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Jul 09, 2023

Bloomington's Victory Church marks first on

At least 150 attended the special service Aug. 2023. Tours of the rebuild were offered. Church officials expect the construction to wrap up within 6-12 months. BLOOMINGTON — A Sunday church service

At least 150 attended the special service Aug. 2023. Tours of the rebuild were offered. Church officials expect the construction to wrap up within 6-12 months.

BLOOMINGTON — A Sunday church service just southeast of Bloomington felt more like home for its congregation for the first time in many months.

Sunday marked the first Lord’s Day in over a year and a half that the Victory Church congregation could together share their faith at their regular worship site at 18180 U.S. Highway 150. A fire spread throughout the church Jan. 10 last year, ripping away the meeting place they had converged on since 2006.

The church continues efforts to raise funds to finish rebuilding. It’s been meeting at 10 a.m. Sundays at Cornerstone Christian Academy in Bloomington.

Standing and praising in song Sunday from left at Victory Church's first on-site service this year are Teresa VanNote, Lis Hiltabrand and Roxanne Moss. The congregation had met elsewhere since a fire destroyed the building in January 2022.

Ed Herald, lead pastor of Victory Church, told The Pantagraph just as outdoor services began Sunday morning that “this was home. And, it’s still home, but it’s not like it used to be.

“Today, we feel like we’ve returned home.”

Front left, Brian Plotner sings worship songs Sunday as part of Victory Church's first on-site service this year in Bloomington.

Herald said he could tell that by the excited looks on people’s faces. He then noted that the church is not a building — it’s the people who come there to worship.

“What we’ve designated as the place where we worship is just something exciting, and it brings the family together at a different level,” Herald said.

The outdoor service kicked off at 10 a.m. with a nine-piece band — including Executive Pastor Jarrod Herald on guitar and microphone — singing worship songs “See a Victory,” “Forever,” “Build My Life” and “Greater Than.”

In between hymns, Jarrod Herald sang praises to God and Jesus for restoration, upholding promises, and never losing the battles and tests of life. After the latter song, Herald called for Jesus to be glorified, lifted up in their lives, and thanked for forgiving their sins. He credited Him for His guidance on their journey.

Executive Pastor Jarrod Herald leaders worship songs Sunday for Victory Church's homecoming services since a fire forced them out of their building in January 2022.

“We declare your goodness over this property, Lord,” he said. “We declare your faithfulness over this property, Lord.

“We declare not only will this building be built, but other facilities will be built, God, to glorify your name. Not only are we building a building for our church, but more a Christian school, God — a ministry school.”

Herald thanked God for their 18 acres of property and declared further dedication to glorifying Jesus.

As media and other guests were thanked for attending, another visitor whose presence Herald acknowledged was Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe.

In an interview after the services, Mwilambwe took note of the sense of resiliency apparent in Victory’s congregation. He said that inspired him.

He said the Heralds shared messages that everyone needs to hear and told a story that shows you can always overcome.

Mwilambwe recalled from the service: “God is a director and we need to yield to him… because he’s been to the end, he knows what the end looks like and he can pave the way.”

The mayor said the church could have shut down after the devastating loss, but instead it’s coming back bigger and better.

When Ed Herald first drove by the property in 2005, he said he felt called to it and knew it would be their home. Herald said it was overgrown, virgin land, but the Lord told him it would be the next home of Victory Church.

That evening, he said the church took ownership of the property. Previously, they met at various locations in Bloomington-Normal, according to Victory’s website.

The lead pastor previously told The Pantagraph the new structure would have the same concrete foundation, but a totally different interior. By Sunday, the siding had been installed on the rear of the new structure, but not on the front.

In a post-service interview, Jarrod Herald said it was extremely encouraging to have the Victory family out at the new church building. He said they’ve been celebrating being victorious in Jesus all of the time, but it was even sweeter on Sunday as they got to return home for that.

Tour groups observe interior construction progress following Sunday services at Victory Church in Bloomington. The congregation continues efforts to rebuild after a January 2022 fire.

Not only are they building back stronger, Herald said they’re doing it with greater vision.

He said the idea to start a Christian school formed out of a lot of prayer, as they were dealing with the challenges of rebuilding. Herald said they asked God if they were missing something, and through that discovered their new mission. He said they don’t yet know what the full extent of the new Christian school entails.

After the service, tours of the construction site were offered. The sanctuary area, part of Phase 1 of the project, is on the west side, and will be enclosed so that front windows don’t shine toward the worship team when people enter from the front.

Shown Sunday is the front exterior of the rebuild of Victory Church southwest of Bloomington. Construction work continues after some exterior siding and most interior wall frames have gone up.

Herald said rebuilding may take another six to 12 months. He said most of the interior wall frames have been built, and work remains on electrical, heating and cooling systems.

The executive pastor said their capital fundraising campaign for the rebuild will be relaunched in the coming weeks, but people are welcome to donate anytime.

The Pantagraph previously reported close to 60 churches in the country offered assistance to Victory Church after the fire.

In that interview, Herald gave thanks to Vale Church, Journey Church and New Life Christian Faith Center, while adding many others partnered with them along the way.

He said Bloomington-Normal is an incredible community with tight-knit churches.(tncms-asset)d91fdd2a-a68b-507c-b8fb-c352b45aabec[6](/tncms-asset)

A member of Victory Church in rural Bloomington consoles with lead pastor Ed Herald, right, as smoke billows out the front door on Jan. 10. Fire caused extensive damage in the church at 18180 W. U.S. Highway 150.

Firefighters lay fire hoses as they attack a fire at Victory Church, 18180 W. U.S. 150 southeast of Bloomington, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022.

Firefighters prepare to enter Victory Church, 18180 W. U.S. 150 southeast of Bloomington, after fire broke out in the building on Jan. 10.

Bloomington firefighters deploy an aerial ladder as they fight a fire at Victory Church, 18180 W. U.S. 150 southeast of Bloomington, Monday.

Firefighters cut through a wall as they fight a fire at Victory Church, 18180 W. U.S. 150 southeast of Bloomington, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022.

Firefighters plan their attack on a fire that spread through Victory Church, 18180 W. U.S. 150 southeast of Bloomington, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022.

A firefighter lays lines as a fire spreads throughout Victory Church, 18180 W. U.S. 150 southeast of Bloomington, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022.

Firefighters use an infrared camera to look for flames as a torrent of smoke shoots out a side door at Victory Church, 18180 W. U.S. 150 southeast of Bloomington, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022.

Firefighters attack a fire as a torrent of smoke shoots out a side door at Victory Church, 18180 W. U.S. 150 southeast of Bloomington, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022.

Firefighters who were first on the scene attack a fire at Victory Church, 18180 W. U.S. 150 southeast of Bloomington, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022.

Firefighters planned their attack on a fire that spread thick smoke through Victory Church, 18180 W. U.S. 150 southeast of Bloomington, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022.

A Bloomington firefighter used a reciprocating saw to look for the source of flames that had spread to the roof of Victory Church, 18180 W. U.S. 150 southeast of Bloomington, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022.

Firefighters respond to Victory Church in rural Bloomington on Monday.

Firefighters cut through a steel sided wall as they gain access to a fire that swept through Victory Church, 18180 W. U.S. 150 southeast of Bloomington, Monday.

Firefighters set up collecting pools as they have water trucks supply water to fight the fire at Victory Church, 18180 W. U.S. 150 southeast of Bloomington, Monday.

Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison

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