It all began in the year of 1988, one sunshiny Lord's Day morning, in the pulpit of the House of Deliverance Church of God in Christ, where Rev. Johnnie Lee, Jr. began to pace the floor and fall down on his knees crying out to God as the Word was going forth. He was saying, "I'll go Lord, I'll go, I'll go Lord, I'll go". Little did anyone know that it was at this time that Rev. Lee was yielding to the will of God in agreeing to move to another level in the ministry; the Pastoral ministry and establish a church.

One year later he made it publicly known that he had accepted the call to pastor. God encouraging Rev. Lee in the Word led him to I. Corinthians 15:57 & 58 where he read, “But thanks be unto God, which giveth us the Victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the works of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Thus is the birth of the ministry of Victory in Jesus Evangelistic Center. Focusing on the victory that he had in Jesus, Rev. Lee began making preparations to move.

Some people were saying, "Don't do it, you're too young", others were saying, "wait awhile"; but God was saying, “move forward”. Rev. E. L. McKelvey encouraged Pastor Lee to stretch out his rod of faith across the Red Sea of doubt, watch the power of God move back the waters of hindrances, and move on in the strength of God. Rev. Lee did just that and organized the church in the living room of his own home. The Living Room Church Members were Pastor Lee & wife Debra; their 3 young children; his sister Cynthia; the Branch Family and the Lord God Almighty. This was the “Making of a Ministry”!

On October 15, 1989, the inaugural service of Victory in Jesus was held in the house at which Pastor Lee preached the message, “God Has A Pattern”. One month later the Lord lay on Pastor Lee’s heart to have the first Soul Winning Revival. Rev. Vern L. Cooper, Pastor of the Ark of Restitution Baptist Church, opened his church doors to VIJEC to have the meeting at his church where eleven souls were saved and three members were added to the church. Several months later, the Living Room Church House was growing too much to accommodate new members, so Rev. Lee again began seeking the Lord on plans to move. They didn't have a pew to put in a church building, nor a church building to put a pew in, but Rev. Lee yet had his rod of faith, and he used what he had.

Once again God honoured his faith. Shortly thereafter, the church relocated to 11328 South Post Oak where God blessed with a 2,250 sq.ft. Warehouse building, and borrowed pews to sit on. As the church walked in the fear of the Lord in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, they grew. The church continued to develop rapidly. They realized that there was a greater need for a leader who could be completely free to give himself to the ministry of nurturing the saints.

In 1991 the officers and membership of Victory In Jesus Evangelistic Center, having been led by the Spirit of God, asked Pastor Lee to relinquish his position with M-I Drilling Fluids in order to better care for the flock that God had given him. After receiving confirmation from God, Rev. Lee accepted the call to full-time pastoralship. God continued to add to the church until it was nearly full to capacity.

Once again Pastor Lee and the VIJEC family began to seek God for direction in relocating. As they made their request known to God through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, God supplied their need. On August 3, 1993, God blessed with a beautiful sanctuary to worship in, with an additional 5 acres of land located at 4740 West Orem Drive. On October 18, 1996, the Lord blessed again to pay off the additional land note. Yes! God is still blessing. In February 1997, the church opened their own Christian Day Care Center. On August 10, 2001, the church completely retired the debt on the building note. Driving to Austin to meet with the Lutheran Missouri Synod District, the officers of the church were armed with a check to completely retire the balance and drove back with papers that state “ PAID-IN-FULL.” On October 21, 2001, VIJEC burned the mortgage note at their 3:00 pm service and celebrated God for His awesome wonders and grace!

·He encouraged us to follow the biblical pattern of tithe and offering that God has set up, for us to give back to God out of what He has given us; at the same time opening ourselves up to opportunities to help others.

·He encouraged us to give out of a grateful heart with an attitude of joy, for God loves a cheerful giver.

·Lastly he reminded us that our giving should be an outward material expression of a deep spiritual commitment and an indication of a willing and obedient heart.  And as always, God’s word did not go out and return void.

As Pastor Lee one day began to share with one of his professors at the College of Biblical Studies what the Lord had put on his heart to do, he was referred to Jim Douglas & Associates, who was by the grace of God an Architectural Engineer.

On March 3rd, 2003 Pastor Lee wrote the 1st letter of Programming Data and sent to Jim Douglas to start the necessary process for building Phase 1- the multimillion-dollar project to be named Victory Community Center.

Through a few setbacks, a little pain, some sunshine and much rain, the programming was finally finished.  It was now time to let the building began.


On December 12th 2003, the ground breaking ceremony was held on the grounds where the Victory Community Center was to be built and did our hearts rejoice for all that God had done for us.

Through a few more setbacks, a little more pain, some more sunshine and much more rain the building process of Phase 1 continued on by the divine will and favor of God until it was finally finished.

Phase 1 was complete.  It was no longer a project in waiting.  The project was finished, the building had been built and God had been glorified every step of the way.


In March of 2004 we held the dedicatory ceremony during which we cut the ribbon to the entrance of Victory Community Center, marched in victoriously and dedicated it to the Lord to be used for His glory. That’s just Phase 1…. but The Best Is Yet To Come! 1Cor.15:57,58