Victory Outreach-a cult exploiting the inner city

It was interesting to read all the post about Victory Outreach, and those that did attend VO and had something negative to say, they always are ready to bash when they fell short. We as christians in VO, we have free will and chose to attend a unique church, one that understands the "black sheep", the unloveable one, the down and out, the ones that other churches dont want to reach out to. I came to VO through a violent relationship, with 2 son's with me a single mom ready to give up and feared the man who was chasing me. My church family took me in and I had nothing! They protected me, they provided food for me and my children when needed, and never asked me for a dime! Now if your refering to us paying out tithes and offerings, thats the Word of God out of the Bible, not something the ministry thought up! We are unique in many ways, and we lay our life down for God, not people, everything is taught out of the word of God, its called the truth! We dont bash other churches, we unite with them to help the lost. I understand the ignorance from unsaved people, and its our responsibility to share the Word of God, and His faithfulness in our lives. Cults command and treat you like property, never ever does VO do that! And as for the homes, you come in by choice, or court order, either way its still your choice! And the door is always open for you to leave when your ready, nor do we ask for finances to be there! Its a free program, and by faith is how they live for bills to be paid, and food to come into the home to feed them. So if your looking for a reason to hate us, well its just going to be your misfed information on us, or lack of getting to really know who we are and who we stand for. Those that feel the world owe them, they have a pity party, and use VO as a escape from prison and dont want to be there, of course they are going to have something negative to say. But never ever have you ever heard anything negative about our founder, Pastor Sonny lives by faith, and I have learned to live by faith and many miracles have happened within my family. Dont judge VO by what "you think", you need to WANT to know God and be closer to Him to understand how we go out and feed the homeless, we go out and reach the children who feel unloved and are being abused, how we help the drug addict, and the alcoholic, the prostitute and so on. We do it out of love, because that is what we are called to do!

Originally posted by WomenofGod
I understand the ignorance from unsaved people

shortest self-refuting statement ever?

Originally posted by Oliver North
shortest self-refuting statement ever?

meh, I don't think so, but its semantics anyways

Probably on the payroll, in any case. Who else makes an account to bump a dead thread with poor grammar? The exact same thing happened a page ago, and the person never posted again.

Originally posted by Digi
Probably on the payroll, in any case. Who else makes an account to bump a dead thread with poor grammar? The exact same thing happened a page ago, and the person never posted again.

on the payroll?

I get what you are saying, but could they really misunderstand the internet so much to feel they need to post on a dead topic on a not-too-frequented board? Like, if nothing else, this draws more attention to the criticisms than the defense.

Originally posted by Oliver North
on the payroll?

I get what you are saying, but could they really misunderstand the internet so much to feel they need to post on a dead topic on a not-too-frequented board? Like, if nothing else, this draws more attention to the criticisms than the defense.

It has the characteristics of an advertisement spammer, is all I'm saying. A single post before disappearing, poor grammar, and in ridiculous endorsement of a single entity or product.

Because, yeah, it probably brings more attention criticism. But that would be some meta-level critique to post ringing endorsements for the opposite purpose.

The fact that it's been repeated (see last page) is further proof. It's not a sock, and they wouldn't bother to mask their IP, so that means that there have been two people who made accounts to post near-identical (in tone and form) endorsements of the same thread. To me, the most likely assumption is that it's something the company has done, but with a horrible understanding of how internet marketing actually works.

oh, I'm not saying you are wrong, it is just a very strange tactic.

Basically just saying, it looks like VO doesn't understand the medium.

Agreed. Though to me, it's not terribly surprising tbh. We're here so often, and I assume on other sites, that internet interaction is second nature to us. We take for granted what large swaths of the population haven't learned.

Because it's not that different than the other ad spammers on KMC or any other site. They're just as deluded about the gullibility of their audience. Clearly someone at a lot of companies thinks it's working...or, worse, it IS working on those who haven't savvied up yet.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
What do you mean by "then you try and reach my family"? Is your family gone? How does reaching your family solve any problems that a person may have with your church?

How does the fact you know that you are unique disqualify you from being a cult?

Please tell us more. It is rare to have someone who is actually on the other side of a thread like this one. I guess what I am really saying is that there is no one who knows more about what your organization is other then someone who is there.

Are you trying to help him, help others or looking for an argument? He was open about his family's condition which is more than I have seen others post. If your attitude is that you dont care about his family or the needs of addicts then why would you post? Do you care about helping people out of destructive organizations? If so then post answers and solutions. With all respect are you writing out of anger?

I can tell you why he made his comment, it is clear to me and to most that check thier own bias. Do you allow your bias to bleed on the internet? Keep this conversation without name calling. From his response his family is having troubles and VO is available to help, if your not available to help then dont stop those that are willing. That was the core of his message.

Originally posted by bettymrc
bettymrc I have been informed that in a victory outreach womans rehab. if a woman deceides to leave, she has to make her own way to safety;and in no uncertain terms that she is escorted form the rehab to safety';one case was a woman who came from another country desired to leave a rehab home in ireland, the rehab was situated in the country side and the young woman left and there was no record of her getting to a safe place;

This is a tough situation to be, how was she supposed to leave? How did she arrive? What are the legal responsibilities of an organization in that nation/region? There's many questions that can be brought up, and without more information how can an accusation or verdit be made? Was thier vehicle/car broken? Was the telephone working? Was there a local police station or public social service that assist? Did VO make phone calls? Did she leave in the morning or middle of the night? How can we make a judgment with limited information? Was she sober? Was she violent? Was she mentally ill? Was she talking medications? What efforts did VO make before they exhausted resources? What do we really know? Its easy to judge on our bias.

Originally posted by King Kandy
Yes, with this post you have completely dispelled the perception that Victory Outreach members are brainwashed and in no way have in fact perpetuated it by blatantly disregarding all testimony outside your personal experience.

From the company you keep I expect you to respond with name calling and provide no scientific evidence to support your claims.
It is easy to say "your dumb" or "your weak" or any other name caling. But a scholar will provide an intelligent conversation. Please dont respond with circular reasoning such as "your a cult because I say so". You accuse others of disregarding "all testimony". The testimony you choose to disregard is in front of you.

Ok here it goes in illiterate I use spell check in so not perfect I wish I sounded half as smart as u guys do no periods commas nothing but I will say something y'all like to investigate soo much here's a challenge for you one year no I've heard none of that good stuff but I've experienced for myself go to our church without a prejudice mindset from what you think you know or heard don't live off others opinions live off you're own and if we seen like the type that wear sheets ok cool all on you but if not what's the worse that can happen maybe a year was to much try a month faithfully with an open heart don't give money ur not ready for that but listen watch get to know people then come back and talk about it!! Man you guys truly sound smart on here and obviously are concerned about this this is a god honest message not putting no one down jus an attempt to get my church an equal opportunity!!

Originally posted by voutc
Ok here it goes in illiterate I use spell check in so not perfect I wish I sounded half as smart as u guys do no periods commas nothing but I will say something y'all like to investigate soo much here's a challenge for you one year no I've heard none of that good stuff but I've experienced for myself go to our church without a prejudice mindset from what you think you know or heard don't live off others opinions live off you're own and if we seen like the type that wear sheets ok cool all on you but if not what's the worse that can happen maybe a year was to much try a month faithfully with an open heart don't give money ur not ready for that but listen watch get to know people then come back and talk about it!! Man you guys truly sound smart on here and obviously are concerned about this this is a god honest message not putting no one down jus an attempt to get my church an equal opportunity!!

What you are saying is, check it out for yourself before you judge. Fair enough.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
What you are saying is, check it out for yourself before you judge. Fair enough.

Originally posted by voutc
yes that's it you probably have heard its funny I graduated from a rehab and also our UTC before married in active in the church totally and faithfully committed can't say I'm brainwashed I make my own choices in regards to like alot of the money giving thing I gave thousands of dollars to my drug dealer before so at least now Il put it to a place I believe in right but I'm not arguing in jus a person that wants to answer some questions in glad for people asking questions I'd gladly answer best to my knowledge no one will shut me up from our church cause there's nothing to hide!!

Don't get too exited, and tell us more about yourself then about your religion. You see, we all have our own religion, but there is only one of you.

My religion is the religion of believing in every religion. It's like the Superman of religions.

Originally posted by Lord Lucien
My religion is the religion of believing in every religion. It's like the Superman of religions.

That would make you an ant-atheist. 😂

Which is appropriate, since I can lift 10x my own body weight. Also I communicate with pheromones and telepathy.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Don't get too exited, and tell us more about yourself then about your religion. You see, we all have our own religion, but there is only one of you.