Week 2: Who are we?

Our roadmap

• Our roadmap
• Week 1: What is the gospel?
• Week 2: Who are we?
• Week 3: What do we believe?
• Week 4: What do we do?
• Week 5: What is baptism?
• Next step: Fill in a member application form
• Membership interview: Interview questions

We want you to know upfront all about us. And so we tell you about our mission, vision, and values. And our leaders, ministries, and missionaries.

Our mission

Reach Benoni with the gospel, and equip all for life.

We are deeply committed to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ—His death and resurrection—with our community. And we do that in our worship services, outreach efforts, and personal relationships (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 1:16).

But our mission doesn’t stop there. We also believe in equipping every member of our church family for life. This involves providing opportunities for spiritual growth, discipleship, and practical support so that each person can live out their faith in every aspect of their lives. From Bible studies and discipleship programs to counselling, we are dedicated to helping everyone navigate the challenges of life (Ephesians 4:11-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Colossians 1:28-29).

And we do this reaching and equipping in Benoni. We’re a local church, that loves our city. We’re for Benoni.

Our vision

We’re dreaming of planting a conservative, evangelical Baptist church with our healthy DNA in Benoni.

Jesus has a vision for His Church. A vision is a preferable future. A forward-looking declaration of what could be. A north star. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus says, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. The church belongs to Jesus. He owns Her. And He will build it. That’s His vision. And He will protect it. That’s His promise. Our job is not to invent a vision, but to align ourselves with His.

Now the Lord is clearly growing His church at Benoni Baptist Church. Not a Sunday goes by without visitors. And more and more are choosing to stay. God’s grace is on display in real time. Growth requires planning. We’re inevitably going to run out of space. Run out of seating. Run out of parking. Last Saturday, our leaders met to discuss our future. We agreed that, in step with Jesus’ vision, we should prepare to plant a conservative, evangelical Baptist church with our healthy DNA in Benoni. We have identified four building blocks. People. Finances. A shepherd. A venue. We believe we will be ready when our membership reaches 265. When finances increase by 40%. When the Lord provides a qualified shepherd who shares our DNA. And when a suitable venue is secured.

Here is how you can partner with us. Pray. Join our evening prayer times and ask the Lord to go before us. Partner. Your faithful giving fuels ministry here and beyond. Participate. Come to our quarterly general meeting on Sunday, 15 February, after the morning service, and stand with us as we step toward planting a church in Benoni. I am excited. I trust you are too.

Our values

At Benoni Baptist Church we focus on four core values: transformational teaching, exalting worship, loving fellowship, missional living.

• Transformational Teaching: Teaching that goes beyond information to inspire spiritual growth, life change, and the application of biblical truths (2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:22; Hebrews 4:12).
• Exalting Worship: Worship that glorifies God, magnifies His name, and exalts His greatness above all else (Psalm 95:1-2; John 4:23-24; Romans 12:1).
• Loving Fellowship: A community marked by genuine love, acceptance, and support, where members care for and encourage one another in their spiritual journey (John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:11-12; Acts 2:44-47).
• Missional Living: Sharing the Gospel with urgency and purpose, integrating evangelistic efforts into the church’s mission to engage with the world and fulfil the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:14-15).

Benoni Baptist Church leaders: elders

A plurality of qualified men called elders lead Benoni Baptist Church.

Our deacons

Qualified men and women called deacons serve Benoni Baptist Church.

Our staff

Men and woman called or appointed to full-time or part-time positions at Benoni Baptist Church.

Our services

Our Sunday gathering is a God-orchestrated affair. Each element of our service is regulated by God’s Word. Scripture gives specific guidelines for conducting corporate worship services and we do not add to those guidelines. Our motivation is to glorify God and make much of Jesus.

We assemble to:

• Read the Word (Acts 15:21; 1 Timothy 4:13; Revelation 1:3).
• Preach the Word (2 Timothy 4:2).
• Pray the Word (Matthew 21:13).
• Sing the Word (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19; James 5:13).
• See in the ordinances of the Lord’s table and baptism, we see the Word (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38–39; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Colossians 2:11–12).

Our missionaries

Jesus commanded His disciples to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. It is our intention to continue that mandate.

• Benoni is our Jerusalem. We’re dreaming of planting a conservative, evangelical Baptist church with our healthy DNA in Benoni.
• Dunnottar is our Judea and Samaria. We’re partnering with Dunnottar Baptist Church in a revitalisation effort in that city.
• Our missionaries on foreign shores are our ends of earth:
  • Paul Richardson (Durban).
  • The Moller’s (Malawi).
  • The Webb’s (New Zealand).
  • The Funnell’s (The Word For The World).

Our denomination

Each local Baptist church is autonomous. Which means there is no governing body over Benoni Baptist Church. We do take part in freewill associations. And there are distinctives making Benoni Baptist Church identifiable as a Baptist church.

We take part in the following freewill associations:

• We are a member church of the Baptist Northern Association.
• We are a member church of the Baptist Union of Southern Africa.
• We are listed on the directory of The Master’s Fellowship.

The distinctives we hold to:

• The DIRECT LORDSHIP OF CHRIST over every believer and over the local Church. By this we understand that Christ exercises His authority over the believer and the local Church directly, without delegating it to another.
• The CHURCH as the whole company of those who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. The local Church, being a manifestation of the universal Church, is a community of believers in a particular place where the Word of God is preached and the ordinances of Believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are observed. It is fully autonomous and remains so notwithstanding responsibilities it may accept by voluntary association.
• BELIEVER’S BAPTISM as an act of obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ and a sign of personal repentance, faith and regeneration; it consists of the immersion in water into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• The CONGREGATIONAL PRINCIPLE, namely that each member has the privilege and responsibility to use his/her gifts and abilities to participate fully in the life of the Church. We recognise that God gifts His Church with Overseers (who are called Pastors or Elders) whose primary function is to lead in a spirit of servanthood, to equip and provide spiritual oversight, and Deacons whose primary function is to facilitate the smooth functioning of the Church. This principle further recognises that each member should participate in the appointment of the Church’s leaders, and that a constituted Church meeting, subject to the direct Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of Scripture, is the highest court of authority for the local Church.
• The PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS, by which we understand that each Christian has direct access to God through Christ our High Priest, and shares with Him in His work of reconciliation. This involves intercession, worship, faithful service and bearing witness to Jesus Christ, even to the ends of the earth.
• The principle of RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, namely, that no individual should be coerced either by the State or by any secular, ecclesiastical or religious group in matters of faith. The right of private conscience is to be respected. For each believer this means the right to interpret the Scriptures responsibly and to act in the light of his conscience.
• The principle of SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE in that, in the providence of God, the two differ in their respective natures and functions. The Church is not to be identified with the State nor is it, in its faith or practice, to be directed or controlled by the State. The State is responsible for administering justice, ensuring an orderly community, and promoting the welfare of its citizens. The Church is responsible for preaching the Gospel and for demonstrating and making known God’s will and care for all mankind.

This week we want you to know upfront all about us. And so we told you about our mission, vision, and values. And our leaders, ministries, and missionaries.