philiprosenthal
07-19-2006, 02:29 PM
His People Grahamstown was founded by Nigel and Debbie Desmond. It started when a group from His People, Cape Town went on a short term mission to evangelise at Rhodes University Grahamstown. On returning from the mission, Nigel went on on a personal prayer retreat, and felt the Lord calling him to marry his girlfriend Debbie, and go to start a church there. She agreed. Initially, it was very tough and Nigel taught French part time to bring in income. They did not get much help, if any, from the Cape Town church. Bill Bennot of the Jo-burg church, did however, give some supportive advice. Eventually, the church built up strength and started a Crisis Pregnancy Centre in the town. Nigel then started a Christian Arts Festival as an alternative to the popular, but secular Grahamstown Arts Festival. Nigel then passed the leadership batton to Gareth Lowe and moved to East London to plant a new church there. Gareth Lowe is considered by some to be one of the most knowledgable His People pastors on Biblical Worldview.