Merger of River of Life Church (Eastlea) & Greystone Park Church A relational and prophetic journey of two churches, with great expectation for an exciting new era By Scott Marques, Gus Hulley, Andrew Ellis and Dave Hobbs Over the past five years Greystone Park Church (GPC) has joined the Newfrontiers family of churches and a significant leadership transition has taken place within the church from the eldership team led by Rikki Decker to that led by Gus Hulley. During this time the relationship between GPC and River of Life Church (ROLE) has steadily grown with both churches having experienced growth and encouraging progress on a number of fronts. Towards the end of last year, the GPC elders began to explore more intentionally the pressing issue of leadership of the eldership team. Whilst Gus Hulley has done a superb work of leading the eldership team in the post-transition season following Rikki Decker, the church always knew that this would be an interim phase until a more full-time Lead Elder could take the helm. Gus has been ably supported by others who have served on the eldership team, being Dave Hobbs, Craig Roberts, Rupert Wilkinson and Dan Stewart- Smyth. The church has thrived around their leadership over the last 3 years and there have been many highlights and exciting areas of growth. However, with no obvious Lead Elder emerging, the leadership team has become increasingly concerned that the existing situation is unsustainable. Gus, in his interim leadership capacity, and Dave as the only elder in the office (and that on a part-time basis) have felt this strain most keenly as they have faithfully steered the course of the church. They have been constantly aware of their need for more visionary, directional and pastoral leadership involvement for the church to move forward strongly. Gus and Dave raised this leadership question with Scott Marques and Andrew Ellis. We began to discuss and pray together about it, looking for ways to bring strengthening in this situation. As we considered various options we began to become excited about the possibility of joining more closely not just as churches within a sphere - but potentially even merging to become one church with one leadership team. As we prayed and met regularly together as a group of four, we experienced remarkable unity of heart, vision and encouraging prophetic direction. We began to feel that these discussions were about far bigger issues than the precipitating leadership issue, and began to see that it could be God s intention to do something more significant through our combining of forces. A formative prophetic picture was described by Gus of a tapestry that had detail at close range, but as he looked at it from further and further away he saw it was part of a far greater picture with a far greater beauty than could be seen at first. He felt God saying that these discussions were about more than solving a specific leadership issue, but rather part of a greater interweaving of purpose that The Lord has designed for reaching the city, the nation and beyond. As prophetic direction was shared back to the respective eldership teams along each step of the process, the two teams became increasingly motivated for this direction. It became clear that we needed outside help because Scott s role in this process was moving from being an objective apostolic voice to being potentially the Lead Elder of a merged church.
We requested the assistance of Steve Tibbert who is an apostolic leader within our Newfrontiers family of churches. Whilst we have a number of such relationships in the UK and other nations, we thought Steve would be especially helpful because of his pre-existing friendship with many of the leaders involved and his specific experience in church mergers with the establishment of multi-venue meetings, now running 7 congregations on a Sunday. Steve has kindly made much of his time available and made a special trip in May, which has all assisted greatly. Other close friends and partners who have been tracking with the process have been Dave Holden (New Community Church, UK), PJ Smyth (GodFirst Church, SA) and Mbonisi Malaba (New Creation Church, Byo). As Steve became involved, he helped us to understand that there would be change and even sacrifice for both churches which we would need to press through in order to realize a larger purpose and vision. This confirmed an earlier prophetic picture we had received in the first stages of praying together. The picture was of two play-dough balls, one yellow and one blue, which combined to become green. We felt The Lord saying that this process of merger would change both churches into something new, and that it would be even more vibrant and effective. Steve also emphasized the importance of clear identity as this church is lead forward in the vision. He helped us to understand that we need to avoid a situation of one church, two identities. We realized that whilst both churches will change in this process of growth, the expression and outworking of this process would be different for both churches. For GPC it would mean no longer operating as GPC, becoming fully integrated into River of Life Church. For ROLE it would mean a significant stretching of leaders and members to complement the work at what would then become the Greystone Park venue as well as cover bases at what would then be the Eastlea venue. Exploring this two-fold process of laying-down and stepping-up for both leadership teams was a journey that involved much prayer and discussion as elders and wives. In the end it has been an amazing adventure of joining hearts, seeing vision and sensing The Lord s direction. We have come to a point where we have conviction and enthusiasm notwithstanding the costs and challenges that we should walk intentionally towards becoming one church by January 2015. Our vision statement is now enhanced, drawing from the very complementary starting point of both church s original statements, to reflect something of the vibrancy and significance that we sense for this new church situation. It is reflected as follows: Vision: To Glorify God By Extending His Kingdom Through planting & strengthening New Testament Churches Mission: To be a significant Antioch-type church, serving as an apostolic base demonstrating New Testament Church as a dynamic, gospel-centered, outward-looking community for the sending, receiving and equipping of the saints for works of ministry.
Frequently Asked Questions 1) How will the leadership structure of the new church work? In the immediate term, the current elders of River of Life Church (Eastlea) will be the elders of the merged church. This eldership team would lead the church until we are able to move into a more scalable leadership model that can facilitate growth as other sites and venues open up. It is likely that the scalable leadership framework would involve governing elders and site elders comprising the eldership team as a whole. It is anticipated that Gus Hulley would join the elders meetings initially and that he would be appointed as an elder in Feb 2015. To this end the current ROLE elders will initially lead the merged ROLE/GP in much the same way as they have led in the single-venue church meetings to date but with the more active involvement of the Exec Team to assist across the meetings. As the merged church develops they would envisage a leadership structure along the following lines for scalability: Governing Elders (and Trustees) Initially the ROLE elders Guarding, Guiding, Governing Responsible for Theological, Prophetic and Legal Oversight Gus Hulley anticipated to be appointed in Feb 2015 Executive Team Operations Responsible for Practical and Pastoral Strategy and Implementation - (Led by Jacob) Jacob Ngandu (Executive Pastor), Andrew Ellis (Senior Pastor), Dave Hobbs (Administrative Pastor) Scott Marques (Lead Elder) Meeting Host Teams Devotion / Doctrine / Direction / Discipline Responsible for Operational and Pastoral Activity at Meeting Level (Led by Scott Marques, Served by the Exec Team) GP morning (8.30am) Eastlea morning (9.30am) Eastlea afternoon (12.00pm) GP afternoon (2.00pm) GP evening (6.00pm) Host Teams Andrew & Sam Ellis Stu & Terri Knight Derek & Margit Landman Barry & Wendy Rawlings Roy & Chenai Chimanikire Jacob & Terumi Ngandu Abe & Rachel Gatsi Jacob Ngandu Abe & Rachel Gatsi Tongai Mahobele Brian Mutarwa Scott & Claire Marques Gus & Michelle Hulley Dave & Helen Hobbs These hosting teams will include additional hosting leaders as these teams are developed over the next couple of months in preparation for 5 services across 2 venues. Leaders in the GP morning are likely to include additional leaders moving from Eastlea, as well as Gus & Michelle Hulley, Dave & Helen Hobbs, Rupert & Nicky Wilkinson, Dan & Glenda Stewart-Smyth, Alois & Chido Chetsanga, Rephat & Mavis Nyarenda. There is the possibility of some GP leaders moving to the Eastlea venue. Leaders in the GP Afternoon will be developed once this meeting has been re-launched and established. Leadership teams for Eastlea Morning and Afternoon, and GP evening will be expanded from existing leadership teams. Site Eldership Teams will be developed from these teams as the meetings take shape in 2015 and beyond.
2) Will the logo change? Yes. We will update the River of Life logo and re-brand at both church venues to reflect River of Life Eastlea and River of Life Greystone Park. It is likely that many will refer to the two sites as Eastlea and GP which will be convenient as they are already referred to in this way in most instances. 3) What is the chronological roll-out? November 2014 2nd Nov Sharing vision and direction at Eastlea and GP. December 2014 14th Dec Final Celebration Service for Greystone Park Church, and shutdown for 1 month. Re-Branding, Refurbishment and Preparation for launch in Jan. January 2015 11th Jan Combined meeting at River of Life GP to commission the 5 services launching the following week. 18th Jan First Sunday of 5 meetings of River of Life Church across two sites. February 2015 Future Dave Holden appoints Gus Hulley an elder of River of Life Church Potential appointment of Site Elders later in the year 3) Why are there initially no former-gp elders on the eldership team of the merged River of Life Church? One of the most significant moments in our journey of exploring the potential merger was coming to understand that we want to avoid the pitfall of ending-up being one church with two identities. We have felt the best way to build one church and one identity was to allow the existing River of Life eldership team to take the reigns of the merged church for a season. We believe that this process will work together well to communicate and actualize the elements that both churches are letting go of and also stepping-up into. There will be a dying and stretching process for both as we press into new church scenario. Having said this, we would like Dave Holden or Steve Tibbert to appoint Gus Hulley as an elder of the merged River of Life Church during 2015. We anticipate that Gus will attend elders meetings while we await his formal appointment, and believe that this will be of help in chartering the early stages of the merged church. We expect the appointment of more elders will happen as the different meetings, in the different sites, take shape. These would include former ROL Eastlea members, former GP members, or indeed new members as we go forward. 4) What are the benefits of merging Eastlea and GP? We believe that this model of multi-venue, multi-meeting approach opens the opportunity to reach more people and mobilize more leaders, resulting in :- Enlarged services. Greater pastoral care. Bigger opportunities for growth. Greater opportunity for missions. Wider opportunities and support for existing ministries such as The Michael Project, Just Friends and the many other initiatives that these churches have been involved in. Greater impact for the Kingdom of God.
5) Where will the church offices be located? Each venue, both Eastlea and GP, will have pastoral and admin staff on site during the week to welcome people and to handle day-to-day issues. The executive team is due be housed at the River of Life GP venue. 6) What about the Money, Land and Buildings? As a merged church, we would have one vision, one leadership structure, one budget, one staff, one bank account, one legal structure. All the assets and liabilities of both churches would be stewarded at law by the governing elders, also acting as the trustees of the legal framework. 7) What should we pray for? We would ask for prayer that the process works out for the saving of many lives and the blessing and building of the body of Christ within both of these churches, the merged church, and indeed the city and nation. We see this as such a massive opportunity to demonstrate humility, servant leadership, unity and co-labouring purpose in Christ that we need in our local world and global world. Please pray for the leadership and the staff of both churches as they work out the details of a positive merger. 8) What have people said? I think it is a good move. I see huge opportunities for extending the Kingdom of God. I am a little sad to see GP cease to exist as an entity, but it is not about us building our kingdom, but what God is doing. Those wanting to serve God will be excited about this - Rikki Decker, Founder and retired Pastor of GPC. When I was at Together Sunday, and saw the interaction between the churches, it confirmed how right it was for GP to join with Newfrontiers (five years ago) and this (merger) is exciting Margaret Decker. I think that this merger is a marriage made in heaven Dermott Havenga, former elder of GPC. I am excited when God brings change and refreshing because He wants us to embrace change in our relationship with Him, as He moves us forward from one season into another - Jane Calder, founding member of GPC