and the Christian race isnt easy, its really hard, but when we are faithful to God, endure every trial, every suffering, rejoice in the hard times as well as the good times, totally surrender to Him daily, we will have complete Joy and God will bless us.

In our race of faith we might encounter things and have to do things that we dont personally like doing or think it should be done a different way, but we have to remember God knows better than we do, and everything happens for a reason, we might have to face difficult situations, but they are there to mould us shape us into the person that God wants us to become. Trials and sufferings help us produce more patience, strength, peace, we learn to rely on God more, we learn to still rejoice in hard times, trust in Him always. And once we have been through it, there will always be a reason why, and as It diminishes we usually find out the reason why. But remember it will always make you a better person.

I pray that you will run the race with endurance and faith and always trust in Him.

Cerian Gough – Intern & Trainee P.A

Just over two years ago we moved into the Ardep warehouse in Cwmbran and by the grace of God turned what was then a derelict tin shed into an amazing place of worship for the glory of God! Most people probably thought we were nuts but when God gives you a vision who cares what the doubters think! The word of the Lord had come to our senior Pastor Richard Taylor “Preach the Word and people will come”. It sounds kind of simple and obvious really and one would expect most Churches to already be doing this! However this is not the case and in many towns and cities across Wales and the UK there is a real lack of leadership and good, solid Bible teaching which is of course essential in creating strong, mature, lasting disciples. We saw exponential growth in the first year as God began to pull people in from all different walks of life. God was on the move and we needed to keep step with Him!

In September 2011 we launched Victory Church Merthyr Tydfil as our second campus. Merthyr is a town located in the South Wales Heads of the Valleys area with a population of around 56,000. It is a place with a rich Christian heritage and in times past has seen powerful visitations of the Holy Spirit especially during the time of the 1904 Welsh revival. We sent our evangelism team out on the streets to cover each area and invite as many as we could. The response was amazing! On our launch night at the ‘Soar Theatre’ (An old converted Welsh Chapel) we were jam packed with people from the locality who had come with expectancy to meet with God! Our first service saw 9 souls respond to the Gospel, coming to faith in Jesus as Pastor Richard preached. Since then we have seen God grow and expand the work in Merthyr by adding to the Church each week. Many more souls have been added to the Kingdom of God. Sick bodies have been healed and lives have been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit! We are truly blown away by the awesomeness of what God has done in such a short space of time.

We really believe this is only the beginning of what God wants to do in Merthyr and are looking forward in faith to all that He will do in 2012 at Merthyr campus. We invite you to come along and join us at one of our Merthyr Campus services and experience this powerful move of God! All the glory goes to Him!

Pastor Kenny Brandie