Central Baptist Church
Where the Word of God is Central
Where the Word of God is Central
While we are a Baptist Church, which holds to a congregational form of church government, we believe that God has appointed two offices to serve the church in leadership. The biblical requirements for those appointed to these offices is clearly laid out in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. We are committed that only biblically-qualified individuals should fill these offices.
The biblical requirements for the office of pastor are found in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9. In the Bible, the terms “pastor,” “elder” and “overseer” (or “bishop”) are used interchangeably to describe the same office. The office of pastor is reserved biblically for biblically qualified, constrained and called men.
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
(1 Timothy 3:1–7)
At present, CBC has two elders.
Karabo Samuel Msiza is the pastor-teacher of Central Baptist Church in Rustenburg, where he has served since July 2017. Karabo graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor of Theology at Christ Baptist Seminary in Polokwane. He formerly served as associate pastor of Modimolle Christian Church in Modimolle. He is married to Nkhensani (Khensi).
David Nyoni serves with Karabo as an elder of Central Baptist Church. He joined the eldership in late 2018. David is married to Moreblessing and together they have four children.
Deacons are church members who have been appointed to serve the body in practical ways, thereby allowing the elders to give themselves fully to the task of prayer and the ministry of the word. By serving the body in a biblical way, deacons reduce murmuring in the body and thereby allow it to grow (see Acts 6).
The Bible clearly delineates what is required of those who will serve as deacons.
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
(1 Timothy 3:8–13)
At present, two church members fulfil the role of deacon at CBC: Wilbert Gwadzoka (married to Maria) and Willem Odendaal (married to Liezl).