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Praiseworthy
Hi Timothy, thank you for your willingness to testify of God’s goodness and mercy. As a graduate of Victory Life Christian School (in 2014, I believe), could you please share with us your responses to the following three questions.
1) Why did you decide to leave mainstream school?
I decided to leave mainstream school because I was struggling to cope with the workload and the stress. I suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome and depression, and could not attend school every day. As a result, the assignments kept snowballing and increasing and I had a nervous breakdown at home. Finally, my parents decided to pull me out of mainstream school. I was 16 at the time and studying for my O levels. It was a heavy blow to me.
My mother had heard of VLCS through Mrs. Laura Lim and decided to inquire more about it. We learned that the school was self-paced, and this suited us very well as we needed a curriculum where the work does not “snowball” if you miss school days. We enrolled in April 2011.
2) What praiseworthy experiences did you have in Victory Life?
I have had many praiseworthy experiences in VL.
First and foremost was a deepening of my relationship with Jesus Christ. Although I identified as a Christian, I was troubled by many doubts about the faith and about the historicity of the Bible. In VL, I learned through the Bible studies and chapel that God was alive and well!! And that Jesus Christ is the only Lord and Savior of all mankind. He became not just “the way, the truth, and the life” but also “my way, my truth, and my life”. A passion for Jesus was stirred in me in VL, and I discovered that through Bible study, I could encounter God for myself in the Scriptures.
Secondly, I was also introduced to apologetics in VL. This provided me with the intellectual answers I needed, and added to my security in the faith. However, I have learned since that although apologetics can be needed and useful, it should never replace the Holy Spirit in bringing the reality of Christ’s presence to us. We need to “taste and see” that the Lord is good and not just believe in Him intellectually.
Third, I was the first student in VL to be given NS deferment. The school achieved its CPE status in 2012 or 2013, and as a result, I was able to defer my NS to complete my American High School Diploma. It was truly an earth-shattering moment as I felt like God moved heaven and earth to allow me to complete my studies in time.
Fourth, the tutelage and guidance provided by the supervisors, especially Mrs. Lim Ho Mun, was a wonderful experience. They guided me in my questions about God and showed me in real tangible ways how God can act through His people. I am wonderfully blessed by my teachers and friends in VL. Indeed, my whole time at VLCS is itself a praiseworthy experience! Praise God!
3) What life changing truths did you learn, and how is your life impacted to the glory of God?
One life-changing truth I have learned is this: God is real, and His name is Jesus. As someone who used to have doubts, I now live in complete freedom and the assurance that faith brings. God is truly living and active in my life, and I have seen Him intervene on many occasions in answer to my prayers. I am hungry for God and excited for more of Him in my life.
Another truth I learned is that community is important. In VLCS, the students had fellowship together and we frequently discussed faith issues. I found the fellowship to be a blessing and this taught me to value my community in church as the Christian walk can only be lived in the context of a community. This truth changed me from someone self-centered and inward-looking to someone who also “looks out for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).
I can truly say that VLCS is God’s school. It is where Jesus is exalted and where the Holy Spirit dwells. It is truly here to make ready “a people prepared for the Lord”. My life has been transformed because of VLCS. Praise the Lord!
Shaping a Life
Dear VLCS Administration,
We are writing to express our sincerest gratitude to the dedicated and caring advisers at VLCS who have played a critical role in shaping Akhira’s life and character. As my family and I have recently moved to Canada, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the valuable experiences and lessons learned at VLCS.
We would like to thank Ms. Rika and Mrs. Chin for their unwavering guidance and support throughout our son’s childhood. Their dedication to molding him into a better person in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is genuinely admirable, and we will always be grateful for their impact on his life.
We would also like to thank Mrs. Lim and Mrs. Boey for their support during our child’s last battle in both Badminton and Scrapbook competitions in the recent RSC in Kota Kinabalu. Their encouragement and support have been invaluable and helped him reach his full potential and bring honor to the school.
Lastly, we would like to thank all the teachers who have trusted and loved him, Mrs. Ranee Quirey, Mr. Joel, and Mr. Karlo. Their dedication to teaching and mentoring has not gone unnoticed; our child has grown so much under their guidance.
We will always treasure the memories and lessons learned at VLCS and will always be grateful for its positive impact on our lives. We sincerely wish the school and all the staff continued success and growth.
In Christ,
Mr. & Mrs. R.
A Different Spirit
Dear Mrs Boey,
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Mrs Joanne, Ms. Rita and Ms. Marilyn for shepherding Isaac and helping him grow. The heart of these 3 ladies for their children in class is just amazing. They are so full of love and encouragement.
Victory Life has a different spirit. I remember picking Isaac up in the initial months and the Lord impressing upon me that this place is where David’s mighty army is formed.
Isaac joined Victory Life in July 2022, and in less than 8 months we have witnessed countless breakthroughs. Glory to Jesus indeed!
Here is a glimpse of some of the many breakthroughs:
1. He used to have a meltdown whenever he was presented with a gift. He has now overcome this fear.
2. He used to have a huge fear of public speaking and would never do so. He was given the opportunity to lead the whole school in a declaration a few months after starting school.
3. He could hardly draw a straight line with a ruler despite many occupational therapy sessions. Within the first few weeks in VLCS, he was drawing lines in his PACEs with a ruler!
4. He used to have so much fear and would freeze whenever he was presented with something new. Now he is open to new experiences, new food, and new places. Even when he is not ready, he is in a much better place and can communicate his concerns better.
5. He used to be in his own world, and we had to put his homework in front of him before he would even start doing it. Even then, someone needed to sit beside him to ensure it was done. Today, he sets his goals through the goal card, is accountable to do his work, marks his own work, and can tell us the number of pages he did in school each day.
These improvements have greatly improved the quality of our lives. Even this, we know it’s just the beginning of a great restorative work that the Lord is doing in him.
We are so grateful that his supervisors have given him the gift of no condemnation, and believing in him. As such, Isaac has grown more confident. He enjoys going to school every day. Previously, going to school was a daily struggle. He has also started making friends in his class – something that he has not managed to do for years. We are grateful to kind and patient friends like Nathan and Go who have gone the extra mile to befriend him.
Isaac loves his supervisors who are “firm and fair”, in his exact words. Ms. Rita has put in a lot of effort to keep Isaac “in order”. Isaac’s goal in 2023 is to behave well so that he will not get into trouble with Ms. Rita. He says this with much love and appreciation because he can sense all their hearts.
Thank you so much for everything. I pray that the Lord will continue to give you and all the staff the spirit of wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of Him. As all of you hope in the Lord, He shall renew your strength and equip you for every good work you are doing. He shall prosper the works of your hands.
Best regards,
Jovi (Isaac’s mother)
