Matthew Waller

Matthew Waller was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, alongside his older sister, Maria, by his parents, Jackie and Tom. He grew up in a Christian home and attended Temple Baptist School and Temple Baptist Church, where he accepted Christ as his Savior during his freshman year of high school, a decision that continues […]

Justin Gaines

Justin’s position as Resident Assistant puts him in the role to do life with the guys at Victory. He wanted to join our staff due to his desire to help disciple struggling youth. As a youth, he struggled, and looking back, wishes he would have had the opportunity to grow and learn like the opportunity […]

Steve Liegl

Steve Liegl started volunteering to spend time ministering to our students so our staff could have the time to have a group staff meeting. His contagious smile and positivity are always an encouragement to our staff and students. This year Steve has poured his expertise in IT networking into cleaning up, stabilizing, and simplifying our […]

Stephen Schlitt

Stephen was born in the city of Kingsford, MI. Upon graduating from high school, Steve enlisted in the military where he spent 9 years in Engineering and Combat Engineers. After his discharge, Steve attended college then entered the law enforcement field outside Sacramento, California. Later Steve took a position as a peace officer in Niagara […]

Colin Obgartel

Colin grew up in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, in a family of six. In LaCrosse, he attended a church where he got saved. It was at that church that he also attended school. After graduating high school, Colin attended Maranatha Baptist University, where he achieved a degree in Biblical Studies. After graduating from college, Colin went on to […]

A Heart of Worship: Guiding Your Family to Glorify God

A Heart of Worship: Guiding Your Family to Glorify God

We parents live in a world that constantly pursues our children’s attention. From the moment they wake until the moment their eyes flutter to sleep, they’re bombarded with a constant stream of ideas, media, and peer pressure. We want to protect our kids from the degrading influences of culture and the temptations that falsely promise […]

When home feels like war: Finding true “Victory”

When home feels like war: Finding true “Victory”

The word “Victory!” echoes through stadium walls, celebrates a hard-won battle, or marks the successful completion of a daunting task. It’s a rallying cry, a shout of triumph, and a profound promise of a desired outcome.  But what does “victory” mean when your home feels more like a battlefield? What does it mean when the […]

The road God led us down in restoring our family

The road God led us down in restoring our family

Our car rumbled down the long gravel drive before turning onto the secluded road that cut through the remote Wisconsin forest. I sighed deeply, feeling a huge sense of relief.  For years, Ryan and I walked on eggshells with our oldest son. He was angry, sullen, and out of control, and we avoided him for […]

Why You Should Talk to Your Pastor

Why You Should Talk to Your Pastor

Getting guidance from your pastor is a vital piece of our counseling plan. The triage model of 1) parents, 2) church community, and then 3) Victory Academy is essential to the success of our program. Why do we encourage you to talk to a pastor? God’s Word points us in that direction Hebrews 13:17 advises, […]