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Article published August 11, 2010
LEADING THE WAY Victory church continues growth
CRANBERRY TWP — The Rev. John Nuzzo has watched his church grow from several dozen members meeting in a movie theater to more than 2,500 who make up Victory Family Church. Nuzzo, who also is president of the church's board of directors, has been both pastor and administrator since he started the church in 1993. Originally from Ohioville, Beaver County, Nuzzo started the church after returning from a mission trip to Africa. The church has grown rapidly in less than 20 years because of the vision and leadership of the board, Nuzzo said. The board has six people, who are elected to two-year terms while many stay on well after their commitment ends. Nuzzo's been there from the beginning, both as senior pastor and president of the board. Over that time, he's led the construction of two facilities and is about to embark on another expansion. The church built its first site off Freedom Road in 1995, a building that now houses Grace Community Church. Victory moved to a site off Route 19 in 2006 and is about to break ground on a structure to serve as its new sanctuary. Nuzzo also presides over an organization that has an annual budget of more than $2 million. Expansion at such a rapid pace has come with some problems, Nuzzo said, but he's been surrounded by competent and dedicated volunteers. "I have the privilege of pastoring the finest people in the world," Nuzzo said. "Various members of the congregation have come along over the years and patiently helped us build the infrastructure and internal controls of the church, things that are now a part of the fabric of the way we do ministry."Nuzzo, who is married with three children, also said those countless volunteers have helped to create "an incredibly sound organization" that makes managing and overseeing the church relatively easy. Many of the volunteers over the years excelled in other aspects before bringing their experiences to the church. Nuzzo told of a man who owned two grocery stories after having worked his way up from stock boy. That man brought his business and personnel experience to the church, where his expertise was put to use in a different form. The church's board is responsible for administrative oversight and finances. It approves loan agreements, the sale or purchase of land and payroll. Nuzzo said the board constantly produces status reports on the numerous departments in the church that include a youth ministry, teen ministry and even a 20-something ministry. "We've been blessed with just outstanding people," Nuzzo said. "None of this would exist without their help."
