April 2011 | Monthly Newsletter of Place of Victory for all Nations

Transforming Lives, Influencing Change…

Because He First Loved Us I woke up one sunny morning and knew it was going to be a special day. I was excited

but could not quite put my finger on the reason why. I decided to take a walk down the

beach: The wind blew lazily across the ocean and landed gently on my face, bringing

with it a very calming effect on my tanned skinned. With excitement still bubbling inside

of me as I walked in the gentle breeze, I looked up and saw this elegant lady as she

strolled down the beautiful shores of the ocean. Our eyes met and my heart skipped a

few beats – instantly, I knew I was gazing at the love of my life. She was beautiful, she

was my first love and I knew my life would never be the same again…..and so on and so

on….! By now you‟re probably thinking “dream on! That only happens in the likes of

Mills & Boon novels” Yet many people, romanticizing on stories like this, go about

searching for the perfect love.

Many have ended relationships with people they once referred to as the love of their

life, whilst others find it difficult to love or enter into any relationship because of the

pain that the supposed „first love‟ or „love of their life‟ has inflicted upon them. Millions

of books have been written on the subject of love and relationships - the market is a

trillion dollar market- yet many are still in pain and many still are repeatedly getting it

wrong.

The bible declares that “God is love” in (1 John 4:8). It is not simply that God "loves," but

that He is Love itself. Love is not merely one of His attributes, but His very nature. God,

Who created us, has given us the capacity to love and the desire to be loved. Many of

us use the words – „first love‟ casually when referring to the first person for whom we

felt a strong affection. The bible refers to Christ as our first love. We love Him because

He first loved us- 1 Corinthians 4:19.

In Revelations 2:7, the Church in Ephesus was chastised because they had left their first

love. The truth of the matter is that no one can truly love if we have not known and

experienced the love of the Father, neither can we continue to be devoted in love to our

loved ones if we do not continue in the love of the Father. We can try, and sometimes

we can do a very good job of it for many years, but until we have received the love of

the Father through Jesus Christ, we cannot truly love or express love as we ought to.

God Almighty expressed His love for us by giving us His Son and His Son expressed His

love for us by giving us Himself. „Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay

down his life for his friends.‟ (John 15:13) He is our first love and the only standard by

which we can identify or measure true love.

As we celebrate Easter in our various ways, we must remember that it is the celebration

of Agape love - the love that is ever loving: It is sovereign; It is infinite; It is immutable; It

is holy; It is gracious; and above all It is sacrificial. Do you know the Love of the Father?

You can receive His love gift of salvation today - free to you because Jesus paid the

price.

The pastoral team is available for counseling and prayer via the contact details overleaf.

ECCLESIA

By Pas. Chris Ifonlaja

Friday 1st

, 10pm – 1am

Watch Night Service (Europa Hotel)

Tuesday 22nd

& 29th

, 7:30pm – 8:30pm

Fireproof Study Group (Andras House)

Sunday 3rd

onwards, 10am – 11am

Baptismal Classes (Europa Hotel)

Sun 10th

, 2pm -5pm

Ladies’ Pamper Lunch (Andras House)

Monday 11th

, 6.30pm

New Members’ Evening (Andras House)

Saturday 23rd

, 10am - 5pm

School of Disciples Lectures (Andras)

Sunday 24th

, 6pm– 8pm (Easter Sunday)

Easter Praise Evening (Europa Hotel)

Every Saturday, 3pm – 4pm

Street Evangelism (Outside Castle Court)

April Events

Community Fellowship Group Centers

Wednesdays: 6.30 – 7.30pm.

Central Belfast: Andras House, 60 Great

Victoria Street, BT2 7ET

South Belfast: 16 Surrey Street, Off Lisburn

Rd, BT9

North Belfast: Flat 12, 32-40 Donegall

Street, (SHAC Building)BT1

Lisburn: 11 Donard Drive, Lisburn,

BT28 1UU

Holywood: 48 Dorset Road, Holywood,

BT18

No CFGs on Weds 20th

and 27th

April

New Term begins Weds 4th

May

Visit us at www.placeofvictoryni.org

Email: info@placeofvictory.org Tel: 02890236391 / 07414246008

INTERESTING….

What goes up and never comes down? Your age! The most effective way to remember your wife’s birthday is to forget it once. Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.

Place of Victory MEETINGS TIMES

March Birthdays April Birthdays Bro. Israel Akanji Bro. Joshua Abogunrin

Sis. Joy Ifonlaja Sis. Catherine Adebanjo

Bro. Joseph Rickett Sis. Joanne Adeniyi

Sis. Funmi Shanu Bro. Joseph Akumbu

Sis. Lyn Lomami Sis. Irene Akumbu

Bro. David Oyebode Sis. Ore Dada

Pas. Chris Ifonlaja Sis. Nicola Iluyemi

Bro. Sunday Hareem Sis. Kemi Oyebode

Sis. Omolola Akinbami Bro. Olujide Sanya

Bro Olumide Michael Adeleye Sis. Lolade Shanu

Did we miss you? Please help us get it right!

Complete an information card.

Excel Exhibition Center London. A night of prayer, Praise and Prophecy Ministering: Pastor E.A Adeboye. Doors open @ 7:00pm www.festivaloflife.org.uk

Sundays: 10-11am Sunday School (All ages)

11am– 1pm Worship Service (Europa Hotel)

Wednesdays: 6.30-7.30pm CFGs (See locations overleaf)

Fridays: 6.30-8pm Bible Study Except 1st Fridays (Andras House)

1st Fridays: 10pm – 1am Watchnight Service

Monthly only (Europa Hotel)