This Sunday we have Wally and Shirley Gerstmeier joining us to celebrate together as a church family as we ordain new elders and deacons together. For this moment we are bringing our morning congregations together at 9am at our Tableview campus, and we’d love for you to join us for this special family moment.
WHO ARE WALLY AND SHIRLEY?
The Gerstmeier family moved down to Cape Town in early 1999 with dreams of planting a church in the Tableview area. In February of that year they started Life Changers, first out of their home in Jenny Lane in West Beach, before moving to The Health and Racquet Club (now the Tableview Virgin Active), the Blouberg Library and finally into our current Tableview facility in 2004.
With a burning heart for those far from God to meet Jesus, they gave leadership to the church until the year 2013, when they felt a change in the season of their life and the Life Changers story, and they handed her over to Mark and Candice Van Pletsen. Wally and Shirley stayed on Eldership while ministering out into other churches for 3 more years, until January of 2017 when we released them full-time to move up to Durban to minister into churches around South Africa, equipping them in the areas of life-style evangelism, faith and their identity in Christ.
They are pioneers, wise father and mother figure to many, evangelistic heroes and most importantly dear friends of ours as a church, and it’s a massive privilege to have them join us for such a signal day together.
WHAT IS AN ELDER?
The primary spiritual leaders of a congregation are the elders, who are also called overseers or pastors in the New Testament. Elders teach or preach the Word and shepherd the souls of those under their care (Ephesians. 4:11; 1 Timothy. 3:2; 5:17; Titus 1:9; Hebrews. 13;17). Their primary areas of focus are doctrine, direction and discipline of the church.
WHAT IS A DEACON?
Deacons, too, have a crucial role in the life and the health of the local church, but their role is different from the elders’. The biblical role of deacons is to take care of the physical and logistical needs of the church (Acts.6:1-6). A deacon is qualified when their character meets the requirements laid out in 1.Timothy.3, when they are functioning (serving) as leaders in the church, and they are living a life of faith that is worthy of being imitated.
The leadership that scripture requires of elders and deacons in a local church is one that is rooted in servanthood. And when-ever leaders were put in place in the New Testament, it was for the good of the people! God always bought increase and blessing when Godly leadership was exercised.
At Life Changers we’ve always endeavoured never to make an idol out of leadership, but rather implement it as closely to the biblical imperatives as we can. We believe that this Sunday is a key day in recognizing who God has called to lead at Life Changers in this season, and that because of it, we will all step into a season of increase and favour together.
Our hearts beat for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we long to see those far from God find abundant life in Him as we continue pursue being not the best church in the city, but rather the best church for the city. Bring a friend, come early and stay late as we enjoy the Big Day In together!
