ANNUAL VICTORY FELLOWSHIP
INTERNATIONAL RETREAT
Venue:
Date: 30th April – 3rd May
Theme: “But we
all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed
into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2
Corinthians 3:18
Introduction
On the 30th
April, 2009 the airs of Lweza received VFI Brethren who
converged at the training and conference center grounds. Though the beginning
seemed slow, it was only a humble start with the signs of greater things yet happen.
Members checked in at the registration counter where allocation of rooms was given;
single males and females to there quarter and couples to there on.
The retreat was commenced by
Pastor Samuel Kaumi who also is the overseer of Victory fellowship
International Uganda.
Programme line up
6:30 am - 7:30 am Morning glory
7:30 am - 8:30 am Breakfast
8:30 am - 10:30 am First Session with praise and
worship and Message
10:30 am – 11:00 am Health Break
11:00 am – 12:30 pm Mid morning Session with Praise
and Worship and Message
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm Lunch
2:30 pm – 4:30 pm Afternoon
Session with Praise and Worship and Message
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Health Break
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Evening
Session with Intercession, Praise and Worship and Message
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm Dinner
9:30 pm – morning Rest
Sessions
DAY 1
– Friday 1st May, 2009
Morning Session
Speaker: Pr. Samuel Kaumi
Mid Morning Session
Speaker: Pr. James Musoni
Afternoon Session
Facilitated by Pastor Samuel Kaumi
Group
Discussions
Topic: (‘What is a godly relationship and
how can we relate successfully as Christians)
With a sky rocketing pace of glory, day 1’s afternoon
lead by Pastor Samuel, saw brothers and sister break into two groups to
uniquely identify with the topics at hand in relation to their respective
genders.
This was an exciting time as
brothers and sisters later regrouped each with its own points. Brother Alex Bob
represented the men while Sister Jessie the ladies. It was a very healthy talk
with brothers pointing needs as: honesty in relationship, avoiding being in
isolated places with a sister, being accountable to mature brethren, being secure of their identity.
Sisters pointed things such
as: honesty, being balanced in a relationship.
Some points both extensively
talked over and agreed upon where that brothers should not feel intimidated of
relating with sisters more qualified or with better pay checks than they and
then sisters should understand when a brother genuinely says there is no money
not to put the brother on pressure..
Evening Session
Speaker: James Musoni
Topic: Who Is This Man (Matthew 16:13-14)
This was another dynamic
message emphasizing that only the Father can reveal the person of Christ.
Several scripture references were given from the Old and New Testament bringing
out the diverse descriptions of the Christ. Some of these were: Isaiah 53:1,4,12, Isaiah
42:1,7 11:3 Galatians 5:1. Christ is
the burden bearer, Illuminator, Intercessor, Liberator, Peacemaker, Lord of
glory, Only foundation, Conqueror of death, Sacrificed
Lamb, Head of the Church, Judge of all men, Redeemer, Captain of our salvation,
Lord of all
Emphasis was furthered on
the point that God is worshipped by revelation; angels being the point of reference.
The reason angels have worshipped God through time memorial is that God has
never ceased to reveal more of His glory. It is the reason they have never
gotten tired or bored of worshipping.
When we have a revelation on
the Man Jesus even Christ, our worship experience too will be electrifying.
The man of God also pointed
out that at the mount of Transfiguration, Christ Jesus being the fulfillment of
the law and the prophets, Moses and Elijah appeared to Him. Moses represented
the Old Testament law and Elijah the Old Testament prophets; this all revealing
the awesomeness of the Man Jesus the ‘Transformation
and Pivot’ of time.
DAY 2 - Saturday 2nd May, 2009
Morning Session
Speaker: James Musoni
Topic: Delivered From the Past (Genesis
27:1-5, 15-24 Genesis 32:22-28)
The morning was brightened with the revelation of
God’s word and truly with the entrance of God’s word was light and the simple
received understanding. The preacher highlighted that though Jacob had received
the father’s blessing, he still remained with sorrow. Jacob’s past of
supplanting, cheating, deceiving had followed him and at his uncle’s place,
found a greater cheat than he. He labored 14 years with no increase.
Jacob’s deliverance came at
his separation from all he had -and having wrestled with the angel of the Lord and
prevailed- and for the first being truthful to his identity, “I am Jacob”, thus
God blessed him and changed his name.
It’s the blessing of the
Lord that brought transformation in his life that he even found favor in the
eyes on his brother Esau. This is the only way he was freed from his sorrows.
This liberating message
showed how the past had held brethren and that the power to freedom rested in
the blessing of the Lord.
Mid Morning Session
Facilitator: James Musoni
Agenda: Testimonies
Picking up from where the
morning message had ended, this session was yet another move of the Spirit of
God the background inspirational 
message being, “they overcame him by the blood of the
Lamb and the word of their testimony.”
From
the message on Jacob being delivered from his past by God, Pastor James called
for a session of testifying of what God had delivered brethren from over the
years. This proved to be a releasing time that would later usher the saints of
God into the anointing service.
We heard from brethren whose
families for years had no marriage celebrations other than of friends. It’s
like a curse had dressed them and prevented marriages amongst them. The blood
of Jesus however with the choice to break free from the family mentality of
old, the sister that shared this said after her successful marriage, the curse
is broken and her uncles, aunts celebrate wedding almost every other weekend.
Amen
Others’ testified of how
Jesus had delivered them from raging anger, suicidal feelings, bitterness, unforgiveness, the spirit of death, powers of witchcraft.
One shared on how they had been dedicated at birth to gods but the hand of the
Lord prevailed -today they serve the Lord.
Afternoon Session
Speaker: Denis Odoi
Topic: being transformed from glory to
glory
Afternoon sessions are
usually known for brethren being under the clutches of heavy sleep and slumber
with the catalyst and enemy having been lunch. However this was not just about
to be the case. The man of God Denis Odoi expounded the infallible word of God
taking his reference from the theme “being transformed from glory to glory”
He shared with several examples on how when many of
them were still young in faith were childish but after maturing had to put off
childish ways. This was all in support of his point that we should cease to be
childish but be child like.
He gave tools necessary for
the growth of a believer of which were:
Prayer
Study of the
word
Fellowship
Sacraments
Bearing witness
Giving
The afternoon was then
crowned with a session of powerful decrees whereby all blessings that had been
held in 2008 was released, the gates of 2009 opened and advance taken into 2009
by the saints of God.
The servant of God closed
the session by anointing all present and I am sure no life is the same again.
Evening Session
God remained good to us.
After a competitive football
match, a mixture of brothers and sisters, brethren assembled together in a session
of praise and worship all in honor of what the Lord had accomplished in their
lives through the afternoon session. There were a few more testimonies with the
overseer sharing on how God had been faithful to them as a family and His
awesome wonders done through them in the dawning years of the 80’s. He shared
how the Lord saved their family and in 1985 they witnessed a miracle of their
father giving his life to the Lord from which point of time the entire family
has been saved.
The testimonies marked the
end of the day’s ministry with one of our sister’s recommitting her stand with
the fellowship –to God be all praise.
DAY 3 -
Sunday 3rd May, 2009
Sunday Service
Speaker: Pr Sam Kaumi
Topic: The call of God.
As is customary with God,
better is the end of a matter than the beginning thereof.
Pastor Samuel Kaumi wrapped up the retreat with a
treat. He challenged brethren on the call of God informing that God’s concern
is the nations. He also mentioned that the success and victory of the believer
is in cooperating with the Holy Spirit. He posed a question to the saints that
“Are you concerned about being Christ like?
And further went on to outline the workings of the Holy Spirit such as, it’s
Him that gives burden for prayer, hunger and then also satisfies the hunger.
It’s the Holy Spirit that helps believers pray in accordance to the will of God
and there is no limit to what the Holy Spirit will help them in.
In light to the VFI theme
Transforming lives to disciple nation, the overseer centered the message to a
statement that we are changed and transformed for a purpose; a statement that
would be highlighted for a drive cause for the Victory brethren. These are the
points given in line with the statement that also marked the close of the
sharing:-
Ø
We should be witnesses of Christ Acts 1:8. It’s only a witness that produces
evidence that something happened.
Ø
We should preach the gospel Mark 16:15.
Ø
We should demonstrate signs and wonders Mark 16:17
Ø
We should teach all nations/ make disciples. Matthew 28:19-20.
With brethren blessed,
challenged and stirred up for good works, it was time for Holy Communion
officiated by Pastor Samuel still. He reminded brethren that during the times
of the early church, Communion was a feast and brethren shared what they had
with each other.
Motivated by a sense of unity as the body of Christ,
brethren we motioned to the Communion table where everyone picked a piece of bread
to break with as many as each could and a glass of grape juice symbolizing the
blood of the New Testament.
This all marked the end of
an awesome retreat. Papa Julele was also present (on
computer) his inspirational song “Today is my day” which did not leave sisters at rest without doing
the famous shuffle dance in confession that it was indeed their day. Amen
Departure
The curtains of the retreat
were closed at 3:30pm with all brethren making their journeys back though to
the same places they had come from, but not in the same state.
Another piece of news which
is not less than good is that the retreat was labeled debt free, thanks to a
group of blessed people with a passionate love for this ministry.