About Us...

THE MINISTRY AND ORGANISATION OF THE CHURCH

Services

Worship Services are held each Sunday at 9.30 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. at the Church, corner of Gloucester Crt and Portcullis Drive, Willetton.

We encourage families to come and worship as families. To facilitate this a crèche is provided during the morning services.
There is also a Nursery Room - popularly known as the cry room - which is accessible from the front foyer. This room allows mothers (or fathers) to take their little children out of church should they become a little too unsettled. The room is equipped with a large window and loudspeaker, so that you can continue to fully participate in the worship service.

The Church Council

The Church Council is the ruling council of the local church, and is made up of the Pastors and the Elders.  The Elders are  elected by the congregation and usually serve for 3 year terms. 

As our purpose statement indicates, we see Evangelism, Teaching, Worship, Fellowship and Service as being the 5 “pillars” or core activities which will enable the church to continue the work of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, to win the lost, to build believers to maturity in Christ, and to send them into kingdom service.  It is the Church Council‘s role to ensure that the church does fulfil its God given purpose:

Pastoral Care

While the Church Council is ultimately responsible for the pastoral care of the congregation, it is a mutual responsibility. It is also our desire to see nurturing and caring taking place in the context of ‘Small Groups’.   Each elder is responsible for a group of people called a section.  Each elder is assisted by at least one pastoral carer, appointed by the church council.

Spreading the Good news about Jesus…

We are people who are pretty excited about what Jesus has done for us, and how He has changed our lives.  So naturally, we are pretty keen to tell others about Him, and how He might change their lives too!  To that end we have a couple of things going…

Mission Support Group

This small group has been delegated by church council to promote mission awareness, and to decide which mission projects our church will support, with a  special view to choosing projects that our members can become involved in. In India our church currently supports 2 community development workers among the Korku people of Central India through the ministry of Deepgruh Foundation (Rev Prabhakar Salway); we are continuing to fund housing in a leper community in Dharmapuri in South India. We also support Lukas and Barbara Butler of Christ for All children, in their children’s ministry in northern WA., along with our denominational mission work in the Solomon Islands.

Evangelism Explosion

This training course is provided to equip people to share the gospel with confidence by providing class room and on the job training.  A children’s version, known as Kids EE is also provided.  

Family and Friends Services

These services are held to give you the opportunity to invite people who are not so familiar with Christian worship.  The Family and Friends services are held several times a term, and are slightly less formal than the usual worship services.  They always contain a simple gospel presentation.  These services are usually held at 6.00 p.m.

Family Support Worker

As a church community, we put a high value on families, for we see families as the main unit of not only society, but also the church. Our Family Support Worker conducts the Growing Kids God’s Way and other parenting courses, such as Prep for Parenting, and is available for advice on family and parenting matters.  Anyone wishing to access any of these parenting resources, or anyone seeking counsel with baby matters, or issues related to bringing up children, should feel free to avail themselves of her services.

Prayer

Church Library

Reading good Christian books can help us to maintain our spiritual growth.  The church library, housed in a small room near the front entrance of the church, carries quite a range of good Christian literature ‑from children’s videos, books and novels to books which help us understand more about the Bible, our faith and practical Christianity.  One of the library team is in attendance each Sunday morning.  Our librarian is  happy to help you find books to suit your interests.  Books can be returned during the week by placing them in the return box on the bottom shelf of the library book case. The Library is available for ALL members, children and regular visitors.

Financial Contributions

Congregational Meetings

Several congregational meetings are held each year.
Congregational meetings serve to give opportunity for more effective communication between Church Council and the congregation, thus allowing a greater degree of congregational participation in the decision making process.

The Diaconal Team

The Diaconal Team is made up of the deacons and the Share and Care Ladies. Their concern is to help those in need whatever their circumstances - within the congregation, and in the wider community. As Jesus says: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me", Matthew 25:40.

The deacons are responsible for leading the Diaconal ministry by:

• responding to needs drawn to their attention by the Pastoral Care Team members
• informing the congregation of areas of need locally and further afield
• encouraging the congregation to give support to and participate in selected projects both at home and abroad.

Share and Care

This is a team of ladies which offers emergency assistance to Church Families in need, by the following means:-

• provision of meals
• assistance with housework
• assistance with child minding
• home and hospital visits during sickness.

Our History
 

A brief History of our local church

It was on the 3rd July 1983 that the Reformed Church of Willetton began with its first worship service held in Rostrata Primary School under the auspices of the church council of the Perth congregation.   The people who committed themselves to this new project were made up of 58 communicant members, and 55 baptised members, a total of 113.  On 23 Sept. 1984 it became an independent congregation within our denomination, and Rev. W. Bosker was its first Pastor, commencing to serve on 1st. Dec. 1985.

The church soon out grew the school facilities, and after much hard work, on 2nd. Sept. 1989 the present church facilities were formally opened.  Shortly after, Rev Bosker accepted a call to serve in Canberra.  while the congregation was without a pastor in 1990, the Lord continued to bless the church with continued growth. 

During 1990 the manse was built adjoining the church, and an additional meeting room was added to the church.  In those first 6 years, the number of members more than doubled.

In January 1991 Rev Peter Abetz arrived to take up his call as Pastor of the Willetton congregation.  Because of continued growth, and the difficulty of fitting everyone into the building, in 1994 the decision was made to plant a church in Yangebup.  The first service in Yangebup was held on May 14th  1995, and was attended by over 50 people.   Late in 1995  Peter Smit was called to serve in a team ministry with primary responsibility for the Yangebup Group. He arrived early in 1996. During 2001 the Yangebup congregation became financially self supporting, and is now an independent congregation  within our denomination.

In light of the increasing administrative duties undertaken by our ministers,  in late 1996 the congregation agreed to the creation of a 15 hour per week position of Church Office Worker.  This position was filled in February 1997 with the appointment of Mrs Susan Pol. 

In 1998 the congregation endorsed the proposal to have Chris Bongers serve as our part time (15 hours/week) Youth Worker. He continued in this role until Dec 2000.  In February 2001 the congregation called Clinton Berends to serve as second pastor.  Both pastors share in the preaching, and Pastor Abetz has primary responsibility in the area of administration, outreach and pastoral care, while Pastor Berends takes primary responsibility for the youth ministries.

In 2002 the front of the  manse was converted to offices, with the rear being used for creche and small group meetings.

Sadly in Mid 2005, Pastor Clinton Berends received a call to Redlands CRC in Qld where he is now currently serving.

Sensing a need to cater for the rather large influx of South African migrants, Willetton CRC in conjunction with a number of South African families and pastors have sought to plant a new church with a particular focus on outreaching to new families settling in Perth. As this church is not geographically set as yet, it was decided to name this church Grace Christian Reformed Church and Pastor Peter Abetz has taken on a part-time ministerial role within the church.