Aqua Bay S.D.A Church History

• Background

  The church of Aquabay, as we know it now, started as a group of a few families that used to fellowship in Esikhawini H prior to the year 2003. These families were the: Mthuthimkulu, Mbuyazi, Ngubane, Mazibuko, Mota, and Ndlovu to mention a few.
  
  After seeing that the families traveling from Richards Bay to Esikhawini were increasing in number, a decision was taken to form a local branch in Richards Bay.In the year 2004 these famalies initially started by fellowshipping with the Coloured community of Aquadine SDA Branch, which was conducting their services at Aquadine Primary School.
  
  In year 2006 this group of families then moved to officially form their company meeting at Brackenham primary school. In year 2009 the group was formally organised (recognised) by the KNFC Conference as an official S.D.A church branch. The branch continued fellowshipping in the same premises until year 2010 with Brother S. Mbuyazi serving as an elder.
  
  In the same year 2010 the church relocated to Jawet building situated in Alton industrial area. The congregation continued fellowshipping at Jawet building until mid year 2016 with Brother Mthimkulu as the church elder.
  
  The church continued to grow in membership. New families joined the church like Munikwa family and more. Other elders that served the church included Brother Prosper Munikwa and Brother Sipho Mbuyazi.

• Further developments

  In year 2016 the church moved to the library in the CBD until September 2017. In October 2017 the church moved to the Civic Centre, Municipal building, until mid year 2018. The church relocated back to Aquadine Primary School mid year 2018 until year 2019. Brother Lucky Ngubane was the elder during this period.
  
  Our stay at Aquadine Primary School was cut short due the global pandemic called Covid 19. It was called Covid 19 due to the first case being detected and spread taking place from year 2019. For South Africa this global pandemic led to a national shutdown, where the government passed a law prohibiting mass gatherings.
  
  As time went on, the strict laws prohibiting gatherings were rescinded. People were allowed to gather, but adhering to strict social distance regulations including wearing of masks and frequent hand sanitisation.
  
  The church then moved to Easy Way Driving School in the year 2020 until present day. Different elders that have served the church during this period have been Brother Ngubane, Brother Mbuyazi, and Brother Nyalela. The incumbent elders for the year 2025 are brother M. Makoni assisted by brother Paulos Ndlovu.

• Aspirations

  • One can see from the nomadic history detailed above that this congregation is in need of a church building of its own, so that it can concentrate on the core mission of being fishers of men as commissioned in Matthew 28, Go ye therefore...
  • We need a structure that can allow us to accomodate a big number of people, and has space enough for diferrent age groups to conduct their services and activities without interfering with each other.
  • Currently spacious enough properties around Richards Bay are selling at no less than R1,7 million. It has been our priority to raise at least R1,8 million so that we can be able to purchase a property that meets our needs.
  
  

  It is for this reason that we kindly ask well wishers to assist us in raising this amount. We truly believe by God’s grace this is possible.