{"id":2678,"date":"2021-01-27T07:16:20","date_gmt":"2021-01-27T07:16:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.advancemovement.com\/?p=2678"},"modified":"2021-01-27T07:16:22","modified_gmt":"2021-01-27T07:16:22","slug":"planting-a-church-during-a-national-lockdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.advancemovement.com\/es\/2021\/01\/27\/planting-a-church-during-a-national-lockdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Planting a church during a national lockdown"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In late March 2020, as the COVID-19 virus swept across the globe, the South African government implemented a strict national lockdown which went on to last through April until early May. The lockdown was one of the most severe implemented globally, shutting all businesses and restricting the movement of citizens to weekly grocery shopping trips. Exercise and outdoor activities were prohibited and all religious gatherings were banned indefinitely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Downtown Durban transformed into a ghost town on day 1 of the national lockdown<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Unaware of the impending lockdown, Gregory and Audele Cassim launched their much anticipated church plant three weeks before the lockdown became a reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Greg and Audele Cassim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Plans to plant Hope Church had been in the pipeline for two years. The idea gained momentum when Greg and Audele became a part of One City Church, lead by Stephen and Bronwyn Rothquel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greg explains, “Throughout the years I’ve been involved in youth and young adult ministry but there was always a sense of calling. I was part of a Christian rap group and met Steve who pastors One City Church on the music circuit. In late 2018 I joined his church and had a sense that the time to plant was coming soon. After some time in prayer and conversation with Steve we felt the right time to plant would be in 2020.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of his preparation to lead Hope Church, Greg has recently completed a Theology degree and enrolled for his Masters in Apologetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Greg Cassim and Steve Rothquel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I’ve had the privilege of knowing Greg for a number of years, and have witnessed his faithfulness to the Gospel. For a short period both Greg and Audele joined us at One City Church with a heart to plant a Church in Durban. It has been such a joy to see Hope Church emerge in the Montclair Durban area, and again to see the Gospel advance. Amazingly in its first year, regardless of Covid-19 restrictions the fruitfulness of this church has been so evident. We count it a privilege to know Greg and Audele and look forward to seeing their journey unfold.<\/em>
– Steve Rothquel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hope church has a diverse makeup, located in an under resourced area of South Africa’s third largest city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n