Gary married Judi Nicholson, a graphic designer in 1994. Judi had grown up in Kokstad. They currently have 3 children. Rachel a primary school teacher in Sydney, Nicole a medical doctor and Caleb a final year architectural student.

In 1995 they discovered the old country Zig Zag hotel in the Shongweni valley which became Eagles Rest Mission. During the 1990’s there was a name change from Fremantle Road Christian Fellowship to the House of Prayer.

Gary as a young man had a vision to plant 30 rural churches. Our first Church plant in 1990 was into the Cato Crest informal settlement in Cato Manor, Durban. Then another at Bux Farm, Cliffdale, and Mansenseni. This was the beginning of our Pastors for Africa ministry serving rural churches and communities across the SADAC region of Africa.

In 2000 the old Church in Fremantle Road was sold as it only seated 120 people and was cramping the growth of the Church. For over a year the Malvern Children’s Home was home to the House of Prayer. During this time the Church tendered for the 4000 square metre railway property and were the only bidders so we bought the new Church site for R220 000.

This was followed by the re-zoning of the property and then the drawing of the new plans. Building began in November 2001 when the 30m x15m steel structure was erected. The whole Church was built on cash donations and was completed two years later.

Our name captures clearly who we are and comes from Isaiah 56:7 and quoted by Jesus in the Gospels. “My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” We have our greatest sense of destiny when we connect with the nations.

Over the years the Lord has added the most amazing people into our lives to help us walk fully into all that He has called us to.

We believe that His Church is a family. As we often say, “If Church is not family, then it is not Church.”

We are ordinary people who are very aware of the extraordinary call of God upon each of our lives. William Carey the Father of modern mission said, “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.”

We strongly believe in the “proper working of each individual part”. (Eph 4:16) We are not a Church of spectators but believe every member has an ‘assignment  from heaven’, ‘a ministry we have personally received from the Lord Himself. (Acts 20:24)

We often discuss what Jesus had in mind when He said, “I will build My Church and not even the gates of hell will be able to stand against it.”  (Matt:16:18) We want to be that kind of Church.

We have a passion to “grow the Church young”. Our goal is that half of the Church be under 30 years old and half over thirty years old. In Malachi  4:6  a sign of the end time Church will be that He will turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. We celebrate both young and old in our Church.

We read about the Divine Obligation in Romas 12:1-2. He died for us. We live for Him. We want to live lives fully surrendered to Him and His will. God first. We understand we are bought with a price and no longer belong to ourselves.

Discipleship therefore has both vertical and horizontal dimensions. The Great Commandment of Jesus spells this out clearly. Love the Lord with all your heart and love one another as I have loved you.

Jesus declared Himself the Light of the world and then said, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father” He then went on to say to His Church, ‘you are the light of the world.’ People must be able to see what Father God is like in us. What a huge mandate He has placed upon our shoulders,

One day while pondering the reason for our existence as a Church. He gave me the Original Intent. “To build a close community of like- minded people, who love and serve the Lord with all their heart, who are determined to make disciples of all nations and enjoy living life deeply together.” That in a nutshell describes what we are all about.

Matthew 20:28 Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life. If servanthood is above you, then leadership is beneath you. To be in authority you first need to learn to be under authority. We are not into title and position but getting the job done.

Leaders & STAFF

Seniors Leaders

Youth & Kids Leaders

Ephesians 4:16 “When each part is working properly, it makes the body grow, so that it builds itself up in love.” A foundational Scripture for us. Every member has a part to play. We want very member to know their assignment from God, the ministry they have received from the Lord. – Acts 20:24