Golden Jubilee for local church

The Living Stones Baptist Church (LSBC) in Richards Bay celebrates its 50th anniversary this weekend.

The church’s golden jubilee services will be held on Friday 8 November at 7pm and Sunday 10 November at 5pm at 27 Dicksonia Drive in Brackenham.

The guest speaker for the weekend is Dr Michael Henry and the public is welcome to join the celebrations.

Background

In 1963 Baptist laymen from the Darnall Baptist Association circuit, while visiting Felixton and Empangeni, helped a group of Indians in Empangeni start a church.

In 1969 the Empangeni Indian Baptist Church was established and on 28 July 1970 applied for church status within the Natal Indian Baptist Association (now known as the Baptist Association of South Africa).

In 1971 the first council board was elected and regular meetings were held in the garage of a local family.

Between 1972 and 1977 Pastor Gordon and Brother Mohan carried out the ministry with the help of its circuit minister, Rev Dixon James.

During 1978-1979 Pastor Sunnaysi, who was visited monthly by Pastor A Solomon (the Darnall circuit supervisor), led the church.

From 1980- 1983 the Council, assisted by faithful men of God, led the church and during this time it was decided to change its name to Living Stones Baptist Church.

In 1986 the church moved with its people to Brackenham, a then Indian ‘township’, and amalgamated with the Central Baptist Church to better serve the community.

What began in 1963 as a mission work to reach out to people in local farms and surrounding areas (Felixton and Empangeni), is now a thriving congregation in Richards Bay and beyond.