Miss this week's message?
Are you married? Do you plan to be at some point in the future? If so, there are some key characteristics that you need to know about to have a healthy marriage. This week, as we continue our current series, WE: Unleashing the Power of Family, Pastor Dennis dives into these characteristics in an upbeat and challenging message for both married and single people. If you want to have the kind of marriage God intends for us to have, you'll want to hear this message.

Click here to listen to this week's message

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
We would like to invite you and your family to join us for a very special candlelight service on Christmas Eve as we remember and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. With music and worship, a live nativity and communion, this will be a truly memorable part of your holiday celebration. Join us in V1 at either 5 or 7pm on December 24th, Christmas Eve for this remarkable hour-long event. Childcare will be provided for infants and children up through kindergarten.

VWC MISSIONARY INTERNSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM:
Our Missionary Internship Program is an eight-week intensive training program geared to the development of essential on-the-field skills needed by any aspiring missionary or cross-cultural worker. Though specifically designed to train prospective missionaries, this internship is also practical for anyone wanting knowledge and experience in international, cross-cultural ministry. If you're interested, join us for a brief informational meeting to be held in MPR C after each service this weekend.

NEW - Special Needs Ministry
Your children are welcome! At Victory, we believe that all children are created in God's image. Every child has value to God-and us! If you would like your child with special needs to grow in an understanding of his or her value to God and to enjoy time with other children in an inclusive classroom setting or have one on one assistance in our current classroom environments, please click here for more information and to apply. If you have any immediate questions, please contact Amanda Dance at adance@victorywc.org or 770.849.9400 ext. 304.

Victory Blog
Do you read the Victory Blog? Did you even know it exists? Well, it does and it's a great source of news, updates, stories and thoughts from our pastors, as well as photos and video from our events. Check it out at victory.vwcblogs.com.

V•Groups -- a place to belong
In the high-tech, low-touch culture of America, many of us are searching for a place to belong. We wrestle with issues of life such as relationships, money, self-discipline, insecurity and fear in our search for peace and significance.

We weren't meant to walk through life alone. True growth--both spiritual & personal--often takes place in loving, supportive, grace-giving, truth-telling relationships -- like those found in V•Groups.

V•Groups are small groups of 10-12 people who meet weekly across Metro Atlanta. They are places for people just like you, who are seeking answers, change, real relationships -- and above all, God.

Click here to find a V•Group near you.

WE: What it Takes to Make a Marriage Work

Marriage is a lot of work. But, it's worth the work when you do it the right way - God will bless it! From the very beginning, God's plan was for men and women to come together in marriage; to come together as one flesh; to live in loving relationship with one another; and, to model the marriage that we would ultimately have with Him - joining with Him in love for eternity.

But, society has made a mess of this. There's so much brokenness. We live in a "me" generation and we need to change that. A healthy marriage is simply not possible if we are only focused on ourselves, our wants and our needs. We have to move from "me" to "we" if we want our marriages to work. In fact, that holds true not only for marriage, but for every relationship.

This week, I want to make you aware of some (though not all) of the main qualities of a healthy marriage. If you're married, these are things to implement. If you're single, they are some things you should expect.

1. You have to give more than you take. The more you give in a relationship, the more fulfilling that relationship becomes. Conversely, the more you take, the more your marriage will suffer.
2. You can't take yourself too seriously. Laughter is good. Both spouses need to be able to laugh with each other and at themselves. We're funny people. If you never laugh and have fun together, your marriage will suffer.
3. Learn to communicate at deeper levels. This is always at the top of the list for needed improvements in a relationship. You have to communicate in the deeper levels (dealing with emotions and being transparent) to have a healthy marriage.
4. Work on staying humble in your relationship. Pride is at the core of every failed relationship. Be humble enough to admit when you're wrong even when you don't think you're wrong - it's not worth it. The relationship is more important. There's nothing that two humble people can't overcome.
5. Make a decision that divorce is not an option. If divorce is an option, you will divorce. God does not see marriage as merely a contract on a piece of paper, but as a covenantal vow. God never intended divorce to exist. God hates divorce.

Marriage is not easy, but it is wonderful...when it's a healthy, blessed marriage. If you want that, whether you're currently married or would like to be someday, I encourage you to listen or re-listen to (or watch) this week's message to find out What it Takes to Make a Marriage Work. By unleashing the power of family in this way, we can begin to reverse the trend toward increasing brokenness in our society and experience a whole new level of blessing in our lives which will carry on for generations to come.

• Give thanks for all that God has done in the past eight years through the work of President and Mrs. Bush. Pray that He will prepare wonderful experiences and blessings for them as they return to Texas.
• As our nation continues to prepare for a peaceful transfer of power from President Bush to President Elect Obama, pray for those on the transition teams who are ramping up, communicating and making plans, to be guided by God as they work, pressing in to areas that most need attention first. Pray also for all who are working on the presidential Inauguration, January 20, asking God to guide them with His wisdom as they prepare and plan to celebrate, honor and bless the President Elect and the nation through these events. Pray especially for those working on security for the day to be wisely led by God in all concerns.
• Pray for those affected by the crash of a military F-18 jet that crashed into a residential San Diego neighborhood yesterday--for comfort and strength, and for wisdom for investigators. Pray for wisdom for lawmakers as they finalize detailson the financial rescue package for the auto industry, asking God to guide the process with His grace and wisdom.
• Pray for all who are impacted by our struggling economy,that together our nation will turn to God for hope and help, and that people will rise up to help one another, especially during the Christmas season.
• Pray that the strongholds of greed, wherever they lie in our nation, will be removed, and be replaced by repentance and a desire to serve the common good in America.
• As the holiday season swings into full gear, pray for the faithful men and women of our military who sacrifice to serve our country and safeguard our freedoms. Pray also for their families as they sacrifice, doing without their loved ones during these special days. Pray for strength and hope for mothers and fathers, children, brothers and sisters and all with a loved one in military service.