NEW LIFE IN CHRIST FELLOWSHIP

New Life in Christ Beliefs and Ministries

1. Introduction
Thank you so much for your interest in New Life in Christ Fellowship. We trust that you have enjoyed the meetings you have attended.

I pray that this introduction to the church will be a step in the right direction in your relationship with God. We hope that this manual will serve to highlight what we believe, and what we believe the Lord has called us to do.

2. What We Believe

We believe….

? The Bible to be the inspired and only infallible and authoritative Word of God.

? In One God, externally existent in Three Persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

? In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal, future return to this earth in power and glory.

? In the blessed hope, the rapture of the Church at Christ’s coming.

? That the only means to be cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice and shedding of His blood.

? That there is no other means by which we can be saved but through salvation made available to us through Jesus Christ.

? In water baptism by immersion

? In the baptism of the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:4

? That the manifold gifts of the Holy Spirit are still available and operational in the Church today

? In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life.

? In the resurrection of both the saved and the unsaved, the one to everlasting life, and the other to everlasting damnation.

3. Our Affiliations

New Life in Christ Fellowship is affiliated to the Assemblies of God Fellowship.

4. Our Vision – Introducing New Life in Christ Fellowship

Our purpose is to glorify God by making Him known and by sharing His love in a spirit of unity.

Mission Statement

Helping people find new life by bringing them to Jesus and by taking Jesus to them.

We endeavor to do so through……

DISCIPLESHIP

Developing a close-knit community of believers where spiritual growth is facilitated through Biblical teaching of the Word of God, where people take a practical interest in each other, and where the fruit of the Spirit can be cultivated in our lives.

HOME GROUPS

Home Churches are established to this end, to provide a family-type environment where people are encouraged to share and to participate.

6 Scott Crescent, Brakpan
Leader – Gary Van Wyk (744-3468)

19 Lupin Str, Edelweiss
Leader – Neville Richards (362-6484)

17 Jan Smuts Rd, Selection Park
Leader – Leston Blackburn (812-2682)

27 Ewing Street, Selection Park
Leader – Neale Bennett (818-3305)

DISCIPLESHIP COURSES

We have two discipleship courses running at present.

Foundations Course – Franco Baressi heads up the Foundations course – a course designed to help the new convert to be grounded in the first principles of the Christian faith. For more information, please contact Franco (815-2036).

Alpha Home Cell – This is a series of video teachings by Nicky Gumble that also offer a good grounding in the doctrines and practices of the Christian faith. For more information, please contact Leston (812-2682)

SUNDAY SCHOOL
– A strong Sunday School is vital to the health and the future of the church. A strong, balanced program will help our children mature in the Lord. Sunday Schools runs at the same time as the morning service. The Sunday School superintendent is Sue Wells (363-0750).

YOUTH

Reaching out to young people through effective and regular youth ministry. The Youth ministry is co-ordinated by Chad and Sharon Thomson (818-2775).

SPECIAL MINISTRIES

Sanel Ministry – A ministry on Tuesday evening to the South African National Epilepsy League in Daggafontein – Allan Hepburn (818-4423)

Care Group Ministry – A ministry to people in hospital or at home who are suffering from illness. The contact person is Beth Howard (818-3518)

Widows Ministry – This ministry looks after the needs of the widows in our fellowship. It is headed up by Arthur and Rose Mc Gill (818-3324)

Benevolence Ministry – Looking out for the needs of the less fortunate in the fellowship (812-2682)

Job Creation – We believe that it is important for a person’s well being to be encouraged to work. Where possible, we try to organize employment for those in the fellowship who are out of work.

TEACHING AND TRAINING

Apart from Sunday services, we also run a Bible College. The Mission Outreach Training Centre is the `training arm’ of our vision.

Apart from covering a wide array of topics, there are four majors. They are:

? Pastoral Ministry
? Counselling
? Missions
? Church Planting

It is a two year course, and takes place on a Tuesday Evening at the church at 7pm.

The Mission Outreach Training Centre also offers correspondence studies. There are two streams of correspondence studies, namely the diploma course (as mentioned above) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Ministry.

The Mission Outreach Training Centre has been accepted as an extension Centre of Harvester Bible College and Seminary. For more information, please contact Leston (812-2682).

EVANGELISM

We believe that lost people matter to God and therefore ought to matter to the church.

Some of the ways we are involved in evangelism include:

– Evangelistic services (Services geared to preaching to the unsaved, and encouraging the congregation to be actively involved by bringing along unsaved friends and family members).

– Special Services (E.g. Sunday Breakfast, Video Evening, Passover Evening, Alpha Home Groups – aimed at witnessing to the unsaved).

– Outreaches (e.g. the Bible Marathon).

– Radio Message (Devotional slot on Radio East Rand).

New Life in Christ Beliefs and Ministries

1. Introduction
Thank you so much for your interest in New Life in Christ Fellowship. We trust that you have enjoyed the meetings you have attended.

I pray that this introduction to the church will be a step in the right direction in your relationship with God. We hope that this manual will serve to highlight what we believe, and what we believe the Lord has called us to do.

2. What We Believe

We believe….

? The Bible to be the inspired and only infallible and authoritative Word of God.

? In One God, externally existent in Three Persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

? In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal, future return to this earth in power and glory.

? In the blessed hope, the rapture of the Church at Christ’s coming.

? That the only means to be cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice and shedding of His blood.

? That there is no other means by which we can be saved but through salvation made available to us through Jesus Christ.

? In water baptism by immersion

? In the baptism of the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:4

? That the manifold gifts of the Holy Spirit are still available and operational in the Church today

? In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life.

? In the resurrection of both the saved and the unsaved, the one to everlasting life, and the other to everlasting damnation.

3. Our Affiliations

New Life in Christ Fellowship is affiliated to the Assemblies of God Fellowship.

4. Our Vision – Introducing New Life in Christ Fellowship

Our purpose is to glorify God by making Him known and by sharing His love in a spirit of unity.

Mission Statement

Helping people find new life by bringing them to Jesus and by taking Jesus to them.

We endeavor to do so through……

DISCIPLESHIP

Developing a close-knit community of believers where spiritual growth is facilitated through Biblical teaching of the Word of God, where people take a practical interest in each other, and where the fruit of the Spirit can be cultivated in our lives.

HOME GROUPS

Home Churches are established to this end, to provide a family-type environment where people are encouraged to share and to participate.

6 Scott Crescent, Brakpan
Leader – Gary Van Wyk (744-3468)

19 Lupin Str, Edelweiss
Leader – Neville Richards (362-6484)

17 Jan Smuts Rd, Selection Park
Leader – Leston Blackburn (812-2682)

27 Ewing Street, Selection Park
Leader – Neale Bennett (818-3305)

DISCIPLESHIP COURSES

We have two discipleship courses running at present.

Foundations Course – Franco Baressi heads up the Foundations course – a course designed to help the new convert to be grounded in the first principles of the Christian faith. For more information, please contact Franco (815-2036).

Alpha Home Cell – This is a series of video teachings by Nicky Gumble that also offer a good grounding in the doctrines and practices of the Christian faith. For more information, please contact Leston (812-2682)

SUNDAY SCHOOL
– A strong Sunday School is vital to the health and the future of the church. A strong, balanced program will help our children mature in the Lord. Sunday Schools runs at the same time as the morning service. The Sunday School superintendent is Sue Wells (363-0750).

YOUTH

Reaching out to young people through effective and regular youth ministry. The Youth ministry is co-ordinated by Chad and Sharon Thomson (818-2775).

SPECIAL MINISTRIES

Sanel Ministry – A ministry on Tuesday evening to the South African National Epilepsy League in Daggafontein – Allan Hepburn (818-4423)

Care Group Ministry – A ministry to people in hospital or at home who are suffering from illness. The contact person is Beth Howard (818-3518)

Widows Ministry – This ministry looks after the needs of the widows in our fellowship. It is headed up by Arthur and Rose Mc Gill (818-3324)

Benevolence Ministry – Looking out for the needs of the less fortunate in the fellowship (812-2682)

Job Creation – We believe that it is important for a person’s well being to be encouraged to work. Where possible, we try to organize employment for those in the fellowship who are out of work.

TEACHING AND TRAINING

Apart from Sunday services, we also run a Bible College. The Mission Outreach Training Centre is the `training arm’ of our vision.

Apart from covering a wide array of topics, there are four majors. They are:

? Pastoral Ministry
? Counselling
? Missions
? Church Planting

It is a two year course, and takes place on a Tuesday Evening at the church at 7pm.

The Mission Outreach Training Centre also offers correspondence studies. There are two streams of correspondence studies, namely the diploma course (as mentioned above) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Ministry.

The Mission Outreach Training Centre has been accepted as an extension Centre of Harvester Bible College and Seminary. For more information, please contact Leston (812-2682).

EVANGELISM

We believe that lost people matter to God and therefore ought to matter to the church.

Some of the ways we are involved in evangelism include:

– Evangelistic services (Services geared to preaching to the unsaved, and encouraging the congregation to be actively involved by bringing along unsaved friends and family members).

– Special Services (E.g. Sunday Breakfast, Video Evening, Passover Evening, Alpha Home Groups – aimed at witnessing to the unsaved).

– Outreaches (e.g. the Bible Marathon).

– Radio Message (Devotional slot on Radio East Rand).

Beliefs and Minsitries (Continued)MISSIONS

We believe in actively supporting missionaries already in the field both in prayer and financially.

At present, we support the following missionaries on a monthly basis:

? The Rock Youth Haven

This is a mission work run by Chad and Sharon Thomson to teenagers and children from broken homes. It is a foster care program which affords each child a stable home environments in which they can grow and develop both as individuals, and in their relationship with the Lord.

? Kyle and Charlene Maritz – Europe (Euroseed)

Kyle and Charlene are stationed in England, and head up a ministry called `Euroseed’. They take the Gospel into Europe by means of a traveling ministry. If you have access to the internet, you can visit their website at `http:\www.euroseed.co.uk’

? Phil & Sharon Van Niekerk (France)

Phil and Sharon have been based in Orleans, France for the past five years. They are actively involved in evangelising this region.

? Scripture Gift Mission (International)

Scripture Gift Mission is a non-profit organisation that prints and distributes tracts and Gospel literature around the world. They also fly into war-torn regions to drop Gospel literature to people in war situations who desperately need Christ.

? Liz Gaspar – Port Elizabeth (Youth for Christ)

Liz has been involved with Youth for Christ in Port Elizabeth for quite some time. YFC is a ministry geared particularly to evangelising the youth of our country.

? Jesus Alive Ministries

From time to time we also support Jesus Alive Ministries. Jesus Alive is involved in helping and evangelising underprivileged communities in Africa. They have been involved in Evangelism Crusades throughout Africa, building orphanages, distributing food and relief to crisis areas.

Although we cant all go to the mission field, we want to be actively involved in these ministries through prayer and financial assistance. Please pray for our missionaries!

Morag Brogden Co-ordinates correspondence with our missionaries. If you would like to write to them to encourage them, please feel free to contact Morag (362-5718).

CHURCH PLANTING

Dr. Peter Wagner points out that planting new churches in areas which have few Christians is one of the most effective strategies for evangelism. He says;

`Church growth is usually rapid where not only individuals are being won to Christ, but where simultaneously churches are being multiplied… In most places in the world, there is a direct correlation between new congregational starts and the rate of church growth… Time and again research has confirmed that planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven.’

Of course this is not a new concept. This was the strategy the Lord laid on the heart of the apostles in evangelising the then-known world! Our long term vision is to be involved in church planting, specifically to unreached people groups.

PRAYER

Prayer is vital to the well-being of each and every ministry.

We have organised regular prayer meetings, and encourage each person to join with us as we seek the Lord to guide and to bless.

Prayer Meetings: – Tuesday to Friday mornings at 8am
60 Victoria Rd, Casseldale.

– Saturday morning at 7am at the church.

– Sunday morning at 8am in the tea room at the church.

WORSHIP

Worship and prayer should undergird everything we do.
“‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:6)
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.” (1 Chronicles 29:11)
We are committed to encouraging people to developing an intimate relationship with the Lord. Worship is an important part of such a relationship. The music ministry is involved in recording albums that encourage personal worship. We have already released an album called `Unconditional love’, featuring songs that the Lord has laid on our hearts in the last two years. We see this as an ongoing ministry.
5. MEMBERSHIP
Why Membership?
“All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” (Acts 2:42-46)

The New Testament presents a picture of definable groups of people who, once committed to the Lord, identified themselves with and committed themselves to a particular local body (Acts 11:26; Romans 16:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 8:1; Philippians 1:1).

New Life in Christ Fellowship recognises the need for formal membership.

The Criteria for Membership
Membership is be open to anyone who has personally accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, and who desires to be committed to New Life in Christ as a local body of believers. (Acts 2:38, 41; Matthew 28:19-20).

We do not want to encourage people moving from one church to another just for the sake of doing so. However, if a person feels specifically called of the Lord to move from another church to New Life in Christ, we will prayerfully seek the Lord’s face with them on the issue.

6. THE ORDINANCES
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, symbolizing the believer’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. (Romans 6:3-10; Colossians 2:11-15)

It is a sign of the New Covenant. (Colossians 2:11-12)

It is a sign of cleansing and the remission of sins, and the pledge of a good conscience toward God. (Titus 3:3-7; 1 Peter 3:21)

It is to be administered in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Baptism does not automatically convey rebirth. (Luke 23:43; Galatians 5:1-12; 1 Peter 3:21)

The Lord’s Supper is the partaking of bread and the “fruit of the vine,” symbols of Christ’s body and blood. (Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-24)

It is to be taken by believers only. Believers must participate in a worthy manner, having a proper attitude towards the Lord and his people. (1 Corinthians 11:27-29)

The Lord’s Supper serves as a vivid remembrance of the atoning death of Christ and a visible proclamation of the gospel. (1 Corinthians 11:26)
It is to be celebrated by the assembled church. (Acts 2:46; 20:7-12; 1 Corinthians 11:17-22)

The Lord’s supper is to be observed throughout the church age, until Jesus returns. (1 Corinthians 11:26)

7. CHURCH LEADERSHIP

The oversight is made up as follows:

Leston Blackburn – Pastor 812-2682
Neale Bennett 818-3305
Franco Baressi 815-2036
Chad Thomson 818-2775
Tina Furman 734-4505
Arthur Mc Gill 818-3324
Allan Hepburn 818-4423

8. CONCLUSION

We trust that this information has been helpful in conveying to you not only what we believe, but also our heart’s desire to serve the Lord by serving those He calls us to shepherd and to reach. We pray that the Lord bless you, and that He guides you clearly in your search for a spiritual home!

Our Services & Events

Sunday Morning Service
9:30 am
Sunday School
9:30 am
Home Cells
Wednesdays – 7:15 pm
Youth Service
Friday 7 pm
Bible College
Tuesday 7 pm

Our Staff

Leston Blackburn
Pastor ✤ lestmotc@global.co.za