Get to know the Westville Methodist Church

THE Westville Methodist Church was established in April 1949 and has been striving to guide the community’s spiritual growth.

Its present complex was inaugurated in 1977.

The church’s mission statement ‘To know, to grow, to show’ demonstrates the vision and purpose of the church.

“We provide people with the information and resources that will help them ‘know’ Jesus as their saviour, but we allow people to have their own freedom and to set their own pace,” said Rev Mark Wiemers.

“So, ‘To grow’, connotes that we encourage and challenge people to grow in their own spiritual journeys,” added Rev Ingbert Misselhorn.

“‘To show’, emphasises that a core value within the church is community or compassion services. We strive to give back to the community and to show people the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Through our numerous outreach programmes we have become ‘a serving church’,” said Rev Misselhorn.

“We help to raise funds for the Indaleni School for the Deaf and we support the Ethelbert Children’s Home financially,” said Rev Misselhorn.

The church also regularly hosts a soup kitchen and an adult literacy programme on Thursdays at 5.30pm.

Members of the church represent a variety of ages and cultures, and the church strives to cater to their diverse membership and community.

In addition to the traditional early Sunday service the church also offers an isiZulu service at 12pm for traditional Zulu speakers, as well as a contemporary family service at 9am and 6pm.

According to Rev Wiemer, the 6pm service is contemporary in the sense that it targets a younger audience and incorporates a band with guitars and drums for the praise and worship.

There is also an abundance of social groups that members can join and become involved with.

Megan Gorven, the children’s pastor at the church, manages the children’s ministries, such as the the junior youth group, which caters for pupils in Grade 4 to 7. The group meets on Friday evenings at 5.30pm for games and worship.

Mike Collins, the youth pastor, manages the youth groups.

According to Rev Wiemer, the youth groups have Bible studies and meet, formally and informally, on Friday evenings for social bonding and spiritual growth.

The women’s ministry, know as the Women’s Auxiliary, enables the women of the church to guide each other spiritually, to encourage and facilitate ‘compassionate work’, such as fund raising and to grow stronger as a community.

The men’s ministry has the same purpose. “It provides an informal setting where men can get together in a Christian context for spiritual growth and encouragement,” said Rev Wiemer.

“Prospective members are also a focus within the church,” added Rev Wiemer. ‘The Alpha course’ is a programme that is used to introduce the basics of Christianity to prospective members, while ‘Crossroads’ offers the same opportunity to teenagers, exploring the meaning of life and the truth of Christianity.

Contact 031 266 5222 or office@westvillemethodist.co.za.