About The American Rescue Workers Canton Ohio Corps

Captain Victor La Valla felt a call into the American Rescue Workers' ministry in the summer of 2005. While attending the national organization's annual Field Council meeting held that year in Canton, Ohio, Victor awoke his wife, Deborah, in the middle of the night to share what the Lord had laid on his heart. At the time he was a successful businessman in Connecticut who, along with his brother and another partner, co-owned a thriving printing operation. Victor told his wife, "This [full-time work with the American Rescue Workers] is what we should be doing."!

From that revelation on, the couple's lives began to be reshaped and refocused. They both spent September 2005 working as part of a team on Disaster Relief for the American Rescue Workers in Louisiana, helping to feed and comfort those devastated by the harsh effects of the summer's hurricanes. In December 2005, after ample time for the company to find coverage for his position, Victor made a public announcement to leave the printing company although he continues to maintain his partial ownership.

The proper applications, paperwork and procedures were conducted throughout the final half of 2005 and the first half of 2006 to bring the couple on board to the national organization first as soldiers and then as Lieutenants. They recently made the rank of Captains at the National Field Council held this year in Baltimore, Maryland.

The couple spent 2006 training at the various American Rescue Workers' corps and again traveling on a Disaster Relief endeavor, this time to Alabama to help rebuild homes. In September 2006 the couple was approached about the position coming available in Canton, Ohio. Although Victor was set to establish a corps in Connecticut, he could not stop thinking about Canton, Ohio. When he approached Deborah, she said she had been going through the same things he had about the place.

The couple continued to pray for God's direction and made the decision in December 2006 to take the position and relocate to Canton, Ohio. Waiting until after the holidays and handling the challenges of moving, the couple arrived in Canton, Ohio in February 2007 and actually acquired their current residence in March of 2007.

Deborah La Valla has been involved in the work of the American Rescue Workers in some capacity since 1980 when her father (and family) did something similar to what Victor did and left his prosperous career to get involved in full-time ministry. Together the couple brings humble hearts and spirits to seek what God has in store for the American Rescue Workers' ministry in Canton, Ohio.