Roderick Grabski was born in Shalersville, Ohio (near Mantua). He grew up in and around Portage County, mostly in Mantua. He lived in Windham for 5 years and attended 9th and 10th grade at Windham High School. He graduated in 1975 from Crestwood High School in Mantua.
Rod worked in several professions after high school and eventually started his own property management and mobile home sales business. He ultimately answered God's call on his life through the mentoring of the late Pastor Lyle Hinkle. In 1988 Rod began his ministry of preaching in nursing homes, camp grounds, and pulpit fill when needed. At this time he also became a certified lay speaker in the United Methodist Church.
Rod started college at Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio earning an Associates degree. He transferred to Baldwin-Wallace College and earned his B.A. in 1994. He then earned a Master's of Divinity from Ashland Theological Seminary in 1997.
Rev. Roderick Grabski had been serving United Methodist churches for 17 years, and Christian churches for 8 years in Northeastern Ohio before God called him and his wife, Jaime, to start a new, non-denominational, church congregation. The Victory Fellowship congregation had their first Worship Service on July 14, 2013 in Barberton. After two moves in 17 months, on Christmas Eve 2014, our congregation settled in at our current location - 273 23rd St. SW in Barberton, Ohio.
