Church History

Constitution of Eastside Baptist Church

Eastside Baptist Church (EBC) was constituted in June 1985  by 21  founder

members under the leadership of Pastor Charles Whitson. Pastor Whitson, or

Uncle Charles as he was affectionately called by many, was a missionary of the Southern Baptist Convention who was sent to South West Africa (now Namibia) at the request of the Baptist Union of South Africa (BUSA) to establish churches.

God blessed EBC almost right away with a suitable property on the corner of

Hebenstreit Street and Mission Road (now Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Avenue) in

Ludwigsdorf. The first phase of the church’s building program was completed in 1987. Many hands have worked on the building since then, and EBC remains at this address.

Eastside Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Joachim Rieck

Pastor Joachim Rieck, or Jochie, was one of the 21 founding members of EBC. He graduated Cum Laude from the Baptist Theological Seminary in Cape Town, and was called to be the pastor of EBC in August 1989. He served in this role from his ordination January 1990 until his retirement in 2024.

The early years under Pastor Jochie were a turbulent time as the church was very loosely constituted with no doctrinal unity or identity. Pastor Jochie laboured to bring clarity to the church and in June 2001, the church finally adopted the 1689 Baptist Confession of faith and was reconstituted as a confessional, theologically reformed and evangelical Baptist church. In 2005, the church ordained its first elders, Colin Gibb, Pieter Slabber, and Eric Tordiffe.

EBC has steadily sought fellowship with like-minded churches and in 2004, we were involved in the formation of SOLA 5, a fellowship of Reformed Baptist churches across Southern Africa committed to the doctrines of grace and the five solas of the Reformation.

Eastside Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Frans Brits

After many faithful years of service, Pastor Jochie retired in 2024, leaving behind a legacy of gospel-centered preaching and shepherding. Pastor Frans Brits was called to serve as our new lead pastor, and under his leadership, we look forward to what God will continue to do in and through our church for His glory.