The Church in Welkom was started by Winston Kennedy and they held services in Dr Morrison's house initially, Dr Morrison was the father of The Rt. Rev. Martin Morrison - now the Area Bishop of Gauteng. At first it was a house church, meeting at a home but in time it grew.
Over the years the following ministers served at Christ Church:
Rev Don Kirkwood In Don's time the Church was timesharing the premises with the Lutherans, who owned the building. As the Lutheran congregation grew smaller and older Christ Church bought the building from them and they continued to time share the building with us. Don was eventually called to be the Rector of the Proes Street Church in Pretoria. and Christ Church lost an amazing minister and man of God. Under Don the Church grew to be a flourishing Biblical church. Don was also the Rector of the Bloemfontein church at that time
Rev George van der Westhuizen 1991 - 1994 George was young in the ministry though long in the tooth. He had just finished his first two years of curacy which he completed in Swakopmund, Namibia as the first minister in a new little church. But Don had left behind a great team of Godly men who kept everything going just a smoothly as any rector could. By Gods grace the services and numbers grew. Various ministries flourished and God was pleased to bless everything we laid our hands to. Georges Son committed suicide in Somerset West - Cape Town. George went to sort things out and shortly after getting back resigned from Christ Church to go to Cape Town for the Schooling of his youngest son. There he worked as a supplementary minister for a time, until called to Emmanuel Church, Bellville as assistant minister to Allan Gray
Brian Bytheway Bears special mention. Brian was the backbone of the prayer meeting and a special man, a godly man who was worthy of emulating, as the Apostle Paul suggest's we do in the epistles. Many a time he would start an initiative which others would follow for thee sake of the King
Gladys Cory Gladys was a real institution in the church at that time. She was the painist and other musicians came and went but Gladys was always there.
Howard Day - Garth van Blerk - John Denby Are some of the lads who will be remembered by many.
The McGill Family Were all musicians and very active in the church. We remember Lauren McGill playing the theme tune from Knersus using her foot to move the slide on her trombone. In fact all the children are serving the Lord around the world.
Rev. ?? Another minister was here for a short time, I am looking for his name. Someone email it to me please.
Rev Rob Prohn Well rob will fill us in on his stint at Welkom and I will include it here. After Rob Prohn left there was a period during which Mario Marshal, Tom Rogers, Greg Goosen and various other men preached and held the church together.
Rev Justice Potgieter Was the next minister at Christ Church, Welkom
Rev Trevor Wecke I am waiting for information from Trevor or those who know his story.
Rev George van der Westhuizen (called by the church for a 2nd tour of service in 2006-????)
The Church went through a time of decline. As a result they called George to sort it out. But the income got less and less - congregants left the church - The church went through a difficult time resulting in a split. Eventually George had to leave the full time ministry as funds were just not forthcoming. He continued to be the rector of the church but began his own little installation business which slowly grew and is now almost viable. All the while God was growing the church, nourishing His body in Welkom.
In 2011 - by Gods grace alone - the church seems to be growing both numerically and spiritually. Pray for the growth of this little African Church, in a once prosperous city that is now for many years in decline. Ask God to help us transition from the old way to His way, and His way only. Psalm 62 comes to mind. We now have up to twelve men meeting to study the word of God at Men for the Master - every Saturday. Then 8 or so ladies coming to the ladies Bible Study, 9 or so to the Wed night Bible study and about 20 to 30 to the morning service. A number attending do not belong to our Church but feel a need for a bit of extra input from the Word of God. The years roll by and in 2012 we find the church continues to be a little church numerically, but a great church Spiritually. We pray on for revival and trust God in every circumstance to do His perfect will.
2013 - A good year
2014 - George gave up all installations when his son took his own life.
2015 - This year George is very excited about the new and upcoming year, looking to God to do wonderful works in the little church
Tom Rogers Was ordained a lay preacher and assisted George until he got a job in Rustenberg, Swartklip
Rev Ernest Molefi Was ordained a Deacon in 2010 to assist George with the work as a supplementary minister. Ernest assists by preaching on a regular basis and is a top notch man of God. Ernest has since left REACHSA and now worships at the Baptist Church
Greg Goosen In 2011 became the right hand man to the Rector and is an encouragement and great helper in the work of ministering to God's people in Welkom. Greg has sold his house and is moving to Johannesburg in Feb 2015 - We will miss him sorely.
David Nelson Got saved way back in the 1990's. He joined the EE3 team and has led many to Christ - He is now the pastor of our church in Orkney and studying through the Baptist Theological Seminary and doing the GWC Explore courses as ongoing training. His Church, Emmanuel Church Orkney (ECO) has a number of Chinese folk. He has to have a Chinese translator for the Chinese people. Pray for this work please
Some men who should get a mention in this history have been intentionally left out - either because they have waxed cold or because they would just take up too much space if I mentioned them all. Perhaps when they or I die they will be included by some kind hearted soul :)
