Pastoral History
In October of 1998, Doug and Lisa Cherry were in the process of purchasing a home and settling into a long term stay in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They had heard God call them to Tulsa five years earlier to, "Enter a Season of Education" for ministry. It had seemed to be a strange calling for a couple in their mid thirties with solid ties to Southern Illinois who had built a successful business in the financial consulting field. Yet, Doug and Lisa rejoiced at the calling. They had sensed the call to ministry years earlier and had served the Lord in many capacities for nearly 20 years in lay and para-church ministries.
The call to pursue a masters degree at Oral Roberts University was the answer to a dream in Doug's heart to completely surrender his life to the Lord's work.
Great favor was upon the Cherry family during the five years of study and growth in Tulsa. God specifically directed them to Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, pastored by Billy Joe Daugherty.
God opened the door for Doug to teach at Victory Bible Institute for three years where he and Lisa poured their hearts into students from all over the world.
After graduating from O.R.U. in June of 1998, the opportunity to stay in Tulsa and enjoy the move of the Spirit there seemed very inviting to the Cherry's, but God had a different plan. As Doug and Lisa began to consider making Tulsa their permanent home, God made it clear that the place to settle was back in Carbondale, Illinois! In October of 1998 God spoke to these words to Doug, "Take the Light, the Life, and the Victory that you have found here in Tulsa back to Southern Illinois." The Lord continued to instruct Doug to establish a "Victory Christian Center" in Illinois that was directly connected to Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty's church in Tulsa. Pastor Daugherty blessed this calling and commissioned Doug, Lisa, and their children to go to Carbondale and pioneer a new church to reach the lost and strengthen the saints.
Amazingly, after months of fruitless searching and negotiating for a house in Tulsa the Cherry's found the house God had ordained for them in only four hours after traveling back to Carbondale! The scene was prepared for God to birth a new ministry in Southern Illinois.
The official Kick-Off of Victory Christian Center of Southern Illinois was on March 7, 1999. Since that date, God has blessed this work with His presence and His power. Many mature believers have come on board with a passion for completing the vision God has given to this part of His glorious body.
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