ABOUT US…

Lonnie & Carolyn Parton

Lead Pastor

Lonnie and Carolyn moved to Council Bluffs in 1986 to pastor Victory Fellowship. They are proud parents of three adult children, Nathan, married to Rebekah, Emily married to Brandon Baker and Benjamin. With five grandchildren, family is a great joy to Lonnie and Carolyn.

Since moving to Council Bluffs, Lonnie and Carolyn have been involved in city reaching efforts. Those efforts started with bringing unity among a fragmented Church in the city. This started with a weekly pastor’s prayer gathering that continues to this day. From these times of seeking the Lord together came city repentance services where we witnessed the healing of congregations that had been split. These were important times in order for us to witness what God has for us.

The call that God gave to Lonnie and Carolyn was a vision to be a congregation that equips the saints for the work of the ministry. From this early call Victory has worked to restore each person’s unique contribution to the body of Christ and the community around us. The current building that Victory occupies was built for the express purpose of the development and use of the gifts God has given to people in the Church community.

Early in their time in Council Bluffs, Lonnie and Carolyn saw a need for more opportunities for Christian Education in the city. In 2002, Victory Christian School was birth. VCS grew for ten years and at that time, merged with another Christian School in the city. Today, Heartland Christian School is the result of that merger. Carolyn recently retired from 30 years of teaching and serving as principal.

Missions also became a big focus for Lonnie and Carolyn. Carolyn led the very first mission trip from VFC to Haiti. Other trips and partnerships were built with leaders in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Kenya. On the first visit to a refugee camp on the border of Sudan and Ethiopia they knew that this would not be the last. They also knew that more could be done to aid and assist the most vulnerable among these people.

In 2022 Father’s House International was founded. Its purpose was to provide a “home” to orphans who had none. As this mission has grown with the help of its sponsors FHI has become an important part of the community in Gambela, Ethiopia.

Lonnie and Carolyn are ordained with MorningStar Ministries in Fort Mill, SC. Lonnie has two earned degrees in theology, Certifications in Counseling, Coaching, and English As A Second Language with an English Endorsement.

Lonnie and Carolyn enjoy traveling, fishing, reading, and relaxing at their home in Mills County, Iowa, especially when the grandchildren are there.

OUR VISION

Live By Faith

You are loved and you belong! Life hands us many challenges. At VFC we equip people to face each challenge of life with faith.

Known by Love

Church is not defined by a location. Church is the people who are known by love wherever they are. It is our goal to love as Christ loved in every situation.

A voice of Hope

Giving hope to people who have none.

OUR BELIEFS

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is a book that everyone can read and understand. We believe that we are who Jesus says we are, we have what He says is ours, and we do the things Jesus did when He was here in the flesh.

Jesus is the only Son of God who came to earth, lived a perfect life, died for our sins, was resurrected from the dead, and ascended to the Father.

The Holy Spirit, who is part of the holy trinity, teaches us in our heart the ways and will of our Heavenly Father.

When we believe in Jesus we are saved by His finished work, not by our good works.

Life is not just the years we live in the flesh. God knew and provided for us long before we were born, and life continues on long after we take our last breath. Jesus has an eternal plan for our lives if we choose to believe in Him. Each of us chooses if we will live an eternal life with Him or live separated from Him.