To engage members and the wider community with the gospel of Jesus Christ and so give them the opportunity to respond to Him personally, to be ‘put right’ with God, to become part of His Church and to begin living the Christian lifestyle.

The objectives of this commission are primarily to:

• Initiate ministries to achieve an evangelistic objectives
• to keep the call of evangelism and mission before the whole congregation
• to establish effective ministries to draw new members into God’s Kingdom and this congregation.

To provide opportunities for and to encourage members to grow as disciples of Christ, equipping them for ministry to others.

This commission looks at :

• Various aspects of Bible Study, Home Groups and programs that support these. It facilitates the creation of groups as needed, helping find ‘homes’ for people in groups and also considers or provides advice on the various material that can be used or is available
• Leadership development and resources
• Organization of retreats, workshops and other opportunities for members to deepen their Christian walk and experience.

Preparation and nurturing of those requiring integration into the church.

To provide opportunities for members and prospective members to grow in their relationship with one another, other Christians and with God

This commission looks to co-ordinate home-based Bible Studies within our own congregation.

The Westville Methodist Church subscribes to the desire that everyone should be in a Bible Study group. After all, isn’t that what Jesus effectively did with his disciples? Meet regularly for study, debate and application of belief. Remember the story about the vine and the branches in John 15.

There are some 20 bible study groups that meet from Monday to Thursday in private homes and some in the church buildings. The number of people in each bible study group varies, but is usually between 8 and 16 members. Most bible studies meet in the evening or early evening, but there some that meet during the day. There is thus an opportunity and a time to suit just about everyone!

The object of a bible study group is, as the name suggests, to study the bible. The topics to be studied are decided by the group, but once a year the entire church is encouraged to follow the same theme during the Times of Refreshing season in August and September. By meeting every week the group members  get to know each other personally, and are thus able to support each other in life’s up and downs.

To develop and nurture in Westville Methodist Church an attitude of loving care, warmth and welcome, and to enable members, so called, to be involved in caring ministry to others

This commission looks to strengthen infrastructure that is needed to be effective. Some of the areas of ministry include:

• Care ministries (Hospital and home visits, care bouquets)
• Support groups such as Samaritans, Moms’ groups, funeral service teas
• Communication amongst the membership
• Prayer ministries
• Improving personal contact with members (Operation Friendship etc)

To facilitate and conduct effective and relevant Christian programs, ministries and activities in order to evangelize and disciple young people and young adults.

This active commission together with a dedicated team of leaders is concerned with ministries of Junior Church, Teen Worship, Youth Groups, Cross Roads and Confirmation.

This commission focuses on:

• Awareness and sensitivity to youth needs and ministries
• Training and nurturing of young people for leadership
• Oversee the various youth ministries including camps
• Develop new ministries and integrate youth into the church
• Foster good relations with other churches’ Youth Ministries

To confront people with the love and compassion of Jesus through our faith and work, by involving members in being His ears, eyes, hands and feet in doing it as unto Jesus

This active commission and our church sends its tithe to numerous outreaches. This commission continues to look to the concerns of the needy and brings these to the attention of the congregation. It has accepted that there is a need for us to become ‘a serving church’ and not only ‘a giving church’. Their work is best described as:

• Care in action (regarding the social needs of people)
• Administering Church programmes of support (financial and other)
• Co-ordinating, managing and initiating opportunities for practical compassion ministries
• Developing initiatives to inform the congregation about social issues.

To manage all matters relating to lay staff and administration of the church’s operation

The Executive members of our church have joint responsibility for the administrative functioning of our church office, its staff and procedures. This includes the supervision of the church complex facilities, housekeeping and the care of all the assets. This commission needs to constantly be alert to the changing needs of people and the impact of technology. Objectives are:

• Office effectiveness
• Supervision of church facilities
• Security matters of the Church
• General “housekeeping” functions.

Should you be interested in participating in one of these commissions, please contact the church office or person overseeing the commission.

Principles

Finances of our church are not just a matter of rands and cents. There are over 1500 references to finances in the Bible. In the Gospel according to Mark in Chapter 12 we read that Jesus observed many people giving lots of money. He sees a poor widow giving every last cent she had. He then says to his disciples: What is important when one gives money to the church is not to only give from what we have spare of our riches. We are called to give on the basis of realising that everything that we have is not because of our own doing, but as a result of the talents that God has given us to be able to earn money. The apostle Paul also tells us in the letter to the Corinthians that “when we give, we should give what we have decided in our heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion – for God loves a cheerful giver.”

On a very practical basis, when we go about managing our monthly finances, we may find it hard to make ends meet. It may thus be very difficult to give as much as we would like to the Church. However, sacrificial giving, based on biblical principles and on the grace of God, is a sign of one’s love in Jesus and his work that is carried out in our congregation and in all spheres of life.

The Finance Commission is committed to all of these values.

Most of us will probably admit that finances can be a sensitive topic to talk about. The congregation has entrusted it’s finances to the Executive, the Finance Commission and Administrator of this congregation. The Finance Commission is aware of the fact that this trust that people have in it is something that cannot be earned overnight. It is something that is earned with time as we apply the principles and values upon which our work is based.

Objectives

to serve our Lord in word, deed and sign
• the Mission of our congregation is our guideline, i.e. to Know our Lord Jesus as saviour, to Grow in his likeness, and to Show the love of God -  through the power of the Holy Spirit;
to act as good stewards in accounting for the finances of our Church
• the parable of the ten servants (as we hear in Luke 19) who were commissioned to look after their master’s money whilst he was away, is a guideline for us;
to assist anyone who wishes to talk about:
• any issue on managing one’s personal finances;
• any issue that will help to better understand the Church’s finances; and
• what the Lord expects or requires of us regarding our finances.

Functions

The Finance Commission meets monthly to review the monthly management accounts that are prepared by the Administrator. These accounts are compared to the budget that is prepared annually and approved by the congregation at its Annual General Meeting. The monthly review is then also presented to the Executive at its monthly meeting. There is thus a sound process, we believe, in which the planned giving and cash collections from everyone who worships at this congregation are accounted for and managed. We are committed to being open and transparent on all financial matters relating to this congregation.

For further information, please contact the church office on 031 2665222.

To maintain and develop the properties for which Westville Methodist Church is responsible

This commission acts as the local Trust Properties Committee and is responsible for the care and maintenance of the Jan Hofmeyr Road complex and three manses. This includes safety standards and the church inventory. Key focal areas include:

• Effecting all building and property maintenance and improvements
• Ensuring safety standards are maintained
• Ensuring manses are adequately maintained and liaising with the Circuit on this as necessary
• Oversee garden maintenance and improvements
• Church inventory.

The primary function of the Properties Commission is to ensure that the property pertaining to Westville Methodist Church (land, buildings, parking area and the gardens) is adequately maintained and kept in a reasonably clean and presentable condition. Allied to this is to ensure that all electrical and plumbing facilities are in a serviceable condition and that all ancillary furniture, fixtures and fittings, including fire equipment and air conditioning units, are serviced regularly and suitably maintained.

To assist with this function, and to save costs as and when necessary, a major proportion of work is completed “in house”, with the members of the Properties Commission linking up with various members of the congregation and completing the necessary task at hand. Regular Work Parties are co-ordinated, normally on a quarterly basis, and while the primary objective is to attend to ongoing maintenance, a secondary and very important aspect is ongoing fellowship and interaction between various members of the congregation.

The Properties Commission meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month to review and discuss ongoing maintenance matters.

We are always looking for willing hands to assist with ongoing maintenance, especially during the week when a problem arises and an odd job needs to be done.

Should you want to get involved either in the Properties Commission or with assisting on a Hands-On basis, please contact the church office.