“Victory through faith” is more than just a saying here. It’s the story of Victory Apostolic Faith Church. This church began in an unexpected place. It started in an auto shop in 1957.
Elder Reese Price Jr. heard God’s call on November 4, 1957. In May 1961, he got permission to start a church. He and Dovetta Marie Price II found an auto shop at 6317 South Carpenter Street. They made a down payment of $400. The vision was clear. It was to transform the auto shop into a place for saving souls.
Prayer was essential. The Lord provided the $1,700 to complete the purchase. Renovations then began. Brothers Griffin and Smith built the pulpit. They also installed the baptismal pool. The place still had grease and dirt. Yet, a young man got baptized in Jesus’ name. He was filled with the Holy Ghost. That man was Bishop Odears Wright Jr. He became the first son of Victory Apostolic Faith Church. On July 10, 1961, Victory Apostolic Faith Church officially opened its doors. Bishop David McCollough preached the opening sermon. The sermon highlighted the importance of God’s involvement in building the church. “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it”. The church grew quickly. The very next day, another soul was baptized.
The congregation outgrew the small auto shop. A search for a larger building started. Time passed but no suitable church was found. Elder Price was driving home from Detroit. He realized he had never directly asked God for a new church. He quickly prayed. “Lord, give me one.” That same night, Brother B. Brown Jr. approached Elder Price. He said he had found a church. It was a vacant building at 8053 South May Street. Brother Brown had spotted it on his postal route.
Elder Price contacted the realty company immediately. They gave him the keys. He could look at the place as much as he wanted. The only condition was not to lose the keys. They were the only set. The members visited the site the following Sunday. It felt perfect. It fit Victory Apostolic Faith Church like a glove. Elder Price held up the keys. He declared they had to keep them. “God has already given this to us.” Elder Price had faith that God had granted them Victory.
In 1971, they made an offer of $70,000. A down payment of $20,000 was required. It was accepted. Victory Church had only $4,900 in its savings. The bank denied their request for assistance with the remaining $15,000. Elder Price kept the keys. His faith remained strong. The members rallied together. They started a building fund. The first collection raised $647. Brother and Sister Jerry Jones donated $500. It was in memory of their infant son. Twelve members took out personal loans of $500. Victory Centers offered significant financial support.
Today, Victory Apostolic Faith Church stands as a testament. It shows what faith and community can achieve. It continues to offer spiritual guidance. It creates a welcoming environment for worship. Sunday services are held at 10:30 AM. Tuesday Bible classes take place at 7:30 PM. The church is committed to growth. It encourages fellowship through outreach. Victory Apostolic Faith Church remains a vital hub. It invites all to connect through faith. It all started with a vision and a prayer. The auto shop is now a distant memory. Victory stands firm on South May Street.