What kind of Church will it be? Part 1

This is an important question for any church plant. The values that a church embraces determine what a church will look like at the end of the day. And the values that shape and define a church will be a response to the biblical truths that are embraced by the church. Simply put, our values are the practical expression of the things we believe.  So, we need to highlight what it is that we believe before highlighting our values. These are the areas of our belief that are our distinctive theological beliefs that we will be seeking to incorporate in our church plant.

1. Evangelical. This basically means two things:
   Firstly, we believe that the Bible is the essential and infallible record of God’s self-disclosure and is therefore our final authority in all matters of life and doctrine. Secondly, we believe people need to be saved by responding to the gospel of Jesus Christ in repentance and faith.  There is no other Saviour other than Jesus and there is only one Gospel.
2. Reformed. This means that we desire to embrace and exult in the sovereignty of God over all things, and that we place the emphasis on the activity of God and the glory of God in the salvation of sinners.  Salvation is the work of God and it is by grace that we have been saved through faith. So grace is not a subject to be taken lightly, but should have a radical effect in our lives, resulting in hearts of gratefulness and humility and a passion for the lost.
   
3. Charismatic. This means that we desire the church to be active in the pursuit and practice of all the gifts of the Spirit as found in the New Testament, and that our worship is expressive and passionate.

 

Facts about Johannesburg

I have been looking for some interesting facts on Johannesburg and here are some that I have found.  Some of these have been taken from the website http://www.south-african-hotels.com/gauteng-facts-figures.php and some have been sourced elsewhere.  It all highlights the importance of Johannesburg in serving Africa and the world.

• Johannesburg has a population of nearly 3.9 million people and has shown a 20.1% growth since 2001.
• Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa.
• The city is one of the 40 largest metropolitan areas in the world and it is one of Africa’s only two global cities.
• The West Rand, the side of Johannesburg in which we want to plant a new church, has a population of about 750 000 people (as per a 2001 census).  With the estimated growth in Johannesburg since 2001, this could now be sitting at 900 000 souls.
• Johannesburg is one of the youngest major cities worldwide. Johannesburg is 118 years old, and was founded on October 4, 1886
• During one century, Johannesburg has been rebuilt four times: first it was a tented camp; then a town of tin shanties; then of four-storey Edwardian brick buildings; then a city of modern skyscrapers
• Johannesburg houses the tallest office block in Africa, which is called the Carlton Centre (50 stories) and the tallest tower being the Hillbrow Tower (270 metres, or 90 stories).
• Johannesburg is also called Egoli, which means “place of gold”. Forty percent of the world’s gold has been found in the greater Johannesburg region
• The altitude in Johannesburg is 2 000m above sea level. The air is therefore thinner, and eggs take an extra minute to boil
• There are over 10 million trees in Johannesburg (2.5 million in parks and pavements, and 7.5 million in private homes)
• Forty percent of the population in Johannesburg is under the age of 24
• The average travel time in Johannesburg for commuters is 48 minutes
• There are 1 569ha of nature reserves in the city of Johannesburg
• There are 12 river systems which run throughout Johannesburg
• Johannesburg houses the only two polar bears in Africa, at the Johannesburg Zoo

I hope you now feel edified!