Our executive (comprised of the elders and deacons) met last Thursday. We opened 1 Timothy 3, as well as the relevant constitutional sections and policies regarding deacon qualifications. We exhorted our deacons to prayerfully consider their ministry load alongside deaconal duties (which include monthly executive meetings, regular WhatsApp decisions, annual vision casting, and faithful attendance at services and Sunday prayer meetings).
The main part of our meeting involved our deacon nomination process. For each nominated candidate, as well as candidates who are up for reelection: 1.) We prayed for them. 2.) We prayed for wisdom for ourselves. 3.) We asked if they wished to stand. 4.) We opened the floor for questions. 5.) We confirmed their qualifications. 6.) We affirmed their commitment to duties. 7.) We voted after they recused themselves. The executive agreed to present the completed interviewed nominations to the church immediately, noting that outstanding interviews will follow in due course. Consensus was reached to present the batch of nominations without staggering terms.
The executive has decided to bring the following nominations forward to the church at our AGM on Sunday, 20 September, after the morning service:
- Jackie Gittens: Visitation ministry team leader. Jackie expressed a desire to be involved hands-on. He views visitation as an extension of a teaching ministry. And he expressed a deep love for Benoni Baptist Church. Affirmed qualifications and commitment.
- Rina Bowie: Hospitality ministry team leader. Confirmed her conviction that women serve as deacons according to 1 Timothy 3, and affirmed her qualifications and commitment with the Lord’s help.
- Evans Odhiambo: Evangelism ministry team leader. Shared his background (saved at university, mission work, church planting and training, joined Benoni Baptist Church in 2025). Discussed his heart for supporting pastoral ministry and affirmed both elders and deacons hold responsibility for evangelism. Affirmed his qualifications and commitment to the role.
The executive has decided to bring the following re-nominations forward to the church at our AGM on Sunday, 20 September, after the morning service:
- David Somerset: In the role of elder. Affirmed qualifications, commitment, and love for Benoni Baptist Church.
- David Bell: Prayer ministry team leader. Spoke of excitement of current church growth, love for the body, and ongoing mentoring for succession.
- Ian Bowie: Stewards, door greeters, and service co-ordinators ministry team leader. Affirmed joy in serving alongside his wife, Rina, and his role as service co-ordinator.
- Barbara Somerset: Ladies ministry team leader. Shared updates on growing smaller groups within the ladies’ ministry and future plans.
We have a number of prospective members, with a new round of membership starting soon. Our deacons will be allocated candidates and conduct interviews prior to the August executive meeting.
Our church has the opportunity to partner with other conservative evangelical congregations by hosting an expository preaching conference in August called Preach 2026. Scheduled for Saturday, 22 August, 9:00am-2:00pm. Speakers include Dr. David De Bruyn (New Covenant Baptist Church), Brian Watts (Glenvista Baptist Church), Sybrandt de Swart (Lynnwood Baptist Church), and Clinton Stone (Honeyridge Baptist Church). We’re expecting 70 pastors, elders, and members. We will need to mobilise our catering, tech, worship, and stewards teams. We will fund the lunch, utilising allocated conference funds and general funds. This serves to strengthen partnerships with likeminded churches.
We discussed a number of adhoc issues such as taps for the garden, disabled bathrooms (we approved the services of an architect), a firearm policy, some aesthetics related to the doors to the baptistry, the replacement of memorial stones to the garden of remembrance, and opening stones to prominent places at the entrance of our halls. The executive were informed that the elders have empowered Yolanda Koen as ministry team leader of the mercy ministry. Our draft policy documents have been circulated to the church. The executive will vote for formal adoption of them at the August executive meeting.
David brought a financial report. In short, our month to month income remains strong. And so does our expenditure, as we try and allocate surplus funds to ministry and renovations. Our financial year closed at the end of June. Our income, including designating giving, amounted to around R2.8m. And our expenses (including depreciation and committed designated giving) amounted to around R2.8m. We discussed the small surplus for projects like fencing around the children’s play area. We discussed concerns regarding petty cash usage, and allocation to reflect growing ministry needs, as well as our financial policy.
We then discussed our financial and church growth trajectory as it related to our desire to plant a conservative, evangelical Baptist church with our healthy DNA in Benoni. Unlike last year, income is tracking closely with our aspirational budget right from the financial start to the year. We are roughly 20% toward our financial milestone goal for church planting (target is 140% of January’s giving level). Membership currently stands at 195, with 20 in the pipeline toward our goal of 265. At current growth rates, both numerical and financial goals are reachable by year-end. We gave thanks to God for His continued providence and provision!
We share these matters not to burden you but to include you. You are not spectators. You are the household of faith. We ask for your prayers. Thank you for your partnership as we seek to oversee the flock God has entrusted to us. We do not take this lightly. We cannot do it without grace. We cannot do it without you.