Praying a bar into a church
Criticism did not get the West Rand Bikers Church down as they celebrate their new home.
After nearly four years of keeping their faith through tough obstacles, the West Rand Bikers Church is proud to call Krugersdorp their new home.
The fellowship which was started in 2010 in a local pub has since grown in numbers and believers and has recently purchased a church building where they aim to spread the good news of faith.
Hundreds of bikers from the West Rand met up at these premises in Dan Pienaarville to celebrate the opening of their new church.
“It was so full that visitors stood outside the doors, listening to the sermon,” said Pastor Johan van Eck.
He tells the News how his church had overcome many obstacles in the past four years and how other local community churches have looked down on them.
Their story started at the Champions Bar in Luipaardsvlei in 2010 after the deaths of many bikers.
The bikers felt that they were not accepted at other ‘old school’ churches leaving them churchless on many counts.
A group of bikers started meeting once a month at the Warrior Arms in Muldersdrift for services.
The services became more popular and before Van Eck knew it, he was preaching every Sunday.
Next they moved to the Moth Center in Roodepoort, but as the church grew they simply needed more space.
“Other churches criticised us by saying we do not have any rights as a church in the community.”
He mentions that other church leaders have called them straight forward Satanists.
Luckily the criticism did not get them down, and they kept on praying.
On Sunday 15 February they celebrated the opening of their new church building along with a special cake ceremony.
Van Eck described the cutting of the cake, similar to a wedding cake.
“The cake served as a symbol to seal the deal.”
Since the church’s humble days, they have extended their services to a kiddies church, youth and bible school.
The church’s slogan is We are a hospital for the sinners, not a showcase for the religious.
