top of page
CCP%20logo%20and%20slogan%20strip_edited
NT%20papyrus_edited.jpg

 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel,

because it is

the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes..."

Romans 1 : 16 NIV

What we believe

Who are we and what are our distinctives?

1.   We are a family that loves God.

Our love for God is why we exist as a church. Our love for Him and our response to His great salvation in Jesus Christ is expressed in our love for His Word, His Church and His mission.

2.   We are a family that loves His Word.

As expressed in our motto ‘Your word above all things’, the Bible occupies a central place in our denomination, REACH South Africa.  At Christ Church we read and preach from the Bible every week in our services and in our weekly Bible study groups. Scripture and Scripture alone is the standard by which all our teaching and conduct must be measured.

We are a protestant church, which means we stand for the following: Scripture Alone, Justification by Faith Alone and the Universal Priesthood of all Believers. We believe that every Christian has the right not only to read the Bible in their own mother tongue, but also to take part in all areas of the running of the Church. We are opposed to the hierarchical system which puts the authority of the Church in an exclusive priesthood and makes ordained priests the necessary mediators between God and the people.

We uphold the teaching of the priesthood of all believers, believing that the church can only be effective in evangelism and mission if it trains and empowers every believer for gospel ministry.

Anchor What we believe

3.   We are a family that loves His church.

We are a family of believers that hold firmly to the five points of doctrine which lie at the heart of the Reformation – grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, scripture alone and to the glory of God alone.

We are Reformed in that we embrace and articulate the great biblical insights taught by Luther, Calvin and the other reformers. We are a church that often uses confessions of faith to express the teaching of the Bible. We hold to the truths of these three creeds, namely the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed and what is commonly called the Apostles’ Creed, because they reflect and express the great doctrines clearly taught in the Bible.

Our church can be called a covenantal church, because it emphasises God’s one single covenant with his people, promised to Abraham and fulfilled in Jesus Christ alone. This covenant is not simply with individuals but with families. We therefore practise the baptism of infants of believing parents as well as the baptism of adults who are new believers coming to faith.

We are also a church that values it’s Bishops as an ancient and well-tried form of ministry, agreeable to Scripture (though not actually required by Scripture). All REACH South Africa’s Bishops are viewed primarily as pastors and teachers.  The ministry of women in the church is vital, but it does not require them to be ordained as Presbyters or Bishops. The proposal to admit women as Presbyters or Bishops would be a denial of the headship of the man, as taught by the New Testament.

We are a church that believes each Sunday service will be congregational and will include the confession of sin, praise and thanksgiving, prayer and the reading and preaching of God’s Word. We also believe in Christian community. We encourage regular fellowship and interaction throughout the year. We love His church.

4.   We are a family that loves His Mission.

We are evangelistic and missionary in our outlook. It is our aim ‘to take the gospel to every man’s front door’ and to bring all people under the instruction and Lordship of Jesus Christ. What makes us Evangelical? We are evangelical because of the absolute supremacy we assign to God’s Word, the understanding and importance we give to the doctrine of human sinfulness and corruption, the absolute importance we place on the work and office of our Lord Jesus Christ and the salvation He has secured for mankind.

 

We assign a high place to the inward work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of man. We place importance on the outward and visible work of the Holy Spirit, seen in the life, conduct and behaviour of every believer in overcoming the world, the flesh and the devil.

If you would like to find out more about Christ Church Paarl, please feel free to contact us as we would love to answer your questions and get to know you better.

ABOUT REACH SA - A Brief History

Christ Church Paarl is a member of the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa (REACH SA). The denomination has been conducting services in South Africa since the late eighteenth century.

When in 1833 an Anglo-Catholic Bishop was appointed to lead the Church of England, there were those who preferred to follow the Reformation principles and teachings of the Church of England. Thus in 1870, when Bishop Gray formed the Church of the Province of South Africa (CPSA), these evangelicals remained true to their heritage. They later adopted their own constitution in 1938.

This Constitution enshrines the Reformed Protestant, and Evangelical Faith handed down by our forefathers.

Today REACH SA is making an increasing impact on the spiritual life of this part of Africa. We have congregations amongst all sections of the community. As a denomination we are involved in social care projects such as care for AIDS patients, education and poverty relief. We are also actively involved in worldwide missions. Together with groups of similar persuasion, we are endeavoring to present the evangelical voice in South Africa.

Reach logo strip.jpg

Meet our Pastors

 

Trevor Wecke: Trevor worked in telecommunications for 26 years before studying at George Whitefield College and entering ministry. After serving at Christ Church Welkom for 2 years, Trevor and Jill were called to Christ Church Paarl where they have faithfully served since 2005.

Trevor is married to Jill and they have four children and five grandchildren. Apart from sharing Jill's love of nature, Trevor is also an avid sailor.

Jill, Trevor
and daughter Emmy

Wecke 2 copy.jpg

Solanga Mkiva: Solanga also graduated from George Whitfield College. After graduating, he served at St.Stephens in Claremont and then St.James in Port Elizabeth. Solanga is married to Lu and they have two children. He started ministering at Christ Church Paarl in 2019 where he and Lu have since been joyfully serving. Being quite a sports enthusiast, you will find him enjoying a tennis match or a game of snooker in his free time.

Solanga, Lu
and the boys Solanga jr. and Khuze

IMG-20210510-WA0002_edited.jpg
bottom of page