Krugersdorp Methodists welcome new minister
The new Methodist Church minister Claire Banks says that God is still very much working in our lives and we need to turn back to Him.
Claire Banks, the new Minister for the Methodist Church, said that she expected the West Rand community to be welcoming but they have gone above and beyond to make her and her family feel welcome.
The 50-year-old Claire who originally hails from Johannesburg was in Pietermaritzburg and Port Elizabeth in seminary and has now returned. She joined the West Rand Seminary in December 2022 and has three societies that fall under her – the Krugersdorp CBD Methodist Church, the Noordheuwel Methodist Church, and the Princess Methodist Church.
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“The people here are lovely and amazing. We have solid leaders here – a good team. I believe church should be a team or community thing,” she said.
Although Claire was not always in the ministry she was in market research for many years but said that slowly but surely God’s call became louder. Eventually, she could not ignore it anymore.
“I gave up my and started working for the church. My husband also recognised that he could not stop me. He said he could not stand in God’s way.”
She then became a local preacher, took exams, and did the screening. She explained that it was a seven to nine year process and in September 2022 she was ordained.
Claire has four children, two 17-year old’s, a 16-year-old, and a 10-year-old, and explained that children are her passion. She loves the children’s church.
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She wants to take the first couple of months to see, listen and first discern the needs of the congregation and community.
“I am not in a hurry to change anything. I first want to listen and see where there is a need to get involved in the community. We are already discussing several projects.”
If there is one message she would like to share with the community it would be, “God is still God. God is still very much involved in our lives and community. No matter how dark it gets, God is still with us and powerful. Often we lose the light because of the darkness. God still sees and acts. We need to trust Him. He is still powerful. I can attest that God always comes through.”
She added that we need to encourage each other not to lose hope and faith. That we need each other and if we truly want to see a difference we need to turn back to God and stand together.
