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Together we can do more On the 13 September 2009, Glenridge Church bid farewell to us, a motley group of 35 eager but

clueless budding church-planters. It was Jack Hayford who once said; "What we became we stumbled upon!" History was about to repeat itself. There was no blueprint, or a 10-point manual, which would guarantee success. All we knew was that we loved Jesus, and that we wanted to see the "leafy" suburb of Westville changed. The cry of our hearts; "Lord if your presence does not go with us, don't send us". Our dreams were simple. To plant a God-honouring, Christ-centered, Spirit-filled community. To set people free. To bring churches together huddling around commonalities, and of course, a deep aching desire to be a part of a grander story, something bigger than just another small family church in the Highway area. With the fragmentation of New Covenant Ministries International, we had to look elsewhere for this bigger adventure. Over the years there were a number of options that we as an eldership prayfully explored, but as we prayed that God would shut these doors if they were not part of His Sovereign plan, He did. At the same time as the Church on Route 5 story was unfolding, CityHill Church (then HCF) established a campus plant with a similar dream. Although the models were different, the heart and values were the same. At the end of 2013, Steve Rothquel mentioned to me that they were one click away from becoming an autonomous church. Our models were no longer that different. The words of Terry Virgo now became a possibility; Together we can do more. God had put something in my heart that wouldnt go away. Would it be possible for the two churches to become one? Could two dreams become one? Surely in the economy of God together we could do more! After much prayer, many meetings, copious amounts of coffee and an incredible excitement underpinned by a healthy dose of faith, Steve and I (in conversation with our elders) decided to replant our respective churches and give birth to one church in Westville. The name, a prophetic statement; OneCity Church. The writer of Romans tells us that righteousness, peace and joy is present in the Kingdom of God. For both eldership teams, in partnership with our diaconate, this has been true.God was about to set us off on a remarkable journey with righteousness, peace and joy as our point of departure. I believe in the importance of a lead elder, and for me asking Steve Rothquel to lead OneCity Church has been the easiest decision. I see him as a captain of thousands, a man that knows beyond a slither of doubt that he has been called to lead, and a man with a massive Gospel-centered vision. I would consider it a privilege serving on his team. Many years ago as the 1st XV coach at Westville Boys High School, my captain approached me and asked me if he could step down as captain as he just wanted to focus on his game. He went on to represent the Springboks in the 7s format. My heart the same. I just want to play the game God has called me to play and support my captain and teammates with everything I have. A few years ago I met Mark Driscoll and told him that I had just planted a church. He immediately asked me whether I had planted it to lead for the long haul, or was I merely pioneering something for someone else. At the time I was not sure of the answer. I now understand that although my years as the lead-elder have been 4 wonderfully spacious years of running under Gods blue skies and feeling His pleasure, my ongoing reluctance to lead has been God preparing me to lay down something that was never mine to keep. I was merely opening a door for another. I thank you for your support, partnership and friendship over the past few years, and look forward to journeying together in the new unfolding story, but now under the banner of OneCity Church. Hendan Wienand (6 April 2014)

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