Victory Christian Church

Victory Christian Church is a non-denominational neo-charismatic church based in Auckland, New Zealand. Its institutional history began in 1965, when Bob and Noelle Midgley established the congregation as Queen Street Assembly of God. The church developed within the Assemblies of God context and became known for energetic worship, charismatic teaching, missionary activity, youth ministry, and Bible training. During the 1970s, Neville Johnson succeeded the Midgleys after they left New Zealand for further overseas work in December 1970. Under Johnson, the congregation experienced substantial growth and reported a strong emphasis on healing, attendance expansion, and teaching focused on victorious Christian living. Missionary work was a particularly important part of the church's activity. Under the leadership of John Watson, the congregation supported work and outposts in Asia, Africa, and South America; at one stage, more than 60 percent of church income was reportedly directed toward missions. The church also produced recordings of live worship music, developed youth programs, and operated the Zion Bible Training Centre. Johnson attracted attendees from across Australasia through his teaching. His theological emphases included a form of covering or submission teaching, opposition to divorce and remarriage, applications of Old Testament principles, and the pursuit of victorious Christian living. In 1982, he publicly opposed a proposal to erect a large statue of Jesus in Auckland's Waitematā Harbour. A major institutional crisis followed Johnson's resignation on 27 April 1983. A public statement attributed the resignation to alleged misuse of office and immoral, improper, and deceitful conduct. The available historical account describes considerable uncertainty among members and other observers about the circumstances. Attendance subsequently declined from approximately 2,500 to around 1,000, church income fell, missionary support was reduced, and the Zion Bible Training Centre closed. The congregation also lost members to other Auckland churches, including a new work established in Ponsonby by Elim leader Ian Bilby. During the later 1980s, a financial rescue package accompanied changes in leadership and the congregation adopted the name Victory Christian Centre. Kem Price served as a subsequent senior pastor. Rick Seaward, an American missionary working in Singapore, led the church from June 1988 until returning to Singapore in 1994. Max Legg later assumed leadership. During Legg's tenure, the church became increasingly involved with the Toronto Vineyard movement and left the Assemblies of God denomination in 2003. The church subsequently moved from its former Queen Street premises and developed the Victory Convention Centre at 98 Beaumont Street in Freemans Bay, Auckland. The centre is associated with the church but has also been used for events and conventions unrelated to congregational worship. The organization continues to operate in Auckland under the Victory Christian Church name, although publicly available reference material provides limited detail about its current leadership, membership, finances, and organizational structure.

Victory Christian Church traces its origins to 1965, when Bob and Noelle Midgley founded a congregation in Auckland under the name Queen Street Assembly of God. The church began within the Assemblies of God environment and was initially associated with the Queen Street premises that gave the original congregation its name. In December 1970, the Midgleys left for further work overseas and Neville Johnson became senior pastor. The 1970s were a period of growth and expanding activity. Historical accounts describe increased attendance and a ministry characterized by reports of healing, lively worship, and charismatic preaching. The church's work extended beyond Auckland through missionary activity led by John Watson, with associated work in parts of Asia, Africa, and South America. At one stage, the church reportedly devoted more than 60 percent of its income to missions. Its wider ministry included youth programs, live worship recordings, and the Zion Bible Training Centre, which provided Bible-focused education. Johnson became known beyond Auckland for teaching that attracted people from throughout Australasia. His themes included victorious Christian living, strong applications of Old Testament principles, and a theology of covering or submission. He also took a firm position against divorce and remarriage. In 1982, Johnson publicly opposed a proposal to construct a large statue of Jesus in Waitematā Harbour. The church entered a difficult period after Johnson resigned on 27 April 1983. The public explanation referred to alleged misuse of office and immoral, improper, and deceitful conduct. The historical record indicates that the circumstances were not clearly understood by all members or observers, and some continued to support Johnson for a time. The crisis affected the congregation's attendance and finances: reported attendance fell from about 2,500 to approximately 1,000, income declined, missionary work was reduced, and the Zion Bible Training Centre closed. Some former members joined other Auckland congregations, including the new Ponsonby work associated with Elim leader Ian Bilby. Leadership changes continued during the following years. Kem Price became a later senior pastor, but the church experienced further departures. A financial rescue package accompanied a reorganization of leadership and the adoption of the Victory Christian Centre name. Rick Seaward, an American missionary based in Singapore, led the church from June 1988 until returning to Singapore in 1994. Max Legg subsequently took over leadership. During Legg's leadership, the congregation developed stronger links with the Toronto Vineyard movement. In 2003, it left the Assemblies of God denomination. The organization later moved from its former Queen Street location and established the Victory Convention Centre at 98 Beaumont Street in Freemans Bay. The facility has served both church-related purposes and outside events and conventions. The church is now identified as a non-denominational neo-charismatic congregation operating in Auckland. Publicly available sources provide substantial information about its historical development but limited verified information about its current senior leadership, membership, finances, and detailed present-day programs. Its continuing public identity is linked to the Victory Christian Church name and the Victory Convention Centre.

• 2003

  Church leaves the Assemblies of God

  [1]Victory Christian Churchen.wikipedia.org

  The congregation left the denomination during Max Legg's leadership after developing links with the Toronto Vineyard movement.

• 1994

  Seaward returns to Singapore

  [1]Victory Christian Churchen.wikipedia.org

  Rick Seaward returned to Singapore and Max Legg subsequently assumed leadership.

• 1988

  Rick Seaward takes leadership

  [1]Victory Christian Churchen.wikipedia.org

  Rick Seaward began leading the church in June 1988.

• 1983

  Johnson resigns amid public allegations

  [1]Victory Christian Churchen.wikipedia.org

  Johnson resigned on 27 April after a public statement cited alleged misuse of office and immoral, improper, and deceitful conduct.

• 1982

  Opposition to proposed harbour statue

  [1]Victory Christian Churchen.wikipedia.org

  Johnson publicly opposed plans for a large statue of Jesus in Auckland's Waitematā Harbour.

• 1970

  Neville Johnson becomes senior pastor

  [1]Victory Christian Churchen.wikipedia.org

  After the Midgleys left New Zealand for overseas work, Neville Johnson assumed senior pastoral leadership.

• 1965

  Congregation founded as Queen Street Assembly of God

  [1]Victory Christian Churchen.wikipedia.org

  Bob and Noelle Midgley established the Auckland congregation that later became Victory Christian Church.

A charismatic, evangelical Christian congregation combining worship, biblical teaching, prayer ministry, missionary activity, and church-based community programs, with an associated Auckland convention venue.

• Religious services · 1965

  Congregational worship services

  The church's central offering is congregational Christian worship in a charismatic, non-denominational setting. Historical descriptions emphasize lively music, live worship, biblical teaching, prayer, and ministry focused on spiritual renewal and victorious Christian living. Current service details are not specified in the supplied reference material.

• Religious outreach · 1970

  Missionary and outreach work

  Missionary activity was a major part of the church's work during the 1970s. Under John Watson, the church supported activity and outposts in Asia, Africa, and South America. The historical account states that missionary spending once represented more than 60 percent of church income, although this figure is not tied to a separately identified financial report.

• Christian education · 1970

  Zion Bible Training Centre

  The Zion Bible Training Centre was a church-associated Bible school established during the period of expansion in the 1970s. It formed part of the church's teaching and leadership-development work but later closed after the congregation experienced financial and attendance declines in the wake of the 1983 leadership crisis.

• Events venue

  Victory Convention Centre

  The Victory Convention Centre is the church's later Auckland venue at 98 Beaumont Street in Freemans Bay. In addition to church-related use, the facility has hosted events and conventions unrelated to the congregation. The available reference material does not specify its opening year or current operating arrangements.

• 1983

  Resignation of Neville Johnson

  Neville Johnson resigned as senior pastor on 27 April 1983. A prepared public statement cited alleged misuse of office and immoral, improper, and deceitful conduct. The episode was followed by a sharp reported decline in attendance and income, reductions in missionary work, and closure of the Zion Bible Training Centre. The supplied historical material does not provide a judicial finding or a fuller independent resolution of the allegations.

  Source

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• 2003

  Departure from the Assemblies of GodStrategy

  Background

  Under Max Legg, the church had developed increased involvement with the Toronto Vineyard movement.

  Action taken

  The church left the Assemblies of God denomination and continued as a non-denominational congregation.

  Aftermath

  The church's subsequent identity is described as non-denominational and neo-charismatic.

  Source

• 1980

  Adoption of the Victory Christian Centre nameStrategy

  Background

  After financial difficulties and multiple leadership changes, the congregation underwent a rescue and organizational transition.

  Action taken

  The church changed its name from the Auckland Assembly of God to Victory Christian Centre.

  Aftermath

  The renamed congregation continued under new leadership before later becoming independent of the Assemblies of God.

  Source

• 2003

  Victory Christian Church leaves the Assemblies of God[1]Victory Christian Churchen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Under the leadership of Max Legg and following increased involvement with the Toronto Vineyard movement, the church left the Assemblies of God denomination.

• 1980

  Church adopts the Victory Christian Centre name[1]Victory Christian Churchen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change · Other

  Following a period of financial difficulty and a leadership transition, the congregation changed its name from Auckland Assembly of God to Victory Christian Centre. The exact year of the renaming is not specified in the reference material.

1. 1Victory Christian Churchen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Victory Christian Church official websitevictory.org.nz