DUNAMIS
POWER IN ACTION
Founders & The Late Senior Pastors
Senior Pastors met each other in March 1969 and started dating September that year, got engaged 30th September 1970 and became husband and wife on 1 May 1971. During 1973 both of them were called into full time ministry. They received hands-on training for 14 years, serving faithfully as true disciples under their Pastor During their training they were taught what it was like to crucify their flesh, die for self, for their own desires, and give their whole lives to God and to the ministry.
Their pastor died on 26 December 1987. They stayed on for another 3 years and there after they started Dunamis International Family Church in January 1991 with 34 people, of which 26 were scholars. Pastor Hendrik received a prophetic word in the early 90’s, ‘Hendrik, Youth of the Nations’. They believe that young people must get out of the mold and the pattern in which they grew up in and get into the pattern and plan that God has for their lives according to Jeremiah 29:11. God has given to them a vision that will come into fulfilment through the heartbeat of cell life.
The church has received a primary assignment to constantly win and disciple people for Jesus Christ. At a very young age Pastor Phillicia was already involved in singing, dancing, drama and public speaking. Under the submission of her
The History of DIFC
HOW WE STARTED
The late Senior Pastor H.L. Bester modelled discipleship. The Strategic year – August 1994 – 88 members. We received training for one year every Monday evening. Senior Pastor shared his heart / vision without realizing that he introduced the cell life to us. He role modelled relationships. We learned that it is impossible to trust God if you cannot trust a man. Relationships and unity became stronger.
THE INTERVENTION
One night the Holy Spirit intervened in the group. God raised up a spiritual father. He must reproduce spiritual sons, not hirelings. 90% of the people that made that commitment are still part of the team today
THE “SET MAN” (SENIOR PASTOR) BUILDS A TEAM
Our Church was on the edge to transition from “BUILDING A CHURCH to BUILDING THE KINGDOM”.
We were primarily an Afrikaans community who did not accommodate all people. Our Senior Pastor knew that he needed a committed team that would submit to him and the God given vision, so he proceeded in doing the following.
He chose men and woman
He chose 12 men and 2 women. 80% of them were young and therefore not well equipped or capable. The basic qualities that they had were being faithful, submissive, available and teachable (FAST). That was the basic criteria by which they were chosen. Over the years the potential team has matured and multiplied but our Senior Pastor never stopped investing in his team. This has now snowballed where the team invests in others as well.
The vision was shared
Without vision people perish. We’ve been taught important principles. One can never be entrusted with a God given vision until you follow the vision of a spiritual leader.
God gives vision to a man
The church must be led by one man not a board or a committee. You cannot submit to the vision without submitting to the man. When God gives vision to a man, He places His spirit upon that man to fulfil the vision.
Our values were challenged and changed
The team learned that God has entrusted their lives into the hands of the Senior Pastor to disciple them. Their values were and still are changed by him. They were taught many principles such as:
- God loves people
- Discovering their own and other people’s true potential.
- God is more interested in ones character than in one’s gift.
- God rewards faithfulness, not performance.
- Live to make someone else successful
- Empty oneself
- Loyalty to the Senior man and ultimately to God. Live to see God’s vision fulfilled
Do the work of an evangelist – reaching our city, nation, and world.
Senior Pastor practiced what he preached
He never expected them to believe in or to care for someone unless he has proven to them that he cares for them and he believes in them. That gave the team tremendous security, strength and an example in doing it.
Loyalty of the team members
The loyalty of the team towards the vision and the Senior man, will secure the future of the church and the fulfilment of the vision. A loyal team is a transparent team. Where a team is loyal and stand in unity with the leader, God will command His blessing.
We were primarily an Afrikaans speaking community. The vision is for the city, not only a chosen few. In order for us to fulfil this vision. Senior Pastor made the commitment to God to transition the church to English, which took place over 8 months. Word got round that there is a church who accommodates everyone, and all types of people started coming.Today we are a multinational, cultural and generational church. A wonderful synergy exists between young, old, coloured, black, white, Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, Greek, Zambian, Congolese and Zimbabwean, just to mention a few.
God has truly accomplished something great in our Local church regarding the above statement. The poor became rich; the rich became dependant on God. The unschooled is schooled. The sick is healed. The youth changes the world, while the adults give them the guidance.
We are planting cells everywhere and amongst everyone – children (7-12 with adult leaders), youth (13-19 with adult leaders), young adults, adults, senior citizens, couples and singles; In prisons and hospitals; In Germiston, Alberton and surroundings, Heidelberg, Secunda and Pretoria. We have ongoing community projects. We have given financial support to churches in Germiston, Zimbabwe and Malawi and support a big Missions network in the rest of Africa. We are connected to churches in Singapore, Ivory Coast and the USA to whose success we are totally committed.
COMMUNITY UPLIFTMENT
Yearly Mozambique Mission Trips
Monthly 'we care' initiative
Trauma counselling
Staff debriefing at Netcare
Ministry and Results
The Shoebox project
“The Shoebox project” provides gifts and fulfils the needs of orphan children living with HIV and Aids.
Child and Family Welfare
Greater Germiston Society for Child and Family Welfare
The Love of Christ ministries
“The Love of Christ ministries” (TLC), amongst others, receives food and necessary products which supply to the needs of numerous children.