Introducing our Victory Forward Mission Coach: Pastor Brian LaMew

Church multiplication isn’t a fad for us; it’s family history. Born as a church plant, Victory has, in our past, worked to launch three daughter congregations. Now the Holy Spirit is stirring us again to extend the Kingdom in the East Valley.

But this is no easy mission. Hard-won lessons say passion needs a plan. Two of our three church planting attempts no longer meet. Good planning is essential.

We have searched for someone who has done this successfully in the East Valley, and the Council has selected Brian LaMew to walk this journey with us. Brian is no stranger to Victory. As Executive Pastor with Orchard: Africa he has led several of our mission teams in South Africa. Closer to home he helped Sun Valley Community Church grow from one campus to seven and now coaches churches nationwide on healthy multi-site mission.

Brian is not bringing a product but a process. Over the next year, Brian will guide us through “Discovery Steps” that keep prayer at the center and strategy on the rails:

• Listen & Learn — capture insight from leaders and members so big dreams align with daily ministry
• Clarify Vision — set measurable goals flowing from our calling
• Ground Decisions in Data — study demographics and resources before we act
• Collaborate — share ideas across teams for Kingdom synergy
• Communicate — keep the congregation in the loop at every turn
• Adapt — adjust when circumstances change
• Measure — track progress and celebrate wins
• Build for Tomorrow — craft a model that can thrive for decades

Remember to pray for Brian and for our leaders as we chart this mission. Watch for forums, surveys, and prayer gatherings where your voice and gifts will be vital. Together, let’s follow Jesus from Mesa to the ends of the earth—and maybe just down the street.

Click HERE to watch Pastor Brian’s sermon (5.18.25)

Pastor Todd Mathison

Why Victory Forward? Because Jesus Never Leaves Good News Sitting on the Dock

Last week one of our Council members nailed it. Asked why Victory Lutheran is moving ahead with Victory Forward—dreaming, planning, giving, stretching—they shrugged and said, “Well, because Jesus gave us a mission: to make disciples.” No flow charts. No budget lines. Just the words of our Commander‑in‑Chief.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
At once they left their nets and followed him. — Matthew 4:19‑20

Those nets paid bills and fed families, yet Peter and Andrew dropped everything to join a Savior whose wage plan read “Trust Me.” Remaining on the boat would have been easier—and safer. But love pulled them onto unfamiliar water.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. — 2 Corinthians 5:18‑20

Paul’s point? God’s grace doesn’t just rescue us; it recruits us. Reconciled people become reconcilers. We are Christ’s living invitation — His “appeal through us.” If we stay tethered to the shoreline of comfort, who will hear the call?

So…Why Grow?

1. Because Love Goes Public. When God erased our debt, He handed us the pen to write “Paid in Full” over someone else’s name.
2. Because the East Valley Is Teeming. Every apartment complex, subdivision, and jobsite houses stories longing for reconciliation. Victory Forward is us casting wider nets.
3. Because Ambassadors Don’t Hide. We “implore…on Christ’s behalf.” Ambassadors step into awkward conversations, inconvenient calendars, and sacrificial generosity — because eternity is on the line.

Personal Next Steps

• Pray, “Use me.” Offer Jesus your boat, your schedule, your voice.
• Invest courageously. Give where it stings; serve where it stretches.
• Share your reconciliation story. Somebody needs to hear how Christ bridged the gap for you.

If the thought of building, expanding, or giving feels risky, picture the first disciples wading ashore — calloused hands open, hearts pounding, futures uncertain. They traded nets for nations, security for significance. And every life they reeled in will stand beside them when the King calls roll.

Friends, let’s push off the dock again. Victory Forward isn’t a capital campaign; it’s our answer to the timeless invitation:“Come, follow Me…and I will send you out.”

Pastor Todd Mathison

You Can’t Take It With You—But You Can Send It Ahead

I was in the garage last week, wading through boxes I once deemed “essential.” Somewhere between my seminary notebooks and a battered baseball glove, the Spirit whispered, “Todd, you can’t take any of this with you.” Jesus said it first—and better:

“Use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” (Luke 16:9)

In other words, earthly resources are temporary tools for an eternal mission. We either watch them fade—or invest them in people who will greet us on the other side of glory. That’s the heartbeat of Victory Forward.

Why the East Valley?

Drive through East Mesa, Apache Junction, Gilbert, or Queen Creek, and you’ll see neighborhoods spring up where desert once stood. Behind every freshly painted door lives a family that Jesus died to redeem. We believe God is calling Victory Lutheran not to accumulate but to activate—to plant new worshipping communities, disciple kids and teens, young adults and parents, singles and retirees—to reach out with the Gospel of Jesus Christ right where people live.

First, a Giant Thank You!

Because of the generosity of people at Victory—and God’s grace—we have already raised $50,000 to launch the prayer-soaked planning phase of Victory Forward. That seed money is more than a number; it’s a down payment on the stories heaven will one day tell. From the bottom of my pastoral heart, thank you.

What Could Happen Next?

Your gift hasn’t finished anything; it has ignited everything. Picture what God might do as we keep stepping forward together:

• Imagine a single mom in Queen Creek who, months from now, stumbles into a new Victory site and discovers a church family ready to bring groceries, grace, and the gospel.

   

• Picture a high-schooler in East Mesa who could trade Friday-night trouble for a Friday-night youth group—because you helped rent the storefront where students will gather.

   

• Envision a retiree who might find fresh purpose mentoring young dads at a coffee-and-Bible study we have yet to launch, but is already on God’s calendar.

None of those scenes exist yet, but they are waiting on the other side of our obedience—and God’s limitless power.

How We Move the Kingdom Line Forward

1. Pray Expectantly. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide every decision as we steward that first $50K and seek the next steps.

    

2. Give Generously. Each additional gift is a brick in the house the Lord is building.

    

3. Go Willingly. When the call comes to serve, launch, or simply greet, let’s be ready to say, “Here am I—send me.”

The treasures in our garages and the balances in our bank accounts won’t follow us past the grave. But the neighbors who meet Jesus because we invested will welcome us into “eternal dwellings.” That is the promise of Luke 16, and it is the pulse of Victory Forward.

I’m all in, and I’m grateful you are too. Let’s keep sending it ahead—together.

Forward with Christ Jesus,
Pastor Todd Mathison

The Heart of Victory

At the heart of Jesus’ mission was a simple, powerful desire: that we would be with Him. “That where I am, you may be also,” He said in John 14:3. Those words aren’t just comforting; they are compelling. Jesus didn’t come merely to offer teaching or perform miracles—He came to make a place for us in the loving presence of God, to bring us into the joy of a forever family, to prepare a home for us in His kingdom of peace, purpose, and love.

That’s the heartbeat of Victory Forward.

Victory Lutheran Church has always been more than a building. It’s a community where people experience God’s grace, discover meaningful friendships, and grow into lifelong disciples of Jesus. But here’s the truth: this gift we’ve been given isn’t meant to be kept to ourselves. Victory is a blessing we hold with open hands.

There are so many in the East Valley—and beyond—who are longing for what we so often cherish: peace with God, a loving church family, a sense of meaning and belonging. Many don’t even know what they’re missing. But Jesus does. And He’s calling us to step forward in faith so that they may be where He is also.

Victory Forward is our faithful, prayer-filled effort to extend God’s kingdom—planting new ministry sites, raising up new leaders, and reaching new hearts. We don’t go alone. We go with Jesus. We go for others.

Let’s band together, church. Let’s pray boldly. Let’s give generously. Let’s dream courageously. Let’s go lovingly—because Jesus wants them to be with Him, just as He wants us. And when we follow His lead, there is no telling the beauty and blessing He will unfold before us.

Soli Deo Gloria—glory to God alone.

Todd Mathison, Lead Pastor

A Bold Step of Faith for the Future

What if God is asking us to take a bold step of faith—not just as individuals, but as a church?

At Victory Lutheran Church, we believe that God is doing something new and exciting in our midst. Nearly three years ago, after much prayer and discernment, we clarified a vision that captures the heart of who we are: 

Victory Lutheran Church is a joyful and loving community
that transforms and deploys Christ-centered disciples
who lead others into God’s mission frontiers,
empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

This vision is not just aspirational—it’s foundational. It’s the heartbeat of our church family.

And now, it’s time to build upon that vision.

While our original vision was qualitative, we’ve sensed a growing need to give it a quantitative shape as well—one that would challenge us to grow both deeper and wider. We’ve long talked about the dream of doubling in five years, but the reality is clear: we cannot grow significantly beyond where we are without new space, more leaders, and new sites. Our 9:30 AM service is maxed out, and our overall attendance—ranging from 300 to over 1,000 on peak Sundays—is brushing up against our campus limitations. We need room to stretch into the future God is calling us toward.

That’s why we’ve launched Victory Forward to respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting and take our next faithful step: one church, multiple sites. We believe that the single greatest catalyst for personal and community transformation is the presence of a local church. Victory Forward is our five-year plan to multiply that presence by launching new campuses in the Greater Phoenix area—making Victory one church in multiple locations. These campuses will carry forward our Lutheran identity, grace-centered theology, and disciple-making DNA, while contextualizing ministry to meet the needs of growing, diverse communities throughout the Valley and beyond.

Already, the Lord has been at work. In just one month, we raised over $50,000 to launch the prayer and planning phase of Victory Forward. The Victory Foundation made an initial $10,000 commitment to support this mission, and we’ve raised the remainder of the $50,000 in just five weeks, showing that our leadership and congregation believe deeply in the vision and are invested in our future. 

This next season of local and regional mission will unfold in three phases:

• Phase One begins now, as we prayerfully prepare, hire a consultant, and map out the timeline, locations, and staffing needs for expansion.
• Phase Two focuses on launching a second campus in the East Valley, where many seniors and younger families alike are looking for a vibrant, grace-filled community to call their church home.
• Phase Three casts our eyes elsewhere, where growth and opportunity abound, especially among retirement communities and intergenerational neighborhoods in need of revitalized Gospel witness.

At the heart of every phase is a commitment to leadership development, discipleship, and mission. With the onboarding of our Associate Pastor and the aligning of our ministry staff, we are already doubling down on raising up leaders across every ministry. By this fall, we aim to double our leadership base and deepen the disciple-making pathways that sustain a multiplying church. Through centralized support and a unified vision, Victory will remain consistent in theology, effective in ministry, and laser-focused on reaching the lost with the love of Jesus.

We know the road ahead will require faith, flexibility, and fervent prayer. But we also know this: God is faithful. He has brought us this far—not to settle, but to send us out.

So, what if God is asking us—you and me—to step out in faith once again?

Let’s not miss this moment. 

“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1b-2),
“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

Let’s move Victory Forward. Together, in Christ Jesus,

Todd Mathison, Lead Pastor

We Did It!

One of the greatest joys at Victory Lutheran Church is witnessing the generous hearts of our congregation in action! Together, we’ve raised an incredible $50,000 for the Victory Forward campaign! This remarkable achievement testifies to our shared commitment to extending God’s kingdom in the East Valley. 

Our next exciting step is to prayerfully explore how God will lead us to establish a new church mission site. This effort reflects Victory’s passion and core identity: planting vibrant congregations where people can encounter Jesus Christ as Savior and experience the warmth of a loving Christian community.

Every dollar given is now set aside specifically for this important mission venture. The Scriptures remind us, “Whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully… God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Your faithful generosity goes beyond simply meeting a financial goal—it’s about sowing seeds that will yield eternal fruit. Your giving flows from hearts filled with gratitude for the abundant grace God has freely given.

Galatians 6:7-9 reassures us that as we persevere, faithfully sowing seeds through our giving and prayers, we will surely reap a harvest in God’s perfect timing. While we may not immediately see the full harvest, we trust every step of faith contributes profoundly to God’s unfolding plan.

As we now begin to prayerfully plan this new mission venture, let’s keep asking the Lord to guide us and bless the seeds we’ve sown. Thank you for your steadfast support and dedication. Together, we anticipate a remarkable harvest—more lives transformed, more hope extended, and more hearts drawn to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

With joy and gratitude in Christ Jesus,

Todd Mathison, Lead Pastor

When God Calls Us Forward

Every church family experiences seasons of dynamic growth and other times when our momentum slows. In those quieter moments, it’s tempting to rely on what worked in the past rather than stepping out in faith for the future. Recently, the news of a couple of local churches struggling with decline struck a somber chord, reminding us that no congregation is immune to life’s natural cycles. Our own attendance trends over the years reflect this pattern, with a vibrant peak and then some dips: from a high of 807 in 2009 to a more recent number of 633 in 2024.

Yet God continually invites us into fresh beginnings. A tested and tried life cycle for churches and organizations, called the Sigmoid Curve, describes how organizations grow, peak, and often decline like a bell curve.

The core challenge is discerning the right time to launch a new ministry “curve.” The best moment to shift gears is before momentum fades, when there is still abundant energy and resources to explore where the Holy Spirit might be leading. If we wait until we have hit our lowest point, we will have fewer avenues and more obstacles. So what might happen if we don’t do this? We risk slipping into maintenance mode, settling for past accomplishments, and eventually facing deeper decline. In those times, the spark that once fired our mission can burn low, and we may find ourselves merely preserving traditions rather than embracing God’s call to mission and growth.

Scripture encourages us to step forward with courage. In 1 Chronicles 12:32, the tribe of Issachar “understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.” Like Issachar, we must recognize our moment and respond faithfully. If we don’t, complacency can rob us of God’s unfolding purposes. But what might happen if we do step out in faith with Victory Forward? We unleash new possibilities for ministry, strengthen our congregation’s impact, and reaffirm our trust in God’s promise to guide us. We open ourselves to greater capacity for outreach, forging deeper community partnerships, and equipping future generations to continue the mission we hold dear.

I celebrate the ways our congregation has already chosen a posture of growth. We have a staff rich in talent and passion, a testament to God’s ongoing work among us. Victory Forward, our initiative to prepare the next new church mission site in the East Valley, is both exciting and necessary. It is our invitation to join in a renewed vision for serving those around us. This first phase is about discernment—seeking God’s voice together, listening for His direction, and envisioning how we can bring Jesus’ hope to more people and families.

We stand at a crucial crossroads: we can settle for the status quo or follow the Spirit into fresh opportunities. As your Lead Pastor, I thank our Council for putting forth this bold direction. In prayerful expectation, I invite each of you to dream alongside us, to pray fervently, and to offer your gifts and insights. May we follow the Tribe of Issachar’s example, understanding the times and taking the best course for God’s work among us.

The choice is clear: remain where we are, or let God ignite something new and beautiful. By pursuing Victory Forward in faith, we honor the legacy we’ve inherited and ensure that our congregation stands ready to bless tomorrow’s generation. Together, let us trust in the One who has led us thus far, believing He will be faithful still.

Sincerely in Christ Jesus,

Todd Mathison, Lead Pastor

“Well done, good and faithful servant!”

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells the story of three servants entrusted with their master’s money. Two invest what they’ve received, while one buries his single talent in the ground, too fearful to take a risk. Every time I read that passage, I picture Victory as a two-talent church—at the very least—because God has showered us with resources, gifts, and a burning passion to share the love of Jesus. It might be easier to hold tight to what we have and avoid the unknown, but burying our blessings is not only unwise—it’s unfaithful.

Our initiative, “Victory Forward: Expanding God’s Kingdom in the East Valley,” is an invitation to invest what God has given us. Certainly, there’s risk in stepping out, and it’s far more comfortable to preserve the status quo. Yet we’re called to steward this grace, strength, and vision in ways that reflect real trust in the Lord of the harvest. As your pastor, I consider this work worth giving my very life for—my fullest effort—because I’ve seen God multiply the smallest mustard seeds of faith into a bountiful harvest. This isn’t reckless; it’s responsible, and it’s an obedience shaped by eternal purpose.

Together, we have a unique opportunity to watch God transform every act of generosity and service into a living testimony of His grace. By prayerfully pursuing the launch of a new mission site, we believe we’ll reach more people with the good news of Jesus. As we extend our hearts and hands to the East Valley, we’re not just growing our church; we’re proclaiming hope to neighbors longing for love and community.

This calling is for all of us at Victory Lutheran Church. We are, by the Lord’s kindness, a multi-talent congregation. Even if the journey involves sacrifice, we have the joyful promise that God blesses those who faithfully serve. I long to hear those words from our Lord Jesus, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Don’t you? Let’s be bold, trust His leading, and see how He uses our faithfulness to expand His kingdom where He has planted us.

Gratefully in Christ,

Todd Mathison, Lead Pastor

The Need for Solid Guidance in Local Mission

Vision. It’s a simple word with a powerful meaning. Throughout Scripture, God calls His people to look forward with courage and faith, trusting His leading even when we can’t see the full picture. As we embark on Victory Forward, our campaign to prepare the next new church mission site in the East Valley, I’m reminded of the wisdom of 1 Chronicles 12:32, speaking of the tribe of Issachar: “All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.” In the same way, our first phase of Victory Forward is centered on Vision—on discerning together what God wants to do through us and how we can best serve our community in the years to come.

We recognize that good vision needs good planning. That’s why we will bring in trusted leadership that has successfully planted churches right here in the East Valley. We’ll listen, learn, and apply their insights and experiences. Proverbs 15:22 reminds us, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed,” and Proverbs 11:14 confirms, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” These verses reveal God’s heart for collaboration and wisdom. We’re not in this alone—God gathers us as one body so we can hear His leading and step into His future with hope and clarity.

Our goal for this first phase is to raise $50,000, and I’m thrilled to share that we’ve already surpassed $25,000. Praise God for His goodness! With the initial half of our goal already met, we can see God’s hand moving in this campaign. Now, we invite you to prayerfully consider how He might lead you to help us continue building toward the future.

Each gift, no matter the amount, is a tangible expression of our collective faith in what God is doing here at Victory Lutheran Church. We are standing on the threshold of something exciting—a new opportunity to reach more people in the East Valley with the hope and love of Jesus.

I want to invite you personally: Ask the Lord what part He would have you play in this local mission effort. Then, step forward in faith with a gift to Victory Forward above-and-beyond your regular tithe. Your participation matters. Every gift is meaningful. Together, we’ll watch God take our humble offerings and use them to shape lives and transform the East Valley for generations to come.

Let’s join hands and hearts, in prayerful expectation, as we trust God to lead us forward. We have a big vision, but we serve an even bigger God. Thank you for being part of Victory Forward—together, we are stepping into God’s next chapter for our church and our community. May His name be glorified, and may our hearts overflow with joy as we invest in His mission.

Forward together in Christ,

Todd Mathison, Lead Pastor