HISTORY

In 1984, after a decade of successful ministry in New England, the Reverend Michael Patrick Williams assumed the pastorate of the Antioch Baptist Church in downtown Houston. Founded in 1866, this church was draped in history and prestige, but it became a crucible for the launch of a ministry unlike any Houston had ever seen. After receiving and leading hundreds into an Acts 2 experience, Pastor Williams was led to midwife a ministry that was not birthed by human design or plan but by Divine Will!

In 1986, Pastor Williams led 800 followers to found JOY Tabernacle as they began seeing their ministry through the Holy Spirit’s Truth and Guidance. JOY was a pioneer of the Charismatic Renewal in worship and clear, textual preaching and teaching of God’s Word. JOY became nationally known through Pastor Williams’s powerful pulpit ministry, which has touched 43 states and three continents. Pastor Williams is considered by many to be one of the great pulpit voices of his generation!

In Houston, JOY’s ministry was expanded through daily radio and weekly television broadcasts, both live and pre-recorded. JOY’s music ministry has touched thousands nationwide through the three (3) album/cassette/CD projects it has recorded.

JOY was not only an impacting community of faith but also an impacting community resource. Through its community development corporation, Helping Others Pursue Excellence (H.O.P.E.), JOY created award-winning social service programs for youth and families living in crisis communities. One of its most life-changing creations was the Benjamin Banneker—Ronald McNair Math/ Science Academy, a charter school that offered a STEM curriculum to inner-city students pre-K-5th grade.

In 1998, JOY became the first African-American church to relocate to inner-city Houston for witness, advocacy, and service. This bold and historic move was initiated to combat a devastating urban pathology and “reverse the curse” of urban flight! The building of a 12-acre campus, 15 minutes from downtown, and JOY’s powerful witness were recognized and rewarded by renaming a city street to “Dr. Michael P. Williams Plaza.”

In 2011, on its 25th anniversary, JOY Tabernacle rebranded to The Genesis Church. With the purchase of a 23-acre campus, 40,000 square feet of ministry space, and a new geographical location, God has given JOY a “fresh start!”.

 

In December 2015, Dr. Michael P. Williams planted Otis Petteway as a Campus Pastor of a new location, Genesis Lake Jackson, which held bible studies weekly in the Lake Jackson area.  During this time, the Bible Study was under the oversight of The Genesis Church in Houston, Texas, where Dr. Michael P. Williams is Pastor. Weekly Bible Studies were held every Thursday at 7 PM with Pastor Petteway as Campus Pastor of the Lake Jackson location. The Bible Study was affectionately known as “Thursday Night Live.”  The first worship service was a New Year’s Eve celebration in 2016.  After much prayer, Bible Study was moved to the Lake Jackson Civic Center and was held every Tuesday night.  It was at the Civic Center that the birth of some of Victory’s community outreach programs was formed.  We had our inaugural “Trunk or Treat” and another New Year's Eve celebration service hosted at the Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Brazoria, Texas. 

 

When Hurricane Harvey flooded the Brazoria County area in August 2016, we partnered with local churches to provide food, clothing, and cleaning supplies to community members. In the summer of 2018, Pastor Petteway began meeting with Dr. Williams about the vision that God had shown him for a church led by Pastor Petteway, Victory Community Church.

 

In September 2018, he began to host “The Victory Experience” services, and through the Lord’s guides and many prayers, on October 28, 2018, Pastor Petteway released the vision of the Victory Community Church.  In November 2018, Pastor Petteway met with a group of believers to plan the 2019 launch of the Victory Community Church in Lake Jackson, Texas.  

 

On Sunday, January 6, 2019, the Victory Community Church held its inaugural service.  Pastor Petteway preached his vision of the ministry where we will place Jesus back at the center of the family and the community.  At this service, many families united with the Victory community church.   Services were held at the Clarion Inn in Lake Jackson, Texas, for six months. While in a meeting with the mayor of Lake Jackson, Pastor Petteway received a call that a location in Angleton, Texas, was available and looking for a renter. Trusting God, the leaders went to the area, began to pray, and shared this exciting news with the current congregation. 

 

On Sunday, July 14, 2019, Victory Community Church moved to 744 E. Henderson Rd. after raising funds and getting donations for all the equipment and furniture needed for the location. While on Henderson Road, we held our first back-to-school giveaway, Thanksgiving giveaway, and Angel Tree Drive. 

 

In early 2020, a lot changed for the ministry and the world with COVID-19. For the first time, we were moved from our physical location to a completely virtual location. What seemed like a significant obstacle to overcome, God continued to show favor in the ministry and continued to flourish. Families were added, but we were still able to give back to the community. We hosted a food giveaway and a mask drive and gave away school supplies during COVID-19. 

 

On Sunday, July 6, 2021, the ministry moved again to 202 Kiber St. in Angleton, Texas. Unlike the children in the wilderness, we feel like God has given us the promised land. We plan to continue to grow and implement more programs and strategies to help grow the community and ministry while possessing the land.

 

 Sadly, on March 4, 2022, God called Dr. Williams home to be with him. It was a dark day for the ministry. During this time of grief, the leadership understood that the ministry must continue. Still rocking from the loss of our founder, the leadership met to discuss the future of the ministry. After many meetings and much prayer, it was decided to bring Pastor Petteway back to lead both Ministries.  

 

For a time, both ministries met at separate times under the leadership of Pastor Petteway. Victory Community Church would meet at 10 AM in Angleton, Texas, while The Genesis Church would meet at 12:30 PM in Houston, Texas, at the Crossing Community Church. After much prayer and planning, it was decided to merge both ministries under the name Victory Community Church with the tagline “The Genesis of JOY.”  On August 28, 2022, a service was held to  Marry both ministries and install Pastor Petteway as the Pastor of this new ministry.  

On April 9, 2023, the new ministry moved to its current location at 8420 Almeda Genoa Rd, Houston, Texas. Since then, the ministry has continued to experience growth under the leadership of Pastor Petteway, fostering stronger connections among members. We have stayed with our mission of being VICTORY, living a victorious lifestyle, and bringing Jesus back into families and the heart of the community.