2026 Annual report

This report is to be tabled at the Annual General Meeting of Benoni Baptist Church, Sunday, 20 September 2026, after the service. It represents the activities of the church over the period 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026.

Table of Contents

1. Our core

2. Transformational teaching

3. Exalting worship

4. Loving fellowship

5. Missional living

6. Pastor’s report

7. Appendix A: Agenda of the Annual General Meeting

8. Appendix B: Sections of our constitution relating to the agenda

Our core

Over the course of the year we’ve continued to align our activities to our mission. And we’ve adopted a clear vision.

Our mission

Our vision

Pulpit ministry (Mark Penrith)

We were in Romans 8 in July 2025, and continued preaching that great book until April 2026. We had short series in Isaiah, Haggai and Ruth, as well as standalone sermons in between. The preaching team included the elders, Mark, Andre, and David, as well as Gerhard and Evans. Bongani Cele from Dunnottar Baptist Church, Chris Mnguni from Grace Baptist Church Daveyton, Nicholas Maynard, and Barry Funnell from The Word for the World have served as guest preachers.

Leadership development (Mark Penrith)

Over the past 12 months the elders continued to pour into the lives of Gerhard, Lance, and Evans, all of which have access to a leadership development program through a partner ministry called XL Ministries. Gerhard’s name has been brought to this AGM as an elder, nominated by the executive. Lance and Evans have been appointed as pastoral assistants. Evans has been brought to this AGM as a deacon, nominated by the executive. Mark has been meeting with a group of 8 men for the past 12 months working through Becoming a Biblical Leader. The program has come to an end. Out of the program Tyrone has been brought to this AGM as a deacon, nominated by the executive. Into the year to come we will start Becoming a Biblical Elder, and we encourage men who are interested in pursuing the high calling to eldership to make an application. Liezl has been taking a group of ladies through the Becoming a Biblical Leader material.

Counselling (Mark Penrith)

Counselling is a subset of discipleship. Whereas normal discipleship relationships are formative in nature, counselling interventions are often corrective. We have a number of active Biblical counsellors in the congregation, and the number of members seeking Biblical counselling continues to grow.

Constitution committee (Adrian Pearson)

At Benoni Baptist Church, we are committed to aligning our church governance with biblical principles and our current practice. Over time, as our church has grown and developed, some areas of our constitution no longer reflect how we function in reality.

To address this, the church has approved the formation of a constitution committee, consisting of our elders, together with Ian Austin (a church member with constitutional experience), and me Adrian Pearson (a lawyer and member with a long association with BBC , seconded to the committee). This team will work section by section to revise the constitution, ensuring it is both faithful to Scripture and practical for our church today.

We have already brought changes to the deacons section of our constitution. Prior notice has also been given that at this AGM, proposed changes to our elders section will be presented. Furthermore we will also table changes to the church discipline section of our constitution.

Library (Robin Sammons)

Thank you to all those who have donated books and CD’s to the library. Our shelves are filling up and many people in our congregation have been blessed through the literature available in the library. This is a ministry of the church based on trust which means that we trust that every item taken from the library will be entered in the register when taken out and then the date entered on the register when returned. When the book/s or cd/s are returned they are to be placed on the round table in the library and they will then be placed on the relevant shelf by Robin Sammons or Heather Cawdrey. If anyone wishes to donate books or bibles or cd’s, kindly speak to Robin or just leave them in a box or packet on the round table in the library.

There is a display unit in the library next to the entrance door into the fellowship hall containing literature and second hand books and bibles which are “free of charge.” Please feel free to take anything you like from this unit either for yourself or to give to someone else. If you have bibles that you don’t use anymore they will be placed on this unit. Just a reminder that none of the books or cd’s in the library are bought or sold. Only a few bibles are available on a donation basis in order to purchase new affordable bibles in their place.

Small group Bible studies (Mark Penrith)

We have 10 weekly small group Bible studies (up from 9). And 3 monthly Bible studies (up from 2). We have started tracking attendance on Planning Center and will have more details number in the near future, however I’m fairly certain our attendance remains above 50% of our membership base. We are hoping to grow this number to 65% in the next year through the new community life groups.

Atlasville community life group (Gerhard Wessels)

It’s been such a joy to see our church family grow! With more and more gathering each Sunday, it’s becoming trickier to truly connect, share, and look out for each other personally. Sundays are wonderful, but the service flies by, and there isn’t always time to dig into the sermon or let God’s truth settle in our hearts. Life in a fallen world is tough, and we all need regular encouragement. So we created smaller, local groups – places to encourage each other, grow together, and bear one another’s burdens. With much excitement, we launched our first Community Group in Atlasville on 5 August!

It’s been wonderful to see these first weeks unfold – genuine fellowship as folks open their Bibles, share their lives, and support each other in prayer. We start at 19:00 with tea, coffee, a biscuit (or three!), and catching up. After prayer, we discuss Sunday’s sermon using thought-provoking questions: Observation (what stands out?), Interpretation (what did it mean for its first hearers?), and Application (how does this truth speak to us today?). The aim isn’t another sermon, but authentic, heartfelt discussion and a safe space for tough questions.

Ultimately, our hope for the Atlasville Community Group – and all future groups – is a warm, Christ-focused family growing together: studying God’s Word, celebrating joys, comforting sorrows, praying, and encouraging each other to walk closer with our Lord.

Wednesday Bible study (David Somerset)

During the year we presented a marriage enrichment study covering various topics including the purpose and power of marriage, communication, conflict, money and children, in marriage. It was run over a period of thirteen weeks, and the average attendance was five couples per session. The final session took the form of a practical panel discussion facilitated by David and Barbara Somerset. We trust the Lord that the marriage relationships of those who attended are being enriched as a result.

Saints over Sixty (Bernard Warder)

At the BBC SOS (Saints Over Sixty) Fellowship meeting we recently learnt that when Daniel was unceremoniously deposited into the lions den, he must have been in his eighties. He certainly would have fitted snugly into the SOS group. We are therefore sure that we can learn much from his writings and pilgrimage experiences. Our current studies are based on the Word of the Lord through Daniel’s pen.

During the past year, the Lord completed the rooms he was preparing in his house for several of our dear members. He graciously, and with angels rejoicing, took them home.

Our focus at the SOS Fellowship is to encourage and support one another, so that each of us may enjoy a clear relationship with our Saviour, and to be prepared at any time to respond to the homeward call of our Father. We regularly invite friends and share the gospel at these gatherings.

Monthly men’s Bible study (Trevor Whitehead)

The Men’s Fellowship meets every second Saturday of the month where we are studying “Men of the Bible”. We spent most of the past 12 studies looking at the life of Moses and are now into the life of Joshua. On average 23 to 25 men attend and we enjoy great times in a relaxed atmosphere with meaningful discussions as we extract from the word of God with warm fellowship. I would encourage as many men as can to attend to grow and enjoy. Every session is a blessing.

Women’s ministry (Barbara Somerset)

This report is presented on behalf of all the ladies leading in the different departments of the Women’s
Ministry at Benoni Baptist Church.

Monday evening Ladies Bible study via Zoom (Barbara Wade)

This group is doing well. The ladies continue to enjoy fellowship in the Word via Zoom. It continues to meet the needs of ladies who work, or are unable to attend a morning bible study. They are nearing the end of their study in the book of Hebrews, which they have been working through this year.

Crafters (Yvonne Dunkerley)

The ladies meet every Wednesday morning at 9am at the church. Their purpose, besides fellowship, is to use their creative talents to make items to sell, with the aim of raising funds to support missions. The Crafters have been encouraged this year by the support of two young ladies who have brought renewed enthusiasm into the group.

Connect over Coffee (Barbara Somerset)

This group meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday morning each month for some ‘creative’ and ‘interactive’ fellowship. Each week brings interesting discussion. The aim of the group is to build Godly relationships by supporting and encouraging one another in life through fellowship. I have been encouraged by requests from a number of ladies, for this group to meet on occasion, on a Saturday as well, for those ladies unable to attend during the week. We will be considering this in year ahead.

Ladies Bible study (Cindy Muhl)

This Bible Study group continues to fellowship every Thursday morning, with up to 25 ladies in the Meeting Room. It is encouraging to witness their enthusiasm for God’s word, and their commitment and support of one another. A concern and an item for prayer, is for a suitable leader to be found to lead this group, as Cindy will be stepping down from teaching, after many years, at the end of November. Thank you Cindy for your time and faithful commitment to teaching the truth of the Word, each week, for many years.

Friday morning prayer meeting via Zoom (Barbara Somerset)

A faithful group of committed ladies meets every Friday morning at 6am in the Zoom ‘Prayer Room’. One of the purposes of this meeting is to pray for the salvation of lost souls. We are also committed to praying for, the Church, our families, our city, the Country and the needs of the world as they are made known. It has been a privilege for us to be able to pray together as women, and to support one another through prayer this year.

Saturday ladies Bible study (Liezl Penrith)

The bible study has been going well. We are praying about the numbers and would love more of the ladies to join, but leaving that to God. A conference is planned for the 26th February, 2027 on “How to read your bible like a Pro”. Details regarding the conference will be made available soon. Do look out for them. Looking ahead – Two books are being considered for our next study in the coming year, for when we have completed the current book “Women of the Word”.

Flower ministry (Norma Robertson)

Norma Robertson has taken responsibility of this ministry, along with assistance from Gwyneth Robus, for the cost and supply of flowers in the church each Sunday. If you would like to help support this ministry, by either donating a floral arrangement, or by assisting with the cost of the flowers, please speak to Norma Robertson in this regard.

It has once again this year, been a blessing for all of the ministry leads to be able to work with, and together, serve the ladies of this Church. To the ministry leads, thank you for sharing your time and your God given gifts with the ladies of this church. God is working amongst us. If any lady is interested in getting connected or involved with any of the above ministries, please contact the ministry lead or myself and we will gladly connect you!

Children’s ministry

Sunday school (Debra Green)

We reflect with immense gratitude on God’s faithful providence over our church community. In alignment with our conservative beliefs, we recognise that the faithful instruction of the next generation in sound doctrine is both a sacred privilege and a biblical mandate.

God has richly blessed our church with a growing number of young children. As these little ones continue to grow, we anticipate that our Sunday School will expand significantly in the coming years. We give thanks to the Lord for providing a dedicated group of teachers, investing in these young hearts with patience, care, and a deep love for God’s Word.

A central pillar of this ministry is our commitment to a structured, gospel-centered curriculum. We utilize Generations of Grace, a three-year sequential system that guides children through the overarching narrative of Scripture. Through this curriculum, our teachers faithfully point our children to the holiness of God, the truth of His Word, and the beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are also reaching a wonderful milestone with our older children. Having spent years grounded in Sunday School and lovingly instructed by our teachers, a group of our older students is now prepared to transition into the main corporate worship service starting next year. We rejoice to see them take this step and look forward to welcoming them into the full rhythm of the church gathering, where they will continue to mature under the preaching of the Word alongside the broader congregation.

Youth 13-18 (Lance Long)

As of September 2026, the Youth Ministry continues to be encouraged by the faithful attendance of four young people and their growing engagement with God’s Word. As we work through Fundamentals of the Faith, the youth are increasingly participating in discussions and supporting their answers with Scripture, while the quality and completeness of their workbooks continue to improve. We are currently studying Lesson 11, “Evangelism and the Believer,” with only two of the thirteen lessons remaining, and a voluntary final examination is planned for November. We thank God for the progress made and ask the church to pray for the youths’ continued faithfulness, spiritual growth, and deepening love for Scripture.

Young adults 18-25 (Lance Long)

The Young Adults Ministry has enjoyed a fruitful year of biblical teaching, fellowship and spiritual growth, with attendance generally ranging between 8 and 13 each week and several new people joining the group. During the first half of the year, we completed the Foundations for Biblical Counselling programme, followed by a formal examination and self-counselling project, through which participants demonstrated meaningful self-examination, repentance and a growing ability to encourage one another from Scripture. In July, we began an in-depth study of Revelation, first spending five weeks establishing essential interpretive foundations—including hermeneutics, the doctrine of inspiration, original biblical languages, theological systems and the use of the Old Testament in the New Testament—before commencing the text itself. We have since covered the overall structure of Revelation, the outline of chapter 1, Old Testament allusions in Re 1, high Christology in Re 1, the grammatical solecism in Revelation 1:4 and practical application. It has been particularly encouraging to see a growing appreciation for the intensive weekly reading programme and deeper engagement with God’s Word. We thank the Lord for His work among the Young Adults and pray for their continued growth in biblical understanding, Christlikeness and faithful service.

Young adults 26-35 (Tyrone Long)

The Builders group, which consistently sees 8 – 10 attendees, has been focussing on practical discipleship. Our goal is to grow together in Christ, hold one another accountable and to encourage fellowship for members between 25 – 35 years old. Looking forward, we will be engaging in events outside the general Friday evening study to allow for true fellowship, which requires vulnerability and a willingness to bear one another’s burdens.

Corporate worship (Lance Long)

We thank the Lord for the continued stability and development of the worship ministry during 2026.

Congregational singing remains our central priority, supported by three worship teams, improved scheduling through Planning Center, structured Sunday preparations, intentional pre-service run-through and prayer, an expanding repertoire, and more thoughtful transitions between songs.

The Worship Workshop has provided training in biblical worship, vocal technique, ensemble playing, active listening and musical expression, while a sustainable pathway of audition, team allocation, training and continued development has been established.

We are also encouraged that Tyrone has been confirmed and rostered as a worship leader.

Sound management continues to improve, and the church piano maintenance has been completed.

However, the workshops are currently paused because of low attendance, and the ministry still needs additional musicians and vocalists. Our next major focus is the Christmas programme, which will launch in October.

Please pray that the Lord will raise up more servants and keep the ministry united, Christ-centred and devoted to His glory.

Prayer (David Bell)

The Sunday evening Zoom corporate prayer meeting attracts few members with a slight increase recently. Ladies prayer meetings are also in the “rather low” attendance league. Prayer is carried out at various Bible studies. Bernard, Evans, Jackie and Tyrone lead pastoral prayers on a Sunday morning. Our prayer chain has been so encouraged by answered prayer. We remain burdened for the intercessory need.

Communion preparation (Lisa-Ann Bester)

Communion setup has gone well this year. It’s been great to have help from the children in the congregation to find and gather all the cups after the service. We started the year with six teams of two on the roster. One team stepped down in July, but we do have enough people to continue without difficulty. We have been preparing six trays of matzos along with seven trays of grape juice. This amounts to approximately two hundred forty cups, which has been more than enough for the congregation. Overall, communion is running smoothly although we may need to adjust the amount of juice to avoid wasting.

Treasurer (David Somerset)

For the year ended 30 June 2026, the church’s financial records were reviewed by BJP Chartered Accountants Incorporated, who compiled the annual financial statements to conform with International reporting standards for SME’s. Revenue amounted to R2,5m, other income to R364K, and operating expenses to R2,3m, producing an operating surplus of R500K. Restricted and designated funds include the evangelism, benevolent and missions reserves, as well as the designated reserves for Dunnottar Baptist. The executive committee confirms that the church remains a going concern and expects to satisfy all solvency and liquidity requirements for the coming year.

We’ve established a team of people who are responsible for counting and recording cash every Sunday.

Our finance committee is made up of David Somerset (chair), Mark Penrith, Ian Austin (HR). We’ve recently invited Mark Manaf to join our meetings.

Technology (Jason Harris)

The Tech desk has grown in members this year, which has been a great help in sharing the responsibilities and ensuring that we have enough people available to serve each week, while we could still use a good few more. We have also seen an improvement in the overall sound quality, particularly for those joining us through the livestream, the focus has been shifting more onto the sound of the congregation as a whole, making the live stream worship feel more in person. We are continuing to look for ways to improve the Tech setup at Benoni Baptist, both in the quality of the sound and in how smoothly everything runs during services. Overall, the Tech desk is progressing well, and we are grateful for the growth and continued opportunities to improve the way we serve the congregation.

Secretary (Robert Burge)

On 1 July 2026 we had 195 members (up from 122). We did lose a number of members due to relocation and death. Our membership continues to rise, at the time of writing this report there are 201 members, with another 16 having completed the membership classes and awaiting interviews. This year we’ve created a Google Drive repository of minutes for elders, executive and other meetings.

Hospitality (Rina Bowie)

Hospitality groups serving on Sundays have been faithful. PTL. 5 More people joined, Colin & Laura Boussfield, Thato Moraope, Dianne Sanderson & Olga Curtis. 5 Groups now. PTL. The filter coffee proved to be a big attraction to get more folks to have fellowship after the morning service. New roster up to end Feb 2027 was sent out on the WhatsApp group. Will keep looking for more people to join this Ministry. I will continue to monitor the groups on Sundays.

Service operations (Ian Bowie)

I would like to commend the welcome, collection and communion teams for their enthusiasm and gusto that they have put in to welcoming and stewarding duties. From day 1 they showed this from their friendly and smiling faces, welcoming and greeting with a hug or a handshake new and familiar faces as the people enter the church. The collection stewards with their friendly and efficient collection and at communion time with distribution of the elements. We would request that more people would come forward and join one of these two teams in the future.

Facilities (Kaitlyn Penrith)

We are pleased to have five new facilitators who are expected to begin serving from 4 October 2026: Timothy Barnard, Timothy Day, Cohen Day, Tiaan Malan, and Mpho. These individuals have committed to assisting with the setup and tear down of the facilities each Sunday. This will provide valuable support to the service operator and tea team, while also allowing for more time to be spent in fellowship together after the Sunday service. Their willingness to serve in this practical way will help ensure that our Sunday gatherings run smoothly and efficiently.

Maintenance (Kyle Van Staden)

Thank you to all who assisted with the recent maintenance/ renovation work. The lobby lights play area fencing taps hall electric box and painting of the church and plant pots have all been refreshed. We are planning to arrange another maintenance day soon to take care of a lot more odds and ends around the church premises.

This report summarises the maintenance tasks recently completed around the church. Lobby Lighting, All lobby downlights have been replaced, installed and tested lobby now fully illuminated. Children’s Play Area, New fencing has been added around the play area where the kids play, Area is now enclosed and safer for children. Exterior Plumbing, All outside taps were repaired, Previous leaks have been fixed no further water wastage.

Church Hall, The electric box inside the church hall has been painted, Surface cleaned and repainted to improve appearance and protection. Pot Plants, Painting of plant pots completed, Almost all pots for the plants around the premises have been repainted. General, Various other small tasks and touch ups were also completed as needed during this period

Major maintenance items identified have been addressed the premises is in good order. The maintenance team will continue to monitor for any further issues.

Health and safety (Kumarin Chetty)

We thank the Lord Jesus for His loving care, guidance and protection over our church family, allowing us to serve and worship together safely. As part of our commitment to providing a safe place of worship, the Health, Safety and Security portfolio has ensured that all key compliance requirements remain in place. We will continue to prioritise the wellbeing of our congregation, especially our children and elderly members, in the year ahead. For the record, two security incidents were noted during the year. A set of keys went missing recently. Separately, a vehicle theft occurred on the premises at the beginning of the year. Both incidents were reviewed by our Leadership, and additional controls have been put in place to prevent the recurrence. First Aid training and Fire Prevention training have been completed, and our contracted security partner, CMS Security, is in place, so you can rest assured that caring and capable hands are present should any unexpected situation arise. We are living in a country where the rate of crime is high, and places of worship are not exempt from this reality. This requires us to remain vigilant and proactive in protecting our members, property, and assets. A strong and committed Health, Safety and Security team is therefore essential to help deter threats and ensure a safe worship environment for all. Ongoing Health, Safety and Security awareness will continue, and members are encouraged to report any hazards or suspicious activity to the Leadership. Your involvement can make a real difference in strengthening our preparedness and response. Anyone who would like to hear more about the work of the team is welcome to have a friendly conversation with us. It is always encouraging to connect with fellow members who share a heart for the wellbeing of our church family.

Parking (Kyle Luus)

The Parking Ministry continues to play an important role in creating a welcoming, safe, and orderly environment for everyone attending our services. Throughout the year, the team has focused on assisting with traffic flow, directing vehicles, welcoming members and visitors, and ensuring that parking areas are used efficiently. We have had great feedback about the parking efficiency and input from other members on how to improve and increase parking capacity. We are grateful to the dedicated volunteers who faithfully serve in this ministry, often arriving early and serving in all weather conditions. Looking ahead, we aim to strengthen the team, improve signage and communication, and continue developing an efficient parking system that reflects the welcoming and servant-hearted culture of our church. We thank everyone who has supported the ministry and contributed to making each person’s arrival and departure a positive experience.

Photography (Sonny Nyahthi)

Good photography helps us visually communicate what is happening within our church and gives people a way to see and engage with what the church is up to.

Over the past year, the church’s photo library have immensely grown (going from 50 to over 250 photos), covering various events, gatherings and services held within the church. This growth can be seen on the church’s Facebook page, which has garnered a total of 87 000 views and 7 400 engagements.

Our team has recently welcomed 2 members in Yolanda and Bongani, making us a team of 4 with a set schedule to make sure that all upcoming church events and gatherings are covered as we steadily grow the church’s social media presence.

Visitation (Evans Odhiambo)

The pastoral team has maintained a consistent ministry of visitation throughout the year, particularly among those experiencing sickness, bereavement, and other significant difficulties. Visits to members in hospital and to bereaved families have provided opportunities to encourage them, pray with them, minister the Word, and seek to strengthen them in their walk with the Lord. And visitations have been provided upon request.

Garden (Sharon Morrison)

Much of the gardening effort this past year has gone towards creating more parking space. Firstly, there were 6 old tree stumps that needed to be chopped out manually, which created 6 more parking spaces. The next phase was to clear the garden along the main driveway, creating another 13 parking bays. And just recently a lot more trees and shrubs needed to be removed to create additional parking at the back of the Church next to the office. Then instant lawn was laid, which is growing well and will soon be available for parking. Another challenge was that the trees and shrubs at the back of the office were encroaching onto the neighbours new electric fence, creating a problem, so all of that had to be removed as well. All this entailed a huge amount of manual labour, which fortunately is nearly at an end. All the old pots have been emptied and some painted, just waiting to be filled with beautiful flowers. A huge THANK YOU to everyone that has helped with the garden during the past year.

Meal train (Kaitlyn Penrith)

Over the past year, we have continued using Meal Train to coordinate meals for individuals and families during significant life events or times of need, such as illness or when hosting visiting pastors. To date, six people have benefited from this service. Through Meal Train, we are able to organise meal-giving in a simple and practical way, while also encouraging fellowship and personal care among members of our church family. Through our Prayer Train group, we are able to identify those who may benefit from meals for a week or more and arrange a Meal Train to support them. We are thankful for this opportunity to care for one another practically and hope to see the number of people supported increase significantly in the coming year.

Social concern (Yolanda Koen)

Yolanda Koen has been appointed to spearhead this ministry. The main function of this ministry is to identify needs and assist where possible.

Presently the elder maintain a list of needed recipients of benevolence. We ask that should you know of a need in the church – be it financial, material, food, or otherwise – that you alert Yolanda to it in order that we find the correct support system needed. You can approach her directly, via WhatsApp, or mail, or place a sealed envelope addressed to her in the collection on a Sunday.

We have most recently begun to provide a piece meal job to one of the homeless men in regular attendance. Our desire is to impart some practical skills to him, and interact with him more meaningfully.

Evangelism (Evans Odhiambo)

We have seen encouraging fruit from our evangelistic efforts, particularly following our high-attendance services. Following the Christmas Eve service last year, four families were added to our numbers. Following the Easter service, one additional family was added.

We have also introduced a new scheduling routine in which two people serve each Sunday as part of one of the ministry teams. Their particular responsibility is to connect with new people, engage them in gospel conversations, and be available to assist anyone who may wish to respond to the gospel following the preaching of the Word.

We have developed evangelistic gospel messages in poster form, which have begun to be distributed through our evangelism group. In addition, someone has been assigned to produce evangelistic videos twice a month for online evangelistic purposes.

Our Holiday Club ministry also provided a valuable opportunity for evangelism among children. We had an average attendance of 24 children, approximately three-quarters of whom came from our church and one-quarter from other churches. The teaching through the book of Ruth provided a gospel-centred outreach for the children, and we were encouraged to see one new family subsequently attend our services.

We are also resuming our school outreach ministry. We currently have two schools with which we are in the initial stages of establishing partnership arrangements. One person has come forward to assist with leading physical evangelistic outreach in the Benoni area.

Social media and website (Kaitlyn Penrith)

Over the past year, Benoni Baptist Church’s social media presence has continued to grow, providing an effective way of reaching both our church family and those beyond our congregation. On Instagram, we saw steady growth from May to August 2026, increasing from 186 followers in May to 203 followers in August. Views also increased significantly, particularly in August, when our content reached 22,000 views, with 28% coming from non-followers. This represents encouraging growth in our ability to reach people who are not yet connected with the church.

Facebook has also experienced substantial growth over the past 90 days, with 87,000 views, an increase of 95%, and 7,400 engagements, an increase of 73%. Our Facebook audience has grown by 21%, with 87% of views coming from non-followers. The largest viewing age group is currently 25–34 years, while our audience is approximately 47% female and 53% male. These statistics are encouraging as we continue using social media to communicate church activities, share biblical teaching, highlight fellowship, and reach our local community with the message of the gospel.

We’ve created a WhatsApp Channel. We have 111 followers and are publishing behind the scenes sneak peaks and links to correspondence.

We have 725 subscribers on YouTube (up from 622), with 32K views (down from 45K), 2.6K hours of watch time (down from 3.1K).

Over the past 12 months we’ve had 24,5K visitors to our website (up from 3.5K), and 12.K page views (up from 8.5K).

Missions (Gerhard Wessels)

Howard and Lynette Webb head up Love Your Neighbour, a Tandem Ministries (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ NZ) ministry founded to equip believers for local outreach. They consult with churches across New Zealand, helping them develop collaborative plans to reach their communities. Having planted a missional church a decade ago, they are preparing to plant another, and their daughter-in-law, Rebecca, has joined the team and is raising support. Pray for Howard’s recovery from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, Lynette’s heart issues, Rebecca’s financial provision, new supporters, and wisdom for their Substack.

Barry serves as Vice President for Quality Assurance, Publications, and Europe/North Africa at The Word for the World (TWFTW), and Director of Consulting Services. Passionate about faithful, accurate Scripture translation, he trains consultants across Africa, Europe, and Asia. Serving from the UK alongside Julia, they equip national teams globally. Julia is Lead-Editor of the Training Department, contextualizing TWFTW’s three-year diploma curriculum worldwide. This past year they celebrated a milestone wedding anniversary, and Barry completed consultant checking for First and Second Corinthians and the Borona New Testament. Pray for Julia’s comfort after losing her twin sister and brother-in-law, and improved financial provision amidst global economic challenges.

Keith and Christeen Moller were called to Malawi to share the Gospel. Recognizing spiritual breakthrough required God’s Word in the native Yawo language, translation work began several years ago. They recently celebrated the first printed copies of the Yawo New Testament, while Old Testament translation has progressed to Esther. They have four children: Hannah, Michael, Mary, and Keren. Ministry highlights include recording Audio Bibles using on-site FEBA studios and delivering desks to Namakomba School students. Pray for provision amidst severe fuel shortages, protection over ageing tools, direction for Mary’s university studies, and daily wisdom and stamina.

Paul Richardson continues to serve faithfully in the inner city of Durban. The Challenge newspaper is delivered to 500 buildings, and he restocks 5 newspaper stands throughout the city. He also conducts regular visitation in the Inner City and preaches by invitation at various local churches. Please pray for his safety, his health, and the ongoing reliability of his vehicle as he navigates city ministry. Additionally, pray for the Lord’s clear guidance and wisdom as Paul plans for his upcoming retirement in the next few years.

Dunnottar Baptist Church (Andre Broodryk)

For those who don’t know, Dunnottar lies at the southern end of Springs and the eastern end of Nigel, about 40 km from Benoni.

In March 2024 the Baptist Northern Association (BNA) approached Andre Broodyk, asking if I was willing to serve as Moderator of the church, since it had no pastor. After prayerful consideration, I agreed to visit the church before committing. We understood that any services we might render would be voluntary and without remuneration. So it was that Cheryl and I visited the church in April 2024 for the first time.

The congregation comprised no more than eleven people, including ourselves. It was clear that the congregation was discouraged and numbed by the loss of the previous full-time, paid pastor due to a moral issue. The church building was in a reasonable state of repair. Although recently painted, the inside was tatty. The carpet was torn; pew cushions were old and hollowing. The pulpit was a solid face-brick pulpit. The congregation sang using YouTube worship songs. Without being asked, a man named Bongani Cele, a resident of Duduza and a graduate of Polokwane Baptist Seminary, had stepped up to the plate and was serving as the regular but unpaid preacher. The message he brought was well prepared and expository. A handful attended the weekly Bible Study held each Wednesday evening at 17h00. There had been no official church meetings for some years. No Sunday School existed. No officially nominated or appointed deacons were in place, and no official minutes of previous church meetings had been kept for some years. The church was planted roughly 60 years ago. By God’s grace a building had been erected and a manse purchased. Total cash assets comprised R20,000. The church constitution and Statement of Faith were given to me to review. From these I learned that the church was functioning by elder rule, with the sponsor church in Polokwane. The congregation, though small, was extremely friendly and welcoming. Having phoned Bongani Cele prior to our visit and advised him of the request from the BNA, we were welcomed, and I was given the opportunity to address the congregation.

Upon returning home, I informed the BNA and the Baptist Union of Southern Africa (BUSA) of what I had found. I also started trying to develop a relationship with Bongani Cele. Being an outsider, I recognised the danger of appearing to come in from the outside and “take over.” I also informed the leadership of Benoni Baptist Church (BBC), asking for prayer. Unexpectedly, the Benoni leadership offered to partner with Dunnottar both in terms of people skills, training materials and finances. We agreed to invite Bongani to attend our bi-monthly elder meetings as a means of encouraging and mentoring him. A few months after our first visit, and with Bongani now secure in the relationship, discussions ensued as to perceived needs and areas of assistance. I agreed to provide a monthly preacher using BBC and BNA preachers. This provided Bongani with some relief. Gerhard Wessels, Dave Somerset, myself and pastors from BNA churches have preached from time to time.

Today the congregation comprises approximately forty regulars. Financially, and because of large financial donations from individuals and from BBC, Bongani is paid a meagre monthly salary. The church has registered as a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO). A new constitution entrenching an elder-led model has been approved and adopted. A Steering Committee, comprising myself as Chairman, Bongani and three other members, meets monthly to discuss the affairs of the church and plot a way forward. Deacons have been elected and are being trained and equipped to serve. A church Treasurer and church Secretary have been appointed and are being trained. A Purpose Statement has been adopted, namely: “Reaching Dunnottar with the gospel and equipping all for life.” Signage has been erected to advertise the church’s existence and point people to the church building. Advertising via Facebook and Instagram has commenced, and skills are being learned. People are learning of the church’s existence and are choosing to explore attendance. New carpeting has been fitted. A laptop computer has been purchased to facilitate projection. A church alarm system has been fitted, as the church sits near two open veld areas. The church now comprises twenty members, with twenty additional people in the process of being brought into membership. Two Quarterly General Meetings have been held, and minutes of meetings are being kept. Additional people are stepping forward to assist in serving the church. A tiny Sunday School is functioning. Bongani is being assisted to apply for Pastoral Recognition and Accreditation with the Baptist Union of Southern Africa. He has yet to be appointed pastor. A Good Friday service was held in April. Advertising drew interest, and the church was filled on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Many of those who visited have continued to attend weekly. Outreach efforts are underway, and the Christmas programme is under consideration. The church income, including the letting of the church manse, is R22,000 per month. Running costs are higher. The balance is drawn from the reserve account held by BBC. Bongani has commenced attending BNA functions and the monthly fraternal when he can. Recently, Bongani and the pastor from Springs Baptist Church swapped pulpits for one Sunday. The church has set itself the goal of attaining the target of sixty members by the end of 2026, D.V.

Given the developments over the past year, I think it is safe to say the future of the church looks positive. Given that the community is largely unemployed, we do not envisage the church becoming self-functioning and self-financing for some years. To that end, the partnership with BBC is necessary and vital. We thank BBC and those who have given financially to this work. You have invested wisely in the Kingdom of God.

Please pray for the members and for Bongani. The community is largely unemployed. Needs within the community are great. Pray for the evangelism efforts and for the Christmas events being planned. Pray that in the next year we may see the kingdom of God expanded.

Church plant (Mark Penrith)

Benoni Baptist Church has accepted a vision to plant a conservative, evangelical Baptist church in Benoni, aiming to reproduce its “healthy DNA” in a new congregation. This DNA includes biblical preaching for heart change, congregational worship, loving fellowship, intentional evangelism, connecting visitors to meaningful membership, equipping members through small groups, involving them in ministry teams, developing future leaders, maintaining transparency in communication and finance, partnering with likeminded churches, pursuing demographic diversity, and planning to plant from the start. The church has defined several building blocks for readiness, including reaching a membership of 265, securing a competent shepherd with godly character, obtaining a suitable venue, and achieving self-governance, self-sustenance, and self-propagation. Specific SMART goals include hosting three evangelistic outreaches, three high-attendance Sundays, and four social events, with a proposal to increase seating capacity once attendance reaches 267.

The motivation for the plant stems from a desire to align with Jesus’ vision for His Church, as expressed in Matthew 16:18, rather than inventing a new vision. The church has clarified its stance on revitalisation, noting it is already partnering with Dunnottar Baptist Church in such an effort, and explained that the plant is focused on Benoni due to the concentration of members and attendees there. The leadership plan involves sending out a shepherd along with elders and deacons, with those living close to the new plant expected to catch the vision. The shift from measuring attendance to membership reflects a focus on assimilation and the church’s belief that members are the church, with readiness determined when membership reaches 265. The page also includes prayer and praise requests for unity, progress, finances, and confirmation of God’s leading.

Monday Fairleads Bible study (Malcolm Wade)

Approximately 25 people to attend when weather is warm. On very cold days only about 17 people attend. People from BBC include Pam, Heather, Caroline , Dierdre Adler , Ursula Brent , Brian Rusch and Jackie Gittens. Sometimes Amanda and Matt attend. Currently studying the book of Acts and this coming Monday doing Acts 12.

Tuesday Rynpark communion service (Evans Odhiambo)

Our ministry at Rynpark has developed into a growing and encouraging fellowship, with an average attendance of approximately 11 people. Recently, two additional ladies have visited and joined the fellowship.

We have also secured permission through the social worker in charge to hold an evangelistic service at Rynpark before the fellowship closes for the year. This provides an opportunity to proclaim the gospel more broadly within the retirement home and to reach residents who may not ordinarily attend our regular fellowship.

Monthly Old People’s Home service (Evans Odhiambo)

Once a month a delegate preaches a sermon and leads worship at the Old People’s Home in Benoni West.

Holiday Bible Club (Kaitlyn Penrith)

Holiday Bible Club was held from 2–5 July and was a wonderful time of fellowship, service, and ministry to the children. We had 20 children attend on the first day, followed by 19 children on both the second and third days. Throughout the week, approximately 15–20 volunteers served each day, assisting with the children and helping the programme run smoothly. On Sunday, the children and their parents joined us for the morning service, where we had a special Holiday Bible Club presentation as part of the service. It was a joyful opportunity to serve the children, grow in our love and care for them, and strengthen fellowship among the saints. We are grateful to everyone who gave of their time and energy to make Holiday Bible Club a meaningful and encouraging week.

Appendix A: Agenda of the Annual General Meeting

1. Call to order
2. Establish quorum
3. Scripture reading and prayer
4. Approval of previous minutes
5. Adopt agenda
6. Reports
   1. Secretary
      1. Members off main roll
      2. Members off country roll
      3. Members on main roll
      4. Members on country roll
   2. Treasurer
   3. Constitution committee
   4. Pastor
7. Unfinished business
   1. Motion to change the elders section of the constitution by hand
8. New business
   1. Motion to confirm elders by ballot
      1. ⁠David Somerset
      2. Gerhard Wessels
   2. Motion to confirm deacons by ballot
      1. David Bell
      2. ⁠⁠Ian Bowie
      3. Rina Bowie
      4. Jackie Gittens
      5. Lance Long
      6. ⁠⁠Tyrone Long
      7. Evans Odhiambo
      8. ⁠⁠Barbara Somerset
   3. Notice of motion to change the church discipline section of the constitution
9. Announcements
10. Adjournment

Appendix B: Sections of our constitution relating to the agenda

Agenda

10.1.5. The agenda shall be made available to all members the Sunday prior to the meeting.

Chairman

11.1. The pastor, or in the event of there being more than one, the senior pastor, shall be ex-officio chairman of all general and executive meetings – except when his own position is under consideration or when he may elect to vacate the chair.

Voting rules

10.1.1. Voting shall be by show of hands unless
10.1.1.1. otherwise required elsewhere in this constitution
10.1.1.2. one member requests a ballot

Quorum

10.5.1. Annual general and ordinary church meetings: 20% of the current church membership who have voting rights.

Secretary’s report

10.1.2. The secretary and treasurer shall submit reports and audited financial statements respectively.
Members on country roll
5.1.1. Such persons who are admitted to membership, but who are unable to participate regularly in the activities and affairs of the church for reasons that are acceptable to the executive, shall be placed on a membership roll entitled “country members”, and such members shall not have voting rights.
Members on main roll
5.1.2. The executive shall approve or otherwise every application for membership. Applications that have been approved by the executive shall be reported at the next following meeting of the church.

Pastor’s report

10.1.2. All departments of the church shall submit reports.

Financial report

17.1. The members shall appoint annually a competent person or persons who shall examine the church securities, audit or review in line with generally accepted accounting practice, the accounts and financial records of the church and furnish a report thereon to the members in writing, not less than 14 days prior to the annual general meeting. Such report shall refer to the existence of the securities and the adequacy of the records maintained and shall express an opinion on the accuracy of the accounts presented.

Elders

14.1. The church may appoint to the office of elder a member recognised as filled with the Holy Spirit, and who meets the qualifications as detailed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.
14.2. Elders serve the church by leading, teaching, overseeing, shepherding, and praying while remaining accountable to the church.
14.3. The executive may, from time to time, identify suitable candidates for the office of elder, who may undergo a six-month period of testing where necessary. Thereafter the executive may present a recommended candidate at a general meeting. The name of the candidate shall be included in the notice of the meeting. Appointment to the office of elder shall be confirmed by a favourable ballot of at least 75% of the members present and voting at the meeting.
14.4. An elder shall serve a term of two consecutive years. At the conclusion of this term, the executive may recommend the elder at a general meeting for reappointment for a further period of two consecutive years. The name of the candidate shall be included in the notice of the meeting. Reappointment to the office of elder shall be confirmed by a favourable ballot of at least 75% of the members present and voting at the meeting.

Deacons

13.1. The church may appoint to the office of deacon a member recognised as filled with the Holy Spirit, and who meets the qualifications as detailed in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
13.2. Deacons serve the church in practical ministries as determined by the executive.
13.3. The executive shall, from time to time, invite the church to submit written nominations for the office of deacon. Having considered all nominations, the executive may identify suitable candidates, who may undergo a six-month period of testing where necessary. Thereafter the executive may present a recommended candidate at a general meeting. The name of the candidate shall be included in the notice of the meeting. Appointment to the office of deacon shall be confirmed by a favourable ballot of at least 75% of the members present and voting at the meeting.
13.4. A deacon shall serve a term of two consecutive years. At the conclusion of this term, the executive may recommend the deacon at a general meeting for reappointment for a further period of two consecutive years. The name of the candidate shall be included in the notice of the meeting. Reappointment to the office of deacon shall be confirmed by a favourable ballot of at least 75% of the members present and voting at the meeting.