Koela Gospel Partnership

My wife Minah and I have had an opportunity to participate in a church planting 'intensive' (a three-week course) in New York at Redeemer Presbyterian Church under Tim Keller. We believe that this three week course will equip and prepare us for church planting next year. We left for New York on the first of October but we still need R40 000 to fund our stay here.

A desire to plant and lead a multi-ethnic church has been growing in our hearts, particularly in light of the polarising politics that have been happening in our country. We would love the opportunity to plant an independent multi-ethnic church in the suburbs of Cape Town. We feel the time is right and our wisdom that has come with age can be used well to establish a church that will seek to be a changing, dynamic community that reflects the diversity and beautiful complexity of a community of Christ. We want it to be a gospel centred church that demonstrates the power of the reconciliatory work of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5, v11-21, which demonstrates that God not only reconciles us to Himself but also to each other.

Background

I came to faith in 1987 whilst studying at University of Cape Town. A number of students came to share Christ with me using the Evangelism Explosion. I was someone who was raised in church but was very afraid of death. The students were very direct in asking me whether I had assurance of going to heaven should I die. This was precisely the question I have been wrestling with for years but never had an answer. I was then led to put my trust in Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Ever since the fear of death has been gone and the bible took on a new meaning. It came alive and church stopped being a boring place. I was hungry to know more about Jesus and wanted to share my new-found faith with many. I was then discipled thoroughly by leaders of the Student YMCA at UCT. I was also introduced to the church St James Kenilworth under the leadership of Bishop Frank Retief. This was the church I attended for 24 years and at a later stage got ordained in. It was at UCT when I began sensing God leading me into ministry on a full-time basis. I then did my formal theological training at Bible Institute of South Africa (1990 till 1992).

After leading a multicultural church for 5 years (2005-2011), we attended a church called Common ground. This is where we are currently serving as elders. For the past 5 years I have been working with the Warehouse Trust, doing transformational development. I lead the church leaders strategy and inspire and equip them to lead their congregations effectively. We seek to teach church leaders about integral missions, issues of poverty, injustice, division and equality.