Our Story
Manie and Lindsay Lombard were serving on the leadership team of Craig Clark at Urban Life Church, Johannesburg, South Africa, when they responded to God’s call to establish a new church in Lusaka, Zambia. In June 2008 they held their first Sunday meeting as South City Church.
South City Church’s name was changed to Gospel Central Church on 30 May 2017. In Jan 2017 we started partnering with Four12, a movement of churches partnering together to advance the Kingdom of God.
Our Vision
At Gospel Central Church we love God, therefore we love people and are committed to sharing the Good News about Jesus in our communities, and the nations beyond. We are one church family that meets in different locations on Sundays to celebrate who Jesus is and what He has done for us, to encourage one another in our walk with Jesus, and to grow our understanding of our faith and of God. During the week, we “scatter” into our neighbourhoods and workplaces and meet in groups where we do life together in a messy pursuit of Jesus.
Leadership
Our church is lead by an eldership team with a Lead Elder captaining the team. The Lead Elder functions as a “first among equals”. The elders oversee all aspects of the church including setting doctrine, administering church discipline and determining the overall direction of the church. The elders are accountable to one another and to leaders from Four12 partnering churches. This includes those with Ephesians 4 giftings.
Gospel Central Church is part of Four12, a dynamic partnership of churches across the globe working together to Equip, Restore and Advance the church that Jesus Himself is building. We are compelled by love and driven by the revelation that we are “fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.” Eph 2:19-21.
What We Value
Gospel Centred
The Gospel is the foundation, the focus, and the power of everything we do. The Good News is that God is completely aware of our sin problem, and in and through the work of Jesus Christ, accepts us and changes us by the power of His Spirit. We have been saved from the penalty of sin (justification), we are being saved from the power of sin (sanctification), and we will be saved from the presence of sin (glorification). The Gospel is not just the A-B-Cs, but the A to Z of Christianity. The Gospel is not just the way we enter God’s kingdom, but the way we thrive within the kingdom. We are not saved through the Gospel and then forced to maintain our salvation through obedience, but the Gospel is the way we grow (Gal. 3:1-3) and are renewed (Col. 1:6).The same power that saved us from the penalty of sin also helps us obey God now and to live a holy life. This results in the understanding that, “We are more broken and sinful than we ever dared believe, and at the same time we more loved and accepted than we ever dared hope, because of Jesus”.
Community
Participating in a community is one of the best ways to encourage spiritual growth. It is a big deal when someone is ready to connect to community here at Gospel Central Church. Following Jesus will radically alter the trajectory of your life, but it does not happen in isolation. The Bible teaches that spiritual growth happens best through relationships. At Gospel Central Church, we grow in community.
Stewardship
As stewards we recognize that all we have belongs to the Lord and has been given to us by God to invest for His purposes. Believers share their material possessions for the promotion of the Gospel and to help those in need. Good stewardship stems from recognizing our relationship to Jesus Christ, but it also means recognizing our partnership in Christ’s enterprise on earth.
Partnership
As members of the body of Christ, we believe that God has given us different gifts and called us to work with one another to serve Him and advance His Kingdom (1 Cor 12:4-31). In a good partnership, both partners should equally share the benefits and the responsibilities. It wouldn’t be fair if one person took all the money and advantages while the other did all the work and paid all the expenses. Partners should share everything—both the good and the tough parts. They might have different roles, but they’ll be more successful if they each do what they’re good at and still support each other. Four12 Partners.
Our Core Beliefs
At the heart of our faith is a deep conviction that God has revealed Himself through His Word and His Son, Jesus Christ. Our core beliefs guide our lives, our worship, and our purpose. Here’s what we hold as foundational truths.
The Inspired Word of God
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired and living Word of God. They serve as the final authority for faith, life, and the governance of the Church.
The Trinity
We believe in one eternal God, revealed in three persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each fully God and equal in divine perfection.
The Birth of Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, coming to earth as both God and man.
Creation and the Fall of Mankind
God created mankind in His image, male and female. Through disobedience, sin entered the world, resulting in separation from God and spiritual death for all humanity.
Salvation Through Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ died a substitutionary death for the sins of mankind. Through His sacrifice, we are reconciled to God and receive eternal life.
Death, Burial, and Resurrection
We believe in the bodily death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which brought victory over sin and death for all who believe.
The Hope of His Return
We believe Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and will one day return to earth in glory to judge the living and the dead.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the personality and presence of the Holy Spirit. He regenerates, indwells, and empowers believers to bear fruit and operate in the gifts of the Spirit.
Accountability Before God
We believe that all mankind will stand before God on Judgment Day to give an account for their actions, words, and motives.
Remembering the New Covenant
We believe in the regular practice of the breaking of bread as a reminder of the new covenant established through Jesus Christ’s death for us.
Water Baptism
We believe in baptism by immersion for believers as a public declaration of faith.
New Life in Christ
We believe that all who repent of their sin and receive Jesus Christ as Lord are born again by the Holy Spirit and become children of God.
A Life of Holiness
All Christians are called to live lives of holiness, devotion, and service to Jesus Christ.
Priesthood of All Believers
We believe in the priesthood of all believers, that every follower of Jesus has direct access to God and is called to serve.