Victory Temple Church puts God's love into action

PERKINS TWP. — Victory Temple Church is rooted in sharing God's love with others.The nondenominational church has Sunday school 9:45-10:15 a.m. with a worship service with contemporary music at 10:45 a.m. More programming occurs at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Sunday worship services are live streamed onto the church's Facebook page."We believe in the whole word of God," pastor Luke Walters said.In 1984, the late Rev. Lonnie Walters founded the church in Bellevue. He soon moved the church to Sandusky, where church services took place in the YMCA. In 1991, the church moved to its current location at 1619 W. Strub Road.Before joining church ministry, Luke worked at Kroger for 10 years. At age 24, he was called to ministry, starting out as a janitor at Victory Temple and working his way up to become a pastor alongside his father. Lonnie always made sure Luke's messages were focused on Jesus's love for everyone.Luke succeeded his father as lead pastor after his death in 2015.About 200-250 people attend the church on Sundays."They're friends with everybody," Walters said. "We're about the family — we believe in putting God first, family second and church third."Ministries for children, teens, men and women are available, in addition to music opportunities like adult and teen choirs led by Chad Robles.The same year the church moved to Strub Road, Lonnie started Victory Kitchen, a nonprofit on Hayes Ave. (Ohio 4) serving underprivileged people in the Sandusky area by providing free, warm meals, groceries, clothing and other necessities. They also host special events for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Multiple church members volunteer there daily.In recent months, Victory Temple also started a ministry in which they take food and necessities to communities across Erie County to share the gospel."This church was founded on street ministry," Walters said.This year, Walters hopes to expand its sanctuary and create larger Sunday school rooms.With anything they take on, the church relies on God's power. "(We believe) if you can dream it, God can do it," Walters said. "You have a God who can stand with you."Get to know Victory Temple ChurchAddress: 1619 W. Strub RoadPhone number: 419-627-8732Website: victorytemple.netFacebook: Victory Temple Church (@Victory VTC) and Victory Kitchen (@FreeHotMeals)Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodIn this 2016 photo, volunteers pose for a group shot with Rev. Luke Walters, right, at Victory Temple in Sandusky. Volunteers Buffi King and Yvonne Johnson make up meals for community members during the Thanksgiving meal at Victory Kitchen in Sandusky on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018.Victory Temple Church at 1619 W. Strub Road in Perkins Township on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. Pastor Lonnie Walters of Victory Temple Church in Perkins Township speaks to parishioners during a revival in 2013. Julia McGory and her mother, Marcia Walters, pick out gifts for children at Victory Kitchen in Sandusky on Monday, Dec. 24, 2018.Community members line up outside Victory Kitchen in Sandusky for the shoebox Christmas giveaway on Monday, Dec. 24, 2018.Victory Temple Church's sanctuary is pictured on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. Community members fill Victory Kitchen in Sandusky during its Thanksgiving meal on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018.