In the beginning we had a dream.
Two dreams, really, because we each had our own version - or perhaps one could say that each of us had half-a-dream; we only thought it was whole.
My name is Victoria Walters.
My visionary partner is Philip Paul Sacco
Author of "Awaken the Warrior"
Prior to our first live-and in-person meeting in 2005, we had no idea that our two dreams shared a common theme and would one day grow into a singular vision - a vision we've decided to pursue with all the fire that burns within us.
Welcome to Our Blog
The purpose of our blog is to chart the journey we are preparing to embark upon - the pursuit of our dream: the establishment of a new non-profit organization that offers empowerment to and equips 'at-risk' kids to meet the challenge of awakening to the call of a purpose greater than themselves; to become dynamic faith-filled leaders in their generation through character development wrapped around physical training in the martial art of fencing - fencing being a popular sport that is far less accessible to 'at-risk' kids than it is to those from more affluent backgrounds.
Philip and I are both 'dreamers', but he is the hands on 'do-er', while I am the administrative 'director'. Each of us has worked independently toward our separate dreams with a good degree of success - but put us to work in the same place at the same time and together we have synergy.
Our connection began in 2004 when I encountered Philip and his book on line, and read it. "Awaken the Warrior" is the most complete study of The Armor of God that I've ever encountered. While most of the material readily available regarding spiritual armor begins, ends, and centers around the summary written by The Apostle Paul in the Epistle to the Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10-17, "Awaken the Warrior" charts the usage of armor and its accompanying weaponry as a thread of teaching that weaves its way through Scripture from Genesis to Revelation in a way that reveals the purpose of each piece, how it was forged, and how it is designed to perform in our daily lives through personal character traits we must work at developing.
After reading it, I contacted him with some clarifying questions, and then began using it to teach a book-driven Bible Study for a Women's Ministry Group I was leading at the time. Having direct contact with the book's author was of great benefit as I taught the course in my hometown in Central California while drawing heavily upon Philip's beyond-what-he-had-written-expertise, and willingness to coach me through the process from his home in Georgia. It was an experience of teaching while I was still learning.
For almost six months we worked together - team teaching - from opposite sides of the country. We come from vastly different backgrounds with very few life experiences in common. But from our point of connecting on line, communicating through several weeks of e-mail before speaking by phone, working together long distance, and then finally meeting in May of 2005 for our first joint venture, (which covered eleven days and consisted of fifteen separate events); we knew that we shared a mission. Exactly what it was, was yet to unfold.
At that time I had been newly appointed as Executive Director of a state-wide prison ministry - a non-profit organization that I had worked in since 1990. Philip had made some progress in taking the Awaken Message outside Georgia and was still looking for venues in which to further expand.
We each recognized the value of the others' ability to contribute to our own work: Philip's background in live theater and 25+ years of experience in medieval martial arts, (specializing in heavy armored combat) combine into dynamic, interactive stage presentations that hold the rapt attention of young and old alike; while I enjoyed a sphere of influence where I could bring his work into state prisons and youth correctional facilities, as well as getting him into public and private schools, churches, conferences, and other community based venues.
Although we lived on opposite sides of the country, we created opportunities to work together in six states to the benefit of both our ministries.
Now, we've decided to take a giant step of faith and pour our concerted efforts into building our two dreams that have merged into one.
Over the last 15 years the dream has burned in my heart. I've called it "Restoration Lodge," - a place where worn and battle-weary Missionaries can debrief between assignments, while offering a school-of-ministry to young people preparing for their first entry into the work-of-the-ministry.
Over the same time frame, Philip has called it a "Warrior Training Center," - a place where classroom instruction alongside one-to-one mentoring can help squires become Knights, and handmaidens become Dames.
With our terminology so vastly different, it took many sessions of pouring out our dreams to each other to realize that we were both envisioning the same thing but each was seeing it through our individualistic lens of life-experience.
We each see the final goal as being a Retreat Center from which to teach the Awaken Message utilizing multiple means of delivery tailored to specific audiences, but our work will begin with a modest start-up in a Decatur, GA dance studio where we have the capacity to work with as many as 60 students each week.
In 18 short days from today, I will begin my cross country move to Atlanta, GA - and we will begin building the organizational structure from the ground up.
Our first order of business will be to craft our mission statement, create our bylaws, recruit our board of directors, handle our incorporation process, and develop our funding streams...but we'll have to do those things 'on the fly' as we already have 15 kids signed up and ready to begin.
Stay tuned - the adventure is under-way.
