FIRESTARTER
What is a FIREstarter?
A FIREstarter is a man or a woman that chooses to have supernatural faith and believes just like Elijah did.
A FIREstarter stands in the gap for "his people" in intercessory prayer.
A FIREstarter travails in the spirit, even if it means to go against 450 enemies to see the Miracles, Signs and Wonders of God.
A FIREstarter is willing to light a small flame of prayer & faith and believe enough in "his God's" Mighty Power to change any circumstance in mankind's realities.
A FIREstarter learns to PUSH in the Spirit (Prays Until Something Happens)
1 Kings 18:22-24, 38-39
A FIREstarter stands in the gap for "his people" in intercessory prayer.
A FIREstarter travails in the spirit, even if it means to go against 450 enemies to see the Miracles, Signs and Wonders of God.
A FIREstarter is willing to light a small flame of prayer & faith and believe enough in "his God's" Mighty Power to change any circumstance in mankind's realities.
A FIREstarter learns to PUSH in the Spirit (Prays Until Something Happens)
1 Kings 18:22-24, 38-39
What does a FIREstarter do?
A FIREstarter dedicates one hour a week to pray for the needs of TDN. The unity of many FIREstarters bringing their own individual flame of faith, to spark in one accord with others to create a unified roaring spiritual wildfire. Through the travailing intercessory prayers, FIREstarters pray for the unsaved, the leadership, the finances, and the believers alike. A FIREstarter BELIEVES to see the Miraculous hand of God intervene in mankind, to see lives changed, to see the captives set free, to see Miracles, Signs and Wonders of God.
TDN is set to have a FIREstarter prayer chain that is ignited 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year soaking at the throne and presence of God.
Are you ready to give God an hour of your time to be a FIREstarter??
Let us know, so you link up arm to arm with other FIREstarters today.
TDN is set to have a FIREstarter prayer chain that is ignited 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year soaking at the throne and presence of God.
Are you ready to give God an hour of your time to be a FIREstarter??
Let us know, so you link up arm to arm with other FIREstarters today.
FIRESTARTER LEADERSHIP
Apostle Jose A. Velez Jr.
Jose Velez was raised in what was known as "Fort Apache" the Bronx. Being raised in one of the poorest areas of New York City, was influenced by the inner-city violence that was all around him. Motorcycle bikers up the block on one end, a big drug dealer on the other end, and the mob presence a few blocks away in Little Italy (Da Bronx).
His mother and father were first-generation Puerto Ricans in the US. Jose was influenced by the streets and his father in search of the "American Dream" did traditional business and "street business" which led him a stint in prison from a RICO charge. This affected the proper balance of "right & wrong" early in Jose's life. He got caught up in the violence of the street life. Jose Velez encountered tons of violence on a daily basis that led him to almost loose his life to the streets with 7 bullet wounds all over his body and behind his head. God spared his life from the execution style shooting.
In search of "change" God called Jose Velez to a life transforming retreat in Puerto Rico, that would alter his destiny from the street life to ministry. He soon would meet his wife of over 33 years now to help him on his journey of change and transformation. In his initial encounter with his wife, he mentioned that he needed to know that she would be open to a relationship with God, because he said to her, it would be the course that he was going to be on. Shortly thereafter he won his wife and family for the Lord. They got married and today they have 3 beautiful children and 8 amazing grandchildren.
For over 4 decades, God has used him to start the Victory Renewal Center retreat house in the Poconos Mountains, which has taken many young women & men, adults, and youth on high impact, life transforming retreats. He has prepared many church leaders to work on these weekend retreats as to evangelize the participants to a new life in Christ Jesus. Tens of thousands of lives have been directly changed and transformed in this evangelistic work in the kingdom. He has served as senior pastor and overseer to a thriving Church in the Big Apple in the Bronx. He was awarded a citation by the NYS assembly for the decades of work in the inner city. Today Jose Velez has started and collaborated with many ministries in inner city outreaches, missions’ projects, feeding programs and pantries, locally, domestically and internationally.
Today Jose Velez serves as Founder and Senior Pastor of True Discipleship Network (TDN). It is an international virtual church that has members in 4 continents around the world. TDN provides Christian programming for Children, Youth, Marriages, & Adults through their live linear broadcasting station. TDN has strategic partnerships domestically and internationally to help many humanitarian efforts in many countries. TDN is poised to be a leading teaching ministry to educate, equip and empower the believers and churches alike.
Jose Velez has appeared in many TV programs (like Good Day New York (Channel 5)), Radio Shows, Newspapers, Magazines, and is a sought-out Conference speaker. Specializing in leadership development, church structure and inner-city outreach.
His mother and father were first-generation Puerto Ricans in the US. Jose was influenced by the streets and his father in search of the "American Dream" did traditional business and "street business" which led him a stint in prison from a RICO charge. This affected the proper balance of "right & wrong" early in Jose's life. He got caught up in the violence of the street life. Jose Velez encountered tons of violence on a daily basis that led him to almost loose his life to the streets with 7 bullet wounds all over his body and behind his head. God spared his life from the execution style shooting.
In search of "change" God called Jose Velez to a life transforming retreat in Puerto Rico, that would alter his destiny from the street life to ministry. He soon would meet his wife of over 33 years now to help him on his journey of change and transformation. In his initial encounter with his wife, he mentioned that he needed to know that she would be open to a relationship with God, because he said to her, it would be the course that he was going to be on. Shortly thereafter he won his wife and family for the Lord. They got married and today they have 3 beautiful children and 8 amazing grandchildren.
For over 4 decades, God has used him to start the Victory Renewal Center retreat house in the Poconos Mountains, which has taken many young women & men, adults, and youth on high impact, life transforming retreats. He has prepared many church leaders to work on these weekend retreats as to evangelize the participants to a new life in Christ Jesus. Tens of thousands of lives have been directly changed and transformed in this evangelistic work in the kingdom. He has served as senior pastor and overseer to a thriving Church in the Big Apple in the Bronx. He was awarded a citation by the NYS assembly for the decades of work in the inner city. Today Jose Velez has started and collaborated with many ministries in inner city outreaches, missions’ projects, feeding programs and pantries, locally, domestically and internationally.
Today Jose Velez serves as Founder and Senior Pastor of True Discipleship Network (TDN). It is an international virtual church that has members in 4 continents around the world. TDN provides Christian programming for Children, Youth, Marriages, & Adults through their live linear broadcasting station. TDN has strategic partnerships domestically and internationally to help many humanitarian efforts in many countries. TDN is poised to be a leading teaching ministry to educate, equip and empower the believers and churches alike.
Jose Velez has appeared in many TV programs (like Good Day New York (Channel 5)), Radio Shows, Newspapers, Magazines, and is a sought-out Conference speaker. Specializing in leadership development, church structure and inner-city outreach.
Apostle Anna Velez
Pastor Anna Velez was born 1960 in midtown Manhattan in N.Y.C. between 83st. & 84st. She grew up poor in a domestic violence home with two sisters. Her mother Maria Concepcion was an orphan in Puerto Rico she came to N.Y.C. in her early 20's then went on to struggled and suffered all her life. She was a hard working woman, but was uneducated and only qualified to work factory jobs. Her father Adam Ortiz worked as a maintenance man on w.79th St., at that time it was not the best paying job. When Pastor Anna was 12 years of age her father was gun down, shot died in the Bronx, and she was left without a father figure. This took her through a different course in life. She went on to look for love in all the wrong places, searching for that father figure.
Pastor Anna had her first child (Eddie) at the age of 19 she was also raising her niece (Indira) during this time. At 22 yrs old while 5 months pregnant of her second child (Fallon) her mother was attacked and stabbed 24 times and almost died. This was a very painful time for Pastor Anna and her family. Pastor Anna remain a struggling single parent for 12 years. At 29 years old she met her husband to be, Pastor Jose A. Velez Jr. During their courtship he introduced her to the Lord Jesus Christ. They married in December 1991 when she was 31 yrs old, she went on to have a third child which she named after her father, Adam.
During Pastor Anna's young life she believed in God but never knew the depth of Him. She has always been a caring loving person and has been knew to go over and beyond to help anyone, so when she learned the truth of God and the fullness of His love she fell in love with Him never turning back. Today she is known for her strength, love and wisdom.
In 1993 Pastors Anna and Jose A Velez Jr founded the ministry of Victory Renewal Center (VRC). So their journey in ministry began.
Pastor Anna had her first child (Eddie) at the age of 19 she was also raising her niece (Indira) during this time. At 22 yrs old while 5 months pregnant of her second child (Fallon) her mother was attacked and stabbed 24 times and almost died. This was a very painful time for Pastor Anna and her family. Pastor Anna remain a struggling single parent for 12 years. At 29 years old she met her husband to be, Pastor Jose A. Velez Jr. During their courtship he introduced her to the Lord Jesus Christ. They married in December 1991 when she was 31 yrs old, she went on to have a third child which she named after her father, Adam.
During Pastor Anna's young life she believed in God but never knew the depth of Him. She has always been a caring loving person and has been knew to go over and beyond to help anyone, so when she learned the truth of God and the fullness of His love she fell in love with Him never turning back. Today she is known for her strength, love and wisdom.
In 1993 Pastors Anna and Jose A Velez Jr founded the ministry of Victory Renewal Center (VRC). So their journey in ministry began.
Pastor Robert Ayala
Pastor Robert Ayala began his journey 24 years ago. Having been called to work in ministry he began his walk as an usher working his way up to head usher. He also began teaching Bible study and discipleship classes early on. Walking the streets with his team of men he walked the streets of the Fordham section of the Bronx praying for those who needed it and evangelizing on every corner imaginable. He worked in the financial industry on Wall Street and frequently prayed for his coworkers when asked. Pastor Robert went on to become a Chaplain, full time minister, being a leader at men's retreats, graduating from New York Theological Seminary and finally being ordained as a pastor at Victory Renewal. He is currently on the Pastoral team at True Discipleship Network, were he teaches Bible class and preaches. He is married to Pastor Annie (Luz) Ayala who is his strength and his partner in ministry.
Pastor Luz Ayala
Pastor Luz has always had a heart for ministry and the things of the Lord. Having worked in the post office as a letter carrier for some 34 years she had the opportunity to stop and pray for those on her route when she felt a prompting of the Spirit. She is truly a street evangelizer as she will stop to talk to anyone. She also loves to cook and will cook up a storm when needed at the church. Because of her dedication to ministry and working with those she feels need to hear the Word, she finally was ordained as a Pastor at Victory Renewal. She now works with her husband Pastor Robert Ayala and together they work to bring others to Christ.
Minister Susan A. Bronka
Minister Susan grew up in Little Italy in the Bronx to parents who did not know God, but she had a grandmother who took her to church and that is where she first learned about God, but she did not know the importance of having an intimate relationship with God, who Christ was or that she had a Comforter who was the Holy Spirit. Due to abuse at home, Minister Susan married at a young age, and at 29, she had a daughter, whom she loves, however, the marriage was not meant to be she divorced; and a short time later, she married for a second time, however, this marriage was not meant to be. She was trying to fill a void she felt in her heart with drugs, alcohol and ungodly relationships. Deacon Susan attempted suicide due to depression, however, God spared her life because, unbeknownst to her, God had an awesome plan for her.
In 2006, Minister Susan went to her first retreat and had her first encounter with the Holy Spirit that slowly started to transform her life; and in July 2011, Minister Susan was baptized and had a deeper encounter with the Holy Spirit like never before that transformed her life. When she first became part of the Victory family, all she wanted to do was become an usher and nothing more, but she learned that when God has a plan, His plan will come to pass. It has been thirteen years since Minister Susan was baptized in Pennsylvania, and she has learned to have an intimate relationship with God, to trust in the Holy Spirit that lives within her and to call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for all things. As she has learned to walk in obedience to the Word of the Lord, opening up her mind that she can learn the Word of the Lord by praying and asking for God’s wisdom when she reads, and seeking His will, He has opened up her heart and mind to learning the Word of the Lord in multiple translations and has learned that there is no limit to what God can do. God has blessed Minister Susan to be an usher, teacher, preacher, prayer intercessor, discipleship group leader, a women’s retreat leader and so much more. She has learned that there are no limits in God, the blessings are abundant. All she can say is “Thank you Abba Father for Your love, grace, mercy and blessings.”
Proverbs3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path
In 2006, Minister Susan went to her first retreat and had her first encounter with the Holy Spirit that slowly started to transform her life; and in July 2011, Minister Susan was baptized and had a deeper encounter with the Holy Spirit like never before that transformed her life. When she first became part of the Victory family, all she wanted to do was become an usher and nothing more, but she learned that when God has a plan, His plan will come to pass. It has been thirteen years since Minister Susan was baptized in Pennsylvania, and she has learned to have an intimate relationship with God, to trust in the Holy Spirit that lives within her and to call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for all things. As she has learned to walk in obedience to the Word of the Lord, opening up her mind that she can learn the Word of the Lord by praying and asking for God’s wisdom when she reads, and seeking His will, He has opened up her heart and mind to learning the Word of the Lord in multiple translations and has learned that there is no limit to what God can do. God has blessed Minister Susan to be an usher, teacher, preacher, prayer intercessor, discipleship group leader, a women’s retreat leader and so much more. She has learned that there are no limits in God, the blessings are abundant. All she can say is “Thank you Abba Father for Your love, grace, mercy and blessings.”
Proverbs3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path
Carmen I. Bermudez-Luciano
Carmen Ivette Bermudez-Luciano was born in Hollywood, Florida and was raised in the Bronx since the age of 2 years old. She grew up in a violent domestic household along with her 2 sisters and 1 brother. Her mother was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico was an orphan at the age of 3. At the age of 19 her mother met her father, Ivan R. Bermudez in Hollywood Florida. Once her parents separated her mother and father move to the Bronx separately. Eventual her mother married her stepdad and their marriage lasted for 27 years after their divorced.
Carmen became a teen mother at the age of 18 with her first son Rodolfo Miguel Torres and her second son Luis Torres by the age 19. She was in a domestically abusive relationship that lasted from the age of 16 thru 27, until she finally had the courage to walk away and start a new chapter in her life.
In 1991 she met Anthony Luciano Deputy Director of Emergency Services Department of NYCHA while they worked together in the same office. A year later they started dating, than married after 10 years. The family grew and they became grandparents of 6 beautiful grandchildren (Miguelangel Torres, Solomon Dream Torres, Jerusalem Gabriel Torres Skylin Lee Torres, Artimus Grey Torres and Ivan Raymond Torres)
Carmen has been very active in her community as a college student of Bronx Community College, it helped her in operating/managing various Entertainment and Business companies. She has completed various trainings in the Civilian Police Academy, Nurse’s Aide, and Banking Operations. She has enjoyed giving back to the community in volunteer work in the PAL, Auxiliary Police, Children’s Hospital, Disaster Relief efforts, Community & Charity Events, and the Bronx City Council.
Carmen became a teen mother at the age of 18 with her first son Rodolfo Miguel Torres and her second son Luis Torres by the age 19. She was in a domestically abusive relationship that lasted from the age of 16 thru 27, until she finally had the courage to walk away and start a new chapter in her life.
In 1991 she met Anthony Luciano Deputy Director of Emergency Services Department of NYCHA while they worked together in the same office. A year later they started dating, than married after 10 years. The family grew and they became grandparents of 6 beautiful grandchildren (Miguelangel Torres, Solomon Dream Torres, Jerusalem Gabriel Torres Skylin Lee Torres, Artimus Grey Torres and Ivan Raymond Torres)
Carmen has been very active in her community as a college student of Bronx Community College, it helped her in operating/managing various Entertainment and Business companies. She has completed various trainings in the Civilian Police Academy, Nurse’s Aide, and Banking Operations. She has enjoyed giving back to the community in volunteer work in the PAL, Auxiliary Police, Children’s Hospital, Disaster Relief efforts, Community & Charity Events, and the Bronx City Council.
Deacon Tania Brown
Grew up in Jamaica, parents weren't Christians however her mum was a Devout Roman Catholic she would take her to Mass every Sunday not really having a relationship with God but knowing about God. She was baptized at the age of 9 years old after a missionary from Mozambique came to the church across from their house holding a crusade for Christ. He taught them about a man called Jesus who loves us and died for us. She gave her life to Christ that day but was still lacking, she just didn't know what she was lacking. Her mum brought her to the US, and she wasn't thriving as she should, she still had daddy issues and her pride had her out of control. She joined the military in hopes of getting away from all the noise and the nonsense, of course she wasn't following after God or even reading His word much less going to church. Someone invited her to a women's retreat in Pennsylvania....that was some harsh reality.... She learned all about her lack and about her unforgiveness as well as her foolishness. She restored her relationship with Jesus and grew to love and to forgive not just others but herself. Now she is a disciple of Jesus Christ learning under the covering of her Spiritual parents (Apostles Jose & Anna Velez) how to remain teachable and grow stronger in the Lord everyday...they keep stretching her and keep her rooted and grounded in the word of God. Her path is different now she is no longer a soldier with no armor, she trusts in Him and He armored her up for any and all battles. She knows to handle her issues she must send knee-mail, not phone a friend.
Deacon Jackie L. Hayes
Born in Atlanta, GA. Her family relocated to VA when she was 2 years old. They settled in Yorktown, VA in the country with a pump in the yard, an outhouse, and kerosene lamps. She remembers her mom sending her to church at a very early age, something she never strayed away from even though she was living a worldly life. Her mom moved them to Newport News, VA for a better life and opportunities. She made the right call in her decision, because they had the amenities we didn’t have in Yorktown. They live in the projects a real neighborhood where people were just like them poor, but not realizing it because they had what good life as they knew it. They knew everyone in their area because they either went to church or school together, there were no strangers. One thing they all did back then was go to church and all day on Sunday. Sunday School, the choir and Vacation Bible School. She was Baptist at the age of 13 and has always tried to live right as a Christian even though she didn’t really understand, she questioned at times, maybe she was faking the funk, she doesn’t really know. Being an introvert and a quiet person, she was invisible. She’s been church hurt and she felt used and abuse by her old church family, but she never gave up the Lord, it just caused her to cling to Him a bit tighter and her situation made her stronger than ever before. It gave her a reason to get real and serious about her Christian walk, no self-pity or hurt, because life is too short to waste time on people’s opinions, what they think and their approval.
Jackie is strong, she knows who’s she is, who she belongs too. She is a front-line soldier ready to serve the one true God in Spirit and in truth. She will speak up; she will be bold. One she said, “here I am Lord, use me, send me”, She became a true disciple for such a time as this.
Jackie is strong, she knows who’s she is, who she belongs too. She is a front-line soldier ready to serve the one true God in Spirit and in truth. She will speak up; she will be bold. One she said, “here I am Lord, use me, send me”, She became a true disciple for such a time as this.