Our Team
We are a diverse church, called into service and unity in Christ.
At Victory Baptist Church, we truly believe that we are all called to take part in the glorious work of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ together. We have many gifted Christians at the church and value their individual input, ideas and efforts in our everyday ministry. Below you can meet just some of the team who help in the work at VBC.
"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." 1 Peter 4:10 (KJV)
Our Pastors
Pastor Oliver Crabtree
Oliver Crabtree was born in Blackpool Victoria Hospital in 1982. He grew up in Lytham St. Annes and attended Heyhouses CofE School as a child, before progressing to Lytham High School and moving to South Shore Blackpool. Between leaving high school and meeting his wife Emma in 2001, Oliver had struggled without Jesus in the world, not yet knowing the Son of God personally. and He fell into sin. He cannot describe his joy that Emma invited him to Victory Baptist Church, where Christ was uplifted, and he became saved. He started attending Victory Baptist Church in the year 2001 and was saved very shortly afterwards, under the ministry of Church planter Pastor Bill Smith. He attended church for many years and in 2020 felt the calling of God in his life. Answering that call, after several years of study, he was ordained at Victory Baptist Church, by the church and associated Pastors, in October 2003. Oliver is delighted that he continues to serve at the church, pastoring, evangelising and outreaching for Christ towards the community in which he has grown up. He is blessed to be joined in the work by his wife and four children.
Our Pastors
Associate Pastor John Ivins
John Ivins is a South African born native and was a protestant minister in the Anglican church in Africa. He had served in the military and had met and married his wife Beverly, before they both became saved and began attending church and serving the Lord. John worked with arguably some of the most impoverished communities in the world.
John and Bev moved to England, with their daughter Abigail and sons Timothy and Jediah in 2017, and became regular at Victory Baptist Church during the covid lockdowns of 2020, driving 50 miles from Warrington with his family every week to attend. The family joined as members of Victory Baptist Church a few years ago and have moved to Blackpool last year to fully emerge themselves in the work at Victory. John and his wife's lives for Christ and ministry experience are a great blessing to all our brothers and sisters.
Our Deacon
Brother Brian Rigg
Brian has been a member at Victory Baptist Church for just over 14 years now, after moving to the area with his wife Maggie. He has been a saved Christian since 1986 and truly has the glad heart of a true servant of Christ. He can always be found busy working being a blessing to somebody. He has vast experience, and it seems he knows how to do almost anything, and usually has the tools to help you do it He has been our buildings and grounds adviser and expert for many years.
During the Covid 19 lockdown, that deeply and negatively affected so many, Brian became a beacon of hope for Jesus when he started teaching weekly with "Brians Bible Bits". By showing he was apt to teach Biran was soon voted to be one of our first deacons (along with bother John Ivans initially) for many years.
Youth and Childrens Ministry
Youth Leader - Tim Ivins
Music Director, Child Protection Officer, Childrens Sunday Scool Minister - Debra Smith
Music Director, Child Protection Officer, Childrens Sunday Scool Minister - Debra Smith
Tim Ivins is the Eldest Son of Pastor John Ivins. He has been a member of Victory Baptist church for a few years now but has been raised in a Christian household and brought up in the Faith.
Last year Tim became our Youth Leader and now has felt the calling of God towards becoming a Pastor. Meanwhile Tim continues to lead a dynamic exciting youth group, educating our teens and young men and women in the study of God's word, He and his Teegan are expecting their first child this year. Please pray for this young couple starting their life in ministry together.
Music Director, Child Protection Officer, Childrens Sunday Scool Minister - Debra Smith
Music Director, Child Protection Officer, Childrens Sunday Scool Minister - Debra Smith
Music Director, Child Protection Officer, Childrens Sunday Scool Minister - Debra Smith
Debra has been a faithful servant of Christ here at Victory Baptist for many years. She is the wife of Church Founder Rev. Bill Smith and has been deeply invloved in the work of ministry in Blackpool for 40 years now. She continues to use her many gifts and talents not only to bring joy in Jesus with her musical abilities, a Christ led eduction to our children, and also is a source of great wisdom and experience, providing a blessing to all at Victory Baptist. She is also an Author of many Christian books, devotionals and Childrens Eduction programs,