The Vision and History of our Church

Since Midlands Christian Centre was founded in 1982, we have consistently communicated the God-given vision to the congregation and have put it to paper "to make it plain."

We rejoice and give God all the glory for what has been achieved and pray continually for fresh zeal to "run" with the vision, which is expanding as we grow.

The vision God has planted in our hearts is for all people in the Midlands of KwaZulu Natal to hear the Gospel, to be won to the Lord Jesus Christ, receiving Him into their hearts and lives, and then to be taught and made His disciples.

The vision includes the following:

The sending forth and planting of ministries in the Midlands of KwaZulu Natal and beyond.
As a Holy Spirit-filled group of believers, we also have social and educational responsibilities, thus taking care of the "whole" man, spirit, soul, mind and body.

The area involved is 800 square kilometres (250 square miles) from Estcourt to Colenso and up to the Drakensberg Mountains, which is home to approximately 200,000 people, most of whom are Zulu speaking. It is our express desire that this church will move with God-given strategy to allow the Holy Spirit to establish the Kingdom of God firmly in this area. We believe that the purpose of God is that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven through His church.

There is a great harvest still waiting to be reaped for the Lord. We can't afford to slow down now but let us "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14)

In April 1982, while driving past Estcourt on the freeway, the Lord spoke simultaneously to me and my wife, Glenda, to come to Estcourt to preach the Gospel. After a chain of events that only God could have brought about, we and our family moved to Estcourt in May 1982 and the Christian Centre was opened in June 1982 at premises in the centre of town.

These premises consisted of a shop, which we used as a hall for meetings and which also contained two small offices. As the work grew, we acquired another shop, which provided facilities for our Children's Work, offices and an area for tea and fellowship. We later started a Christian Bookshop in our Secretary's office and developed from there.

At the same time, we were also ministering in Colenso, 35 kilometres away, which was a separate work at that stage.

Those of you who remember those early days can testify to the blessings of God, as He confirmed His Word with signs and wonders!

In February 1983 the Word of the Lord came to the church through Alvin Grundy, a pastor from the U.S.A.

"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise." Isaiah 43:18, 19, 21

This was indeed a Word from God for myself as your Pastor, Glenda my wife, and each and everyone of us. It has been confirmed time and time again and it applies today as much as it did in 1983. For everyone who desires to be a part of this growing work, it is important that they apply these principles. To paraphrase, "Do not dwell on former things or former ways of doing things because God is doing new things and He will cause them to "spring" forth and you will know it. God will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. God has formed us as His people to continually praise Him."

1986 - God Provides Land

And so God permitted the work to grow until in 1986 our hall was literally overflowing with people at every meeting, quite a few having to be seated outside the doors!

But, by this time, God had miraculously provided 9 acres of prime land in Estcourt for the erection of a new building. This was one of the many things that God has caused to "spring forth".

1986 - Midlands Christian Centre Opens

Foundations were laid in July 1986 and the building operations involved everyone in the church. The men laboured faithfully on site every weekend and the ladies provided refreshments for them. It was a time of rich fellowship, great unity and one purpose.

Christmas Day 1986 dawned, and as we celebrated the glorious birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, our new "Midlands Christian Centre" home was opened at that meeting amidst great rejoicing and thanksgiving to God.

This building is a tangible proof of our faith in God for the Midlands area. It is a central point from which we can effectively train disciples and administer the whole area as God leads.