Victory’s story is three decades in the making, beginning when our Lead and Founding Pastors Pete and Debbie Leal returned from their ministry responsibilities in South Carolina. In 1987 they heeded the prompting of the Holy Spirit to begin a work in their native region of Middletown, Connecticut.
Shortly after returning to Connecticut, Victory was born as a weekly bible study with just one individual in a living room. Victory quickly outgrew the living room and a small legion hall was rented while the church prayed, believed, and prepared for the land the Lord had promised.
After seven years of waiting, the land became available and Victory obtained the site on which we currently reside and operate. This was not without its challenges as the church labored for two and a half years to fund and transform the property from its battered state into the beautiful building we have today!
Pastor Pete and Debbie continue to this day in serving, impacting, teaching, and leading our church family and now oversee over 200 churches and ministries in many nations around the world. They are also joined by both of their children in the ministry where Pastor Petey Leal Jr. functions as an Associate Pastor and Amy Grant operates as our Worship Director.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
On September 29th, 2019, our very own Pastor Peter Leal Sr. was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity Degree from Kaleo Institute for his lifetime of achievement as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With only three other recipients to receive this degree in the school's history, we cannot think of a more deserving servant of God to be presented with this honor.
We are so thankful to have him as our leader here at Victory, and we know even with his 35+ years of ministry-related accomplishments, he's only scratched the surface of what God has planned for him. Congratulations Pastor, Dr. Peter Leal Sr.!
