A Home Grown Church
In 1987 we leased our first public place of worship in a downtown Troy storefront on River Street. During this time we began to develop established outreaches to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Sage College as well as a heart for urban evangelism and ministry. Believing in house church ministry as a Biblical model for discipleship and growth, we continued to establish our home groups to accommodate our growing congregation. Our families also began to grow with many children causing us to establish a much needed children's ministry to accommodate our children during our Sunday service.

A New Home, A New Name
In 1988 we affiliated with Antioch Churches and Ministries, which helped our youthful, home grown congregation to get established as a viable local church. With a firm commitment to team ministry, we ordained several elders during this time. Without space to grow in our storefront, we were forced to seek another location for the church. In 1991 we purchased the former St. John's Lutheran Church on Fifth Avenue, an 11,000 square foot facility with a seating capacity of 300 for the bargain price of $90,000. At this time we changed our name to Victorious Life Christian Church and began a season of becoming an established local church with a viable mission to its community.

An Established Vision
With this next season came building renovations, training our deaconate, and seeking to clarify our urban vision in a time when many churches were forsaking the cities and the poor. Believing that the local church is truly the hope of every community we decided to remain based in the City of Troy, making it our permanent home. This decision came in 1996, perhaps one of Troy's bleakest years. During this year Troy was on the brink of bankruptcy and was required to be financially regulated by the State. Troy City Hall was put up for sale and Troy was among the most distressed cities in New York State.

In 1997, Pastor Tony answered the call to trans-local ministry with Antioch Churches and Ministries at which time Pastor Dominick Brignola was ordained as Senior Pastor. Pastor Dominick brought strong conviction and vision to our urban vision and established Arise and Build Community Ministries, a not for profit Christian ministry dedicated to serving the needs of the inner-city. Alight Care Center was established, as well as Provisions Community Food and Storehouse. For the next five years under Pastor Dom's leadership the church was governed by a bi-vocational eldership team and continued to grow in our vision. Now a congregation of over 200, we are currently seeking to add a full-time pastor to the eldership team to devote more time to caring for the church and developing our mission within the community.

We Have a Future and a Hope
We have had much joy seeing Victorious Life become established in the last twenty years. We have had great impact into the lives of thousands of people during this time through our many outreaches. We certainly have a lot to celebrate in this 20th Anniversary Year. However, for Victorious Life, we believe the best is yet to come. Troy's economy and outlook has improved greatly since 1996 and the Capital Region is preparing for considerable economic growth. Through every season Victorious Life has remained a strong, growing local church with an exceptional vision and a deep devotion to Jesus Christ. Together we are becoming a prevailing, multi-generational local church with growing influence in the city of Troy, the Capital Region and beyond. We invite you to partner with us in this unfolding adventure of God's advancing Kingdom!