Do you desire to see more non-Christians in your community come to faith and become part of a local church? According to Rev. Musawenkosi Ntinga, executive director of the Gauteng Alliance, church planting is the answer. 

Research cited by Tim Keller suggests that new churches are significantly more effective at reaching non-Christians than established congregations. “This is because a new plant is forced to not only attract Christians but also engage the community holistically,” explained Ntinga. 

A Bold Vision for Gauteng

The Gauteng Alliance was born out of a desire to plant churches. Their vision is ‘To collaborate generously for Kingdom growth in all of Gauteng’. 

“Church-planting is at the heart of what we want to do. We want to equip and resource the planting of healthy churches.”

The Alliance functions as a collaboration of various like-minded churches in Gauteng with a vision to work together for Kingdom growth and Gospel impact in the Province and further afield. 

The Alliance works to:

1. Assist those interested in church planting 
2. Identify, train and equip church planters

“When these things are done well, it leads to Gospel transformation,” said Ntinga.

Equipping the Next Generation of Church Planters 

The Alliance offers a 1-year residency for those desiring to plant a church. They effectively ‘buy’ the planter for 3 days a week from the sending church, training them for the task ahead and placing them within a community of other potential planters sent out to various sectors of society. 

“We want to remove the burden from the local church to do all the equipping of the planter.”

The Alliance also provides support to the local sending church as they begin a new journey to assist the planter. 

“This helps the planter to plant with more collaboration in the city. They can also be shaped by other planters who are part of the cohort.”

“Church planting can be a lonely journey. Planters feel that no one relates to them… This issue is immediately resolved through the community of people doing this together.”

Churches Already Bearing Fruit 

Ntinga explained that the Alliance was created to address the challenge of healthy churches that want to plant being delayed due to a lack of time or resources to devote to planting. 

“It is rewarding to see churches with a desire to plant move into action and see plants bearing fruit for the Gospel.”

Since its inception, the Alliance has helped 25 churches to be planted. 

They have assisted REACH churches including Khanya City Church, led by Rev. Sinethemba Hliso and planted out of Hope Church, and more recently, Redemption Church Mbombela, led by Rev. John Mangwiro and planted with the support of Christ Church Blairgowrie. 

Mpho Staat of Christ Church Leondale completed his residency last year with the plan to plant in the Katlehong township this year. They are currently holding prayer meetings and community engagement in the area. The plant is awaiting a temporary structure from which to hold services.

Rev. Lwandiso Dlokweni from REACH East London also took part in the Gauteng Alliance intensive programme. Rev. Quentin van Rooyen from Cross Central Church Parow also took part in their incubator. 

Encouragement Through Community 

Reflecting on his own journey to plant Christ Central Soweto, Ntinga said he is thankful for the camaraderie fostered with fellow Gauteng churches. This camaraderie is what inspired him to become involved with the Alliance a few years later.

“I was amazed by the community of pastors who wanted to help and support me in my plant. There is a sense of community in doing this together. In my case, Christ Central Soweto was not just Hope Church’s plant, but a number of churches within Gauteng were rooting for this plant to succeed.”

If your congregation is considering planting a new church, or if you would like to learn more about how the Gauteng Alliance equips and supports church planters, visit www.gautengalliance.co.za or email Ntinga at musa@gautengalliance.co.za.