Our Story
Living Hope Bible Church (originally “Living Hope Baptist Church”, hereafter referred to as LHBC) was planted as a result of some families travelling from Pietermaritzburg to Hillcrest Baptist Church every Sunday, longing for the day in which they could have a solid church closer to home. In 2013 the Lord graciously answered their prayers and provided all the practical things needed to start a new local church. This included the mother-church oversight of Hillcrest Baptist Church, some additional support from Paul Washer’s HeartCry Missionary Society and the church-planting leadership of Dave Webster.
The first service was held on the 3rd of February, 2013, in the home of one of the families who had been praying for that occasion. Over the next two years it grew steadily in number and by the end of 2014 they were seriously praying for a permanent pastor and a larger venue. In February of 2015, Dave Webster and three other men interviewed Andrew Zekveld, a graduate from The Master’s Seminary, as a pastoral candidate, and after discussing it with the congregation extended a formal invitation to him to come and pastor LHBC. He accepted the call, and in June 2015 moved his family down to settle in Pietermaritzburg.
With a special celebration service on Sunday 2 September, 2018, LHBC marked its official independence from Hillcrest Baptist Church and welcomed it’s first members.
Our heartfelt thanks goes to our Heavenly Father Whose good hand was upon us ever since the very first prayer for a local church plant was uttered. He has indeed done far beyond what we could ask or think.
First Church Service
First church service in a member’s outbuilding with Dave Webster as the church-planting missionary-pastor from HeartCry, Hillcrest Baptist Church as the sending church, and Gavin Talbot and Les De Croes as elders
First Missionaries
Shortly after the start of LHBC, the missions focus was initiated by the acceptance of two missionaries for prayer and financial support
Venue Change
Having outgrown the little “Talbot Chapel”, the Sunday service moves to the hall of Clarendon Primary School
Andrew Zekveld Becomes the Pastor
After one week of overlap with Dave Webster, Andrew Zekveld becomes the new full-time pastor of LHBC
Financial Independence
LHBC informs HeartCry Missionary Society that the church has become financially stable and thanks them for their support since the founding of the Church
Venue Change
The church venue moves to St. Patrick’s Anglican Church building on Victoria Street
Independence from Hillcrest Baptist Church
LHBC is officially constituted, and welcomes its first official members. Clint Archer from Hillcrest Baptist Church preached on “Don’t Date the Church”
Venue and Time Change
Due to excessive neighbourly noise, the church venue changes to the Immanuel Lutheran Church building in Prestbury, which results in the service time moving to the afternoon
First Deacons Appointed
The first deacons are appointed to assist in the godly and orderly ministry to one another
First NextGen Bible Institute Class
The first NextGen Bible Institute class is held in Pietermaritzburg with ten students
Zulu Resources
A Zulu resources page is added to the church website for daily devotionals with plans to add a Zulu podcast from some of the members of the Church
LHBC Becomes a Member of Sola5
The Sola5 Association of Churches accepts LHBC into their membership
Name Change
Living Hope Baptist Church changes its name to Living Hope Bible Church to reflect more precisely what its most defining foundation is
Venue and Time Change
LHBC moves to Scottsville Primary School and thereby also moving its service time back to the morning
Shepherds Conference comes to PMB
For the first time, the annual South-African Shepherds Conference is hosted in Pietermaritzburg as a ministry of LHBC
Three Elders Added
Trayton Dougherty, Sanele Ngobese, and Jan Kriel are appointed as additional elders of LHBC
A Property is Purchased
The property at 134 Sanctuary Road is paid for, and the purchase documents are signed
Ryan Mitchell comes as a second pastor
Back from the missions field, Ryan joins the full-time pastoral staff to help support other Churches in KZN and help train men for the work of ministry