Guyanese born, Reverend Ellsworth Dorsett Chester of Victory Assembly Church, who started his ministry with 10 followers in the living room of a friend’s house on June 24, 1993, opened the doors of his new 10,000 sq ft. complex at 471 Utica Ave. in Brooklyn, to songs of praise and worship, and a flock of hundreds.
The Sunday, Sept. 13 celebration renewed the spirit of many churchgoers who came out to praise God for a new beginning in the modernized church hall, after worshiping in a small space of the Albany Manor Banquet Hall, for 13 years.
The spirited, uplifting inaugural service wich began at 11:30 am, under the theme: “To Know Christ And Make Him Known – Year of Spiritual Breakthrough” opened with a prayer by Deacon Roderick Langford before a call to worship, and then a proclamation by Brother Khalem Clarke.
Rev. Chester, who became a Christian 1974 in Georgetown, and served in various ministries, before becoming deacon, elder, pastor and then senior pastor of Newtown Assembly of God in 1989, along with his wife Pastor Felicity, and members, raised millions of dollars and worked with builders over the last three years to complete the campus.
The multi-cultural congregation of Caribbean nationals and American followers enjoyed an awe-inspiring service of music, song, testimonies, and interpretive dance performances by the youth and adult ministries.
The followers will benefit from the church’s expansion, which includes an annex that will house a recreational facility, after school programs, a daycare program, and kitchen and dining areas, in an 8000 sq ft space costing of $6 million when completed.
Reverend Chester, who delivered a “God-sized Victory Assembly” message to his parishioners, as a teenager became inspired to spread the gospel. He became a Sunday school teacher serving in the Youth Department, and later, the Men’s Fellowship, choir, church band, and Bible Club in secondary school.
Rev. Chester, a father of three, Joshua, Jonathan and Gabrielle, graduated from Assemblies of God Bible Institute and the Caribbean School of Theology. His love of God and working with people has taken him across the globe as a preacher and teacher.
The man of God has inspired many in Africa, Europe, South America, Asia, the Caribbean, United States, Canada, Hawaii and Mauritius, spreading the word of God, while holding leadership seminars for pastors and lay workers.
In addition to his role as senior pastor at Victory Assembly of God in Brooklyn, he is also the Missions Advance New York (MANY) director for the Brooklyn / Staten Island section of the New York District of the Assemblies of God.
Rev. Chester and Pastor Dionne Lewis thanked Pastor Peter Park, contractor of the Korean Church Association for the beautiful construction of the one-level building, located between Maple and Midwood streets.
Rev. Chester said, “As the church has outgrown its current meeting place, the Lord has helped us to buy a larger facility that would enable us to not only minister to a larger audience during worship services but also extend the ministry to other areas.”
The Queens branch of Victory Assembly is located at 192-20 Linden Blvd. and 193rd Street. Worship begins at 8 am.
To learn more, go to www.victo
