Where Every Story Meets the
Hope of Jesus

A Christ-centered community committed to seeing the Gospel proclaimed, lives transformed, and every heart given a chance to encounter Jesus.

Our Vision

… Until the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed in our city and throughout the whole world, so everyone has a chance to hear it. After that the end will come. Math 24:14

Our Values

Our values are the things we believe are important in the life of our Church and are therefore the things we hold and continually strive toward

Statement Of Belief

We call all people to search the Scriptures and embrace the truth of the gospel for the glory of God.

Grant & Charmaine Askham

Elders

Werner & Cindy Steyn

Elders

Albert & Rinie Lotter

Elders

Callie & Ina Swart

Elders

Janko & Rosy Van Heerden

Deacons

Hein & Michelle Ipland

Deacons

Karin Goosen

Deacons

Hein & Sarah Stapelberg

Deacons

Kaylen & Amanda Pillay

Deacons

Our Values

To love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and strength

This is the reason we live. We live to make His name famous in all the earth. He is our passion, our priority and our preoccupation.

Deuteronomy 6:5 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

To be Bible-based

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It must be read, studied, taught, understood and obeyed. We need to discover our identity and destiny in the Word. We need to practically apply God’s Word to every area of our lives. The Bible is our source of doctrine, clearly showing us how to live as New Testament believers. It is the Word of God and is infallible. Partners are to submit themselves to the authority of the Bible wholeheartedly.

2 Peter 1:19-21 “And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of Godmay be competent, equipped for every good work.”

Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword…”

To seek the supernatural workings of God

The Christian life is much more than a good philosophical way of living. Jesus sent His disciples out to operate in a spiritual realm that transcended the natural laws and demonstrated a miraculous God. We need to exercise faith in God and earnestly desire His supernatural workings to break the yoke of oppression and set the captives free.

Acts 2:43 “And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.”

Acts 14:3 “So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

To live in authentic community

Living life in Life Groups: Traditionally the emphasis of Life Group (“cells”) has been on the weekly meetings. The success of the group was measured by the attendance and the “vibe” of these meetings. The problem with this is that it produced a “part-timer” mentality. Concern for the other members of the Life Group was only necessary when they met together. The Biblical concept of community is much richer than this. It assumes getting into each other’s lives.

This community is a seven-day a week, twenty-four hour a day commitment to each other. Acts 2:42-47 perhaps best captures this concept of community :

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to everyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people.And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

To be disciples

Being a convert is the first step. The purpose of being saved is to be “conformed into the image of Jesus.” This means we are to joyfully embark on a journey of transformation. The Greek word for ‘disciple’ is a “convinced learner.”

Dallas Willard says: “Disciples simply are people who are constantly revisiting their affairs to carry through on their decisions to follow Jesus. A disciple is a person who has decided that the most important thing in their life is to learn how to do what Jesus said to do.”

It will be clearly evident whether or not you are a disciple by your choices, speech, family life and many other self-evident measures.

To establish Godly families

God has given parents and not the state the responsibility of bringing up children. If we abdicate our responsibility, we will still be held accountable to God. We subject our children, during their formative years, to 8 hours a day of ungodly, humanistic influence, yet wonder why they turn out a product of a humanistic society! Adults are called to be salt and light; children are to be trained to become salt and light.

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Leadership culture

The Bridge Church has a leadership culture and much of our emphasis is on bringing folk into their inheritance as leaders. We are not a hospital or cruise ship on holiday. We are at war! We need to be led into battle!

The shepherds in God’s Word were not our South African variety that chase the sheep from behind. Rather, they would walk in front of the sheep showing the way. We are establishing a group of anointed leaders, showing the way with the attitude of a servant leader so that the sheep – the people -can come into the fullness of their abilities in God.

A praying church

If we don’t – He won’t. Biblically we are taught that everything we experience in the natural physical realm has origin in the spiritual realm. This being the case, it is simple to understand that if we, through prayer, can cause a change in the spiritual realm, then it will have an effect on the natural realm. Before we see souls saved, we will have to pray, changing situations in the spiritual so that in the physical we might see a change – the saving of many souls.

A prophetic church

The truth must be part of our vision and foundation. We live in a world where there is so much lying and deceit, many con artists and sects as well as many other ‘isms’ that seem so right, yet will lead people away from God’s plan for their lives. The church needs to stand up as the prophets of old, no matter how unpopular the fellowship becomes, and proclaim God’s revealed truth in its purity and God’s ongoing purposes as understood from the revelation that comes from a daily walk with God.

Community lifestyle witness

It is wonderful to enjoy a community lifestyle among ourselves. We feel that God has blessed us with and called us to a lifestyle that models love and the other characteristics of Christ so that not only we, who are living and enjoying this lifestyle see it, but the world, the unsaved, see it as well and come to a place of desiring that same community lifestyle.

A generous church

Our vision is to be debt free (personally and corporately). To sow a large percentage of our income into the Kingdom, to meet needs in our own fellowship and the surrounding community, to support those in ministry well and to be good stewards of all that God entrusts to us. Giving is always a good reflector of commitment.

To relate to the wider body of Christ

We are autonomous but not independent. An independent church is in serious danger of becoming a sect or a cult if it is not accountable. Neither a person nor a local church can exercise authority unless they are under authority. God wants to bring His church to a place of maturity and unity in the faith. He does this by appointing a fivefold itinerant ministry of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. We believe there is much that we as a church can learn from others, we also believe that God has blessed us in areas where we can be a blessing to others.

Ephesians 4:11-14 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherdsand teachers,to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

In order to practically relate to the wider body of Christ, to receive ministry from the five-fold offices and to be under authority, The Bridge Church relates to apostolic men viz. Rory Dyer, Nick Hardy, George Eybers and Leonard Rutten.

To establish a Base Church / launching pad

Our base is currently in the Moot area of Pretoria. Our vision is to develop our own facility to be used for Sunday Celebrations, prayer meetings, training, fellowship, Youth meetings, special events, recreational gatherings and many other activities. This building is not the task – it is merely a TOOL FOR THE TASK, namely the discipling of the nations. It will serve as a BASE at which to train and equip folk for ministry and from which to launch those ministries into the city, the Province, the Nation and the world.

A racially integrated church

It is our belief that it is Biblical, in God’s heart and important for this nation that we are, remain so and strive towards being non-racial in membership. In a country that is torn by racial hatred and racism, it is only the church that has the recipe for brotherly love. We are neither for “White Nationalism” nor “Black Nationalism”, but are for the Kingdom of God. We are like foreigners – in the world but not of the world. Our true allegiance is to the King of Kings. Jesus died for all people, of every nation, colour and language and “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” God created different races, different languages and different people. He gives His sons and daughters different gifts, different talents, different motivations and different responsibilities. We are not the same, yet we are called to love one another and to honour one another. (Philippians 2:24 & Luke 10:2537)

Revelation 7:9 “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,…”

The priesthood of all believers

Every born again person is a “priest” or “minister”, each having gifting and anointing that comes from God. We desire to create an environment that motivates people to be what God has equipped them to be – an atmosphere where one will be motivated to learn, to attempt something big for God, to evaluate that which was attempted and to make adjustments. The way these various aspects will be accomplished is through: “Class” teaching time, being sent out to impact nations and neighbours, accountability and living in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

To have no generation gap

We see young people and children as a blessing and not a problem. We have a very strong commitment to youth and children’s ministry, believing that many adults will come to know Christ through the changed lives of their children. so also, people from every age group have specific functions and callings in the local churches. The so-called “generation gap” is a creation of our modern society and cannot be found in the Bible.

To disciple all nations teaching them all things

To show, teach and challenge all peoples of all nations, no matter the cost and starting in our own homes, neighbourhood and nation, how to have Christ as Saviour and Lord of one’s life. This is why you are here and not in Heaven. Jesus has commissioned us to take the Gospel to every nation, tribe and tongue (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18 and Acts 1:8). If there are certain options that Christians were NEVER intended to have, then the option to hold back God’s Word, blessing and presence from the Nations must surely be one of the foremost. We should say “IT IS NOT AND NEVER HAS BEEN AN OPTION.” God has called us to lift up our hands, roll up our sleeves, live close to Him and let Him do mighty exploits through us as this age rushes to its climax.

We must work out what God has worked in us on seven fronts:

In our homes / family life.
In our places of employment / study.
In our neighbourhoods and cities.
In our corporate local church life.
In our nation.
In the world – the other nations of the earth.
In our wider church relationships (other groups in the city and country).

We are not called to drop everything and head for a foreign nation – that would be counter-productive, but we are without exception commissioned to GO. Be it to go across town to someone in need, across the street to someone you know has not heard, across the fence to draw a neighbor, or across the bed to your spouse.

We must go until He comes. If we do not, He will use others and we will miss out on the blessings that He desires us to have.

Statement of Belief

The Nature of God

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are co-equal and co-eternal, knowing, loving, and glorifying one another. This one true and living God is infinitely perfect in both love and holiness, sovereignly ruling over all things and providentially working to redeem a people for Himself and restore creation to the praise of His glory.

Key Scriptures: Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, John 15:26, Ephesians 4:6.

The Scriptures

We believe the Bible, consisting of the Old Testament (39 books) and New Testament (27 books), is God’s authoritative, inerrant, and sufficient Word. It is to be believed in all it teaches, obeyed in all it requires, and trusted in all it promises.

Key Scriptures: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Psalm 19:7.

Creation and the Fall

God created mankind in His own image, male and female, equal in worth and dignity, to reflect His glory. Through Adam’s disobedience, sin entered the world, alienating humanity from God and corrupting all creation. All have sinned and stand in need of God’s redeeming grace.

Key Scriptures: Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12-19.

The Person and Work of Christ

We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully man. Born of a virgin, He lived a sinless life, performed miracles, and died a substitutionary death on the cross for our sins. He was bodily resurrected, ascended into heaven, and is now our High Priest and Advocate. He will return personally and visibly to reign in glory.

Key Scriptures: John 3:16, Philippians 2:5-11, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, dwelling in every believer. He regenerates, empowers, sanctifies, and equips believers for ministry, producing the fruit of the Spirit and bestowing spiritual gifts for the edification of the Church.

Key Scriptures: John 16:7-15, Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Salvation

Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. By His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus Christ acted as our representative and substitute, bearing the penalty for our sins and securing eternal life for all who believe.

Key Scriptures: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10, 2 Corinthians 5:21.

The Church

The Church is the body of Christ, consisting of all who have been redeemed and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. The local church gathers for worship, teaching, fellowship, and mission under the leadership of Christ as its head. We affirm the priesthood of all believers.

Key Scriptures: Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 Peter 2:9, Ephesians 4:11-16. Scriptures: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10, 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Baptism and Communion

We affirm two ordinances established by Christ: Baptism: A public declaration of faith symbolizing union with Christ in His death and resurrection. Communion: A remembrance of Christ’s sacrificial death, through partaking of the bread and cup.

Key Scriptures: Matthew 28:19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

The Christian Life

Followers of Christ are called to a life in community (called local church), of holiness, devotion, and service, growing in likeness to Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit and obedience to Scripture. This life is expressed in love for God and neighbour, stewardship, and faithful witness to the gospel.

Key Scriptures: Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Matthew 22:37-39.

The Last Things

We believe in the personal, visible return of Christ to judge the living and the dead. Those in Christ will enjoy eternal life in the new heavens and new earth, while those who reject Christ will face eternal separation from God.

Key Scriptures: Revelation 21:1-4, Matthew 25:31-46, John 14:3.

Conclusion

We affirm the necessity of sound doctrine, rooted in Scripture, to equip the Church for faithful witness in a confused and secular world. We call all people to search the Scriptures and embrace the truth of the gospel for the glory of God.

Key Scriptures: Acts 20:27, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, 2 Timothy 4:2.