Pastoral Update

To All Participants in Fountain Vineyard

Hi Friends,

It’s been a year of changes and challenges!  This is true for us personally, and for Fountain Vineyard. It’s time for an update!!

Global Missions Team

In June I completed 5 years as coordinator for Vineyard Global Missions. My main task was to develop a network of 160 missional people into a variety of teams that collaborate in continental zooms and in-person capacities. This was a very enriching and stretching experience. I have been very ably succeeded by David Ruis from Canada and teams of continental leaders with whom we had collaborated over the years.

Our last task was for Colleen and I to participate in a South American Vineyard  Conference, in Brazil, in June. It was a vibrant experience to fellowship collegially with very special people. We were able to celebrate many developments with lovely missional friends and partnerships.

Vineyard SA

Colleen and I are grateful for the supportive partnership afforded us by Fountain Vineyard staff and members over these past 8 years where we served as National Directors for the Association of Vineyard Churches SA. To express our appreciation we are providing a Boeries lunch for all at Fountain on 20 September. 

We will formally hand over this leadership position to Andrew Christie at the National Conference in Centurion on 25 September.

Retirement/Stepping Aside

After 51 years in specific ministry roles and positions, 42 of them here at Fountain Vineyard, Colleen and I have felt the time had come to step aside from positional ministry. We look forward to a fresh season in our lives and that of our family and friends.

Succession

As you may recall on 28^th July we announced the decision by the majority consensus of  the eldership  to call Mark and Taryn Wesson to succeed Colleen and myself as Senior Pastor at Fountain Vineyard.

Mark and Taryn have led Mercy Vineyard in Cape Town for a little over 9 years. 

Mark and I are engaging in weekly conversations, toward a constructive succession. Mark is planning to visit us for about 9 days at the beginning of November to prepare for his leadership. They will then move to Gqeberha in early December and take over leadership from 1 January 2027. Colleen and I will remain on staff in supportive roles until 28 February, after which we will step aside to afford Mark and Taryn the space needed to implement their leadership.

Eldership

We have encouraged the current elders to stay on board into 2027 to help toward settling Mark and Taryn and enabling them to appoint leaders for the next season.

Finance

We have been inundated with extraordinary financial needs in recent months, including:

• Leaking roof and ceiling repairs

• Electrical Compliance work covering many years

• Supporting Eden Ridge church plant

• Zoning Compliance case at 15 Newcombe Avenue

• Storm water improvements in the car park

• Pending paving project

• Pending relocation costs for the Wessons

• Multiple mercy and missions needs

• Pending sound desk repairs

• Monthly shortfalls on tithe income

All of this amounts to close on R600k. Over the years God has shown Himself faithful and has honoured our gratitude-based tithe giving and unity. We are trusting Him to do it again!  We have always trusted the Lord for all these facilities and ministry enterprises. He has been so faithful in generosity!

Let’s stand together for all these things. The Lord is still the God of miracles.

“He who promised is faithful”. (Hebrews 10:23)

Our prayer is like that of Habakkuk:

“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.” (Habakkuk 3:2 NIV).

Personal

I am hearing the Lord drawing me to kindness in the midst of the challenges of our world in these days!

He reminded me of Micah 6:8

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Our hope and prayers are two-fold :

1. that we as a community would lean into the Lord more and more, learning  to abide in Him;

2. that Fountain would continue to be fruitful for the Kingdom of God, seeing lives changed, more baptisms and healings, Spirit-inspired generosity, freshly encountering the Lord in authentic worship, sharing in each other’s lives as we reflect Jesus to others.

Much love,

Dave and Colleen Pedersen

Senior Pastors