Who Are We?

We are a small local gathering of Christians who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. We use only the names given to believers in the New Testament: “Brethren”, “Saints”, and “Christians”, all of which are terms that describe people who are born again and therefore belong to Christ.  We gather together in the Name and to the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matt. 18:20, Acts 11:26, Col. 1:2).

We have no formulated creed but accept the whole Bible as the supreme and final authority of faith and conduct. The Word of God is our infallible guide in all things. (1 Tim. 3:16)

We observe, in simplicity, three important commands left by the Lord Jesus for His people:

  • Baptism of true believers in Christ (Matt. 28:19; Acts 8:38,39)
  • The Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-27) 
  • Preaching of the Gospel (Mark 16:15,16; Acts 13:37, 1 Cor. 9:16)

We have no minister, pastor or priest as a leader, but instead function under a group of local elders who respond to the leadership of God through the Holy Spirit. We have no other earthly organizational structure. Similar groups of believers in Christ, following this New Testament pattern, meet in all parts of the world.

What do We Believe?

We believe: 

  • In one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14) 
  • The Bible is the Word of God revealing His mind to us. 
  • The Bible is the Divine Authority for living.
  • Both the Old and New Testaments were inspired by God. 
  • The Bible is Divine and is God’s one and only book to the human race. (2 Tim. 3:15-16; 1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Peter 3:15-16; 2 Peter 1:21)
  • Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, and is truly God and truly Man. (Matt. 1:18, Phil. 2:5-8; Luke 1:35; Matt: 1:23)
  • Man was created in the image of God, without sin, but because of the sin of Adam, the whole human race fell and apart from Christ, is spiritually dead and lost. (Gen. 1:26; Rom. 3:23; 5:12)
  • At the Cross, Christ paid the full penalty of sin forever, and that any person who repents of their sins and, in faith rests upon that finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, immediately receives the forgiveness of sin and eternal life (John 3:16; 5:24; 19:30, 1 John 5:11-13)
  • God set His seal of approval to Christ’s work by raising Him from the dead. (Acts 1:3; 2:32-36, Phil. 2:9-11) 
  • All persons can know, even now: the forgiveness of their sins, God as their Father, the certainty of being in heaven and the possession of eternal life. All on the ground of faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 13:38,39; 1 John 3:1,2; John 3:36) 
  • The Holy Spirit is co-equal with God in all His attributes. He is sent by the Lord Jesus Christ from the Father to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement to come, to regenerate, indwell, guide, and teach the believer, and to empower him to live in victory over sin. (John 15:26; 16:7-14)  
  • All those who persistently reject Jesus Christ in this present life will throughout eternity exist in a state of conscious and endless torment in a place call Hell and finally the Lake of Fire. (Rev. 20:11-15; Matt. 25:46; John 3:18)
  • The Lord Jesus Christ is coming again personally for His own, raising those who have died believing in Christ, and changing the living believers, taking them all to be forever with Him. (1 Thess. 4:14-17; John 14:3; 1 Cor. 15:20-58)

Why are We Here?

The main reason why we are here is that the Lord Jesus Christ has not yet come to take away (Rapture) believers as foretold in the Bible: 1 Cor. 15:20-58, 1 Thess. 4:14-17.  Until this takes place, we are here to:

  • Fulfill the ‘Great Commission’ i.e., preach the Gospel as the Lord Jesus Christ commanded us. (Matt 28: 19,20)
  • Provide fellowship for all true Christians. Strongville Gospel Hall is a place where Christians can freely discuss, share, and practise the whole truth of the Scriptures daily.
  • Preach the Gospel freely in our area. Our objective is to help people find salvation in Jesus Christ, and not merely to increase membership. This includes the presentation of four important facts:
  • Man is lost and needs to be saved.
  • He cannot save himself.
  • The Lord Jesus Christ has provided salvation.
  • The Lord Jesus is able to save and to eternally keep all that put their trust in Him. (John 3:3; Acts 4:12; 1 Pet. 3:18; Heb. 7:25; Jude 24)
  • Teach believers to live as the Lord Jesus Christ directed.
  • Support the work of missions world-wide in the fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19,20).

About our Meetings

At Strongville Gospel Hall, we refer to our various gatherings as “meetings” as opposed to “services” or “gathering services”. We are non-denominational. We refer to our members, all of whom are people who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their own personal Saviour, as “the assembly” or “members of the assembly”. Participation by all in fellowship is encouraged as explained in the Scriptures. Everyone is welcome to attend any of the meetings as listed below.

Breaking of Bread Meeting: Sunday 10:00am

Most visitors will find this meeting unique. We have no officiating Minister. We meet in the same way as the early New Testament gathering. The members of the assembly are seated in a circle surrounding a table with emblems, (a loaf of bread and cup of wine), symbols of the body and blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The meeting is held according to Jesus’ request to do this “in remembrance of me” 1 Cor. 11:24,25. The men participate audibly and the ladies participate silently as directed by God’s Word. There is no prescribed program, but a theme often emerges in the singing of hymns, prayers and Bible readings. Often there is a time when one is led to consider the sinful nature of mankind, God’s holiness, and God’s love so perfectly displayed by the Lord Jesus Christ when He bore the judgement of our sin by dying a horrible death of crucifixion.

With thanksgiving and praise, we worship God the Father through the Holy Spirit for His mercy, love and grace. The focus is on the Son of God who came to the earth for the purpose of dying and paying the debt of sin for each of us. Thanksgiving is made for the emblems and they are then passed among members of the assembly. A triumphal song of praise, a short lesson, some announcements and a closing prayer will usually end the meeting.

Gospel Meeting: Sunday 7:00pm

The emphasis in this session is the salvation of those who have never trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. The program begins with singing and an opening prayer, then usually two of the local brethren give messages encouraging repentance of sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to obtain forgiveness of all sin and salvation.  Each week there is a different pair of speakers. Sometimes visiting evangelists speak.

Prayer and Bible Study Zoom Call:

Throughout history it has been shown that both private and collective prayer have resulted in God’s moving in grace and love. The assembly meets at this time to set our petitions before the God of heaven because He has asked us to pray. After an opening hymn, the men of the assembly pray for about half an hour and then a passage of scripture is read and its meaning is discussed.