WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE BELIEVE

The purpose of the church is to proclaim the principles of the Bible, as the Word of the Triune God, with the focus on the doctrine of Jesus Christ, as the Head of the church, as determined in the whole of the Holy Scripture, on all levels and amongst all people, according to His will, working towards the edification and extension of the body of Christ on earth and furthermore to convert every member, community and nation into true disciples of Jesus Christ, as well as strengthening the band of unity between believers from all Christian denominations. It is also the purpose of the church to promote a better understanding and collaboration between all people.

We are Pentecostal people that believe that people should be born again through true conversion, accompanied by confession of sins and restitution, and baptism, after conversion, by immersion. We consider baptism as a sacrament. Furthermore we also believe in the sacraments established by Jesus Christ, namely holy communion, washing of feet for the saints and the consecration of children. We believe in practical sanctification, together with the seeking of peace with all people, as far as possible. We believe in the gifts and working of the Holy Spirit, in the full power of God’s Spirit. We believe unequivocally in the virgin birth, suffering, crucifixion, death and resurrection after three days, of Jesus Christ. We also believe in His ascension to heaven and that He sits at the right hand of God the Father, as High Priest and Steward of our faith. Furthermore we believe in the physical returning of Jesus Christ, on the clouds of heaven, together with the snatching away of His church and children, both alive and passed away, towards an eternity in heaven, prepared for us by Christ Himself. We believe in an actual heaven, angels and Godly beings en also know that there is a devil, with fallen angels and demons, that will finally, together with those that reject Christ, after the judgement of God, be cast into the pool of fire, which is hell.      

HISTORICAL REVIEW

THE BIRTH OF A NEW CHURCH

Members in Christ Church had a unique origin. It all started with the founder, pastor Cornelius Johannes, Prinsloo and his wife, Constance Madeline Prinsloo. Pastor Prinsloo was born on 01 January 1900, a date that did not only mean the start of a new millennium but was also the birth date of a man that would initiate a new movement in God’s work on earth. As a young man, he was employed by the South African Railways, as a train driver. In 1923 he was converted under the ministry of pastor G.J Henning, of the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa. In 1928 he was led by the Holy Spirit to start a new Pentecostal movement in Pietersburg. In the meantime, he met sister M.M. Fraser, the founder of the Latter Rain Mission, in Benoni. His love and appreciation for the working of the Holy Spirit and accompanying manifestations, contributed to his relating to the ministry of the Latter Rain Mission. He started a congregation for the Latter rain Mission in Pretoria, on a premises that was formerly used as a cowshed, that was converted into a church. A building was later on obtained in Potgieter Street, that became known as a “Faith Home”. Pastor Prinsloo grasped the concept of seasons that serves as periods of training for someone, to be utilized for a greater purpose later on. He realized that the secret was in carefully being obedient to the voice and leading of the Holy Spirit. God used pastor Prinsloo exceptionally in the gift of prophecy. In December 1939 he conveyed the news to the Latter Rain Mission, that God led him to start a new Pentecostal movement. This decision was backed up by substantial periods of praying and fasting. He recruited nobody to follow him, but encouraged anyone that would follow him, to obtain leading from the Lord Himself, in this regard. A reasonable group of people joined him and on 21 January 1940 the Holy Spirit led, through the gift of prophecy, that each one that became part of the new group should call him/herself a “member in the Body of Christ”. During this time the Lord, also through the gift of prophecy, gave directives that were applied as the rules of the constitution of the new Pentecostal movement.  The group that was formerly established in Pietersburg, also stayed loyal to pastor Prinsloo. Congregations were established in Pietersburg, Port Elizabeth, East Londen, Brits and in 1942 the premises on the corner of Booysen Street and Benita Avenue, in Les Marais, Pretoria, was purchased. This is where Helderberg congregation is situated and was also the first site where the first church building of the new movement was erected. During this time pastor Prinsloo received a Holy Spirit revelation that the new movement must be called “Members in Christ”. The “Faith Home” in Benita Avenue, Les Marais, was also purchased during this time and in a time of war and poverty, the new members learnt to trust in God. The pastors were known as “workers”, rather than pastors and there was no remuneration for services rendered. On 01 November 1947 the movement was registered under Company Law as “MICA” or rather “Members in Christ Assemblies of South Africa”. After several failed attempts, the official name was later altered to “Members in Christ Assemblies”. With good motivation and purpose, the official name was later once more altered to “Members in Christ Church”, mainly because of the fact that the word congregation could easily be mistaken as referring to a single congregation.  In South Africa, pastor Prinsloo evangelised under all races and ethnic groups and congregations were established countrywide. In 1967 Helderberg congregation already consisted of more than 400 people.                        

PLANTING OF CONGREGATIONS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

Past Prinsloo also had a vision to plant churches in foreign countries. In 1952 he acted on this inspiration and congregations were established in the USA, Canada, Belgium, the UK and the Netherlands. Later on he also evangelized in India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. From 1944 he also worked for the Lord, in what was then known as Rhodesia, called Zimbabwe today. On 19 March 1978, pastor Prinsloo passed away, leaving a precious Holy Spirit legacy for Members in Christ Church.  

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SOUND ORGANISATION AND ADMINISTRATION   

The successor of pastor Prinsloo, was pastor G.J. du Toit, who already acted as vice-moderator since 1957. Pastor du Toit was powerfully converted on 16 March 1936. On 30 April 1943 he married Ada Jeluna Pretorius and on 01 January 1047 they entered the ministry in Members in Christ Church. On 16 March 1978 pastor du Toit is formally elected as the new moderator of Members in Christ Church, a position which he held with his wife, with exceptional and great dignity, until their retirement from the fulltime ministry, in 1996. Although the methods of this new builder of God’s kingdom might have differed from his predecessor, the foundation and ground rules never changed. Pastor du Toit created a healthy church as far as administration and organization was concerned. He implemented a medical scheme, a pension fund and salaries for the workers or pastors. He also achieved his vision to leave the church completely debt free, as far as external debt was concerned. Several new congregations were established under his leadership and churches, as well as parsonages, were erected country wide, in Members in Christ Church. In spite of a severe stroke, that pastor du Toit suffered years before he became moderator, he as well as his spouse were able to work up to eighteen hours a day, even in their later years, visiting congregations and pastoral couples, from the South to the far North of our country. They fulfilled their task with formidable faithfulness and zeal. It needs to be mentioned that his spouse, Ada du Toit, gained the greatest respect for the worthy way in which she conducted herself at the side of her husband. In his time the name of the church was changed to “Members in Christ Church”.

THE CHURCH GROWS IN GRACE

On 11 December 1995 pastor Walter Ronald Frisby is elected as the new moderator of Members in Christ Church. He is born in Krugersdorp on 10 June 1945 and he married Charmaine Patricia Bailes on 07 September 1963. They were called through prophecy, for training at the Faith Homes in Pretoria and Durban, after which they started their fulltime ministry in Messina congregation. Shortly after his election as moderator, pastor Frisby’s beloved Charmaine passed away, which left an inexpressible gap, because of her gentle, loveable and approachable nature and attitude. Pastor Frisby was committed to his vision for the foreign countries and did many, regular visits abroad. He achieved the restoration of healthy relationships with the foreign congregations. Pastor Frisby was also used mightily by the Lord, in the ministry of the gift of prophecy. Under his leadership the congregations of Members in Christ Church were awarded autonomy, as far as local management was concerned, after the unification of the church in August 2003. The obsolete Executive Councils of the former White, Indian, Coloured and Black sections, were replaced by a board of directors that represented and managed the whole of Members in Christ Church. Pastor Frisby’s leadership was distinguished by his gentle, friendly attitude, his ability to draw people to him and treat them with dignity.  

THE CURRENT

Pastor Marius Erasmus is elected as the new moderator of Members in Christ Church in April 2010, after he served as vice-moderator since 2001. Marius is born from a family that were members of the church and he is led to the Lord by his older brother Michiel, converting on 30 October 1977. On 11 September 1982 he married the love of his life, Joanie Erasmus, who is the youngest daughter of the late pastor Willie (Witkop) and Maria Fourie, who was one of the most loyal pastoral couples of Members in Christ Church. They entered the ministry on 01 January 1986. Under their leadership the emphasis fell on training of pastors, on different levels, including ministry skills, different Theological aspects, leadership, counselling skills and even basic knowledge of applicable computer programs. A Great breakthrough with regard to the tertiary training of pastors, was the affiliation of the church’s seminary with the University of North West, allowing pastors and members to enrol for accredited degrees, up to Doctorate level, in Pentecostal Theology. More than ever, Members in Christ Church realizes the ecumenical roll of every church in the Body of Christ and welcomes cooperation with other churches, missions and associations that shares the kingdom vision in Christ. A distinctive feature of the current season in which Members in Christ Church finds itself is, the exceptional expansion of the church in the last seven years, with twenty two new congregations being established, together with a few in foreign countries.

MEMBERS IN CHRIST CHURCH MOVES FORWARD   

MARANATA, OUR KING IS COMING!