1. Meeting with Senior Pastors of the Church
The vision of a church is the most powerful system through which growth—both in membership and spiritual maturity—can be effectively shaped and sustained. It is not merely a statement, but a living, guiding framework that influences the direction, culture, and purpose of the ministry.
The Pre-Workshop Meeting is a strategic session conducted specifically with the Senior Pastors of the church—typically the lead pastor and his spouse. This meeting serves as a foundational step before the full Church Portal Workshop is introduced to the wider leadership and congregation.
Purpose of the Pre-Workshop Meeting
The main objective of this pre-workshop engagement is to ensure that the vision is fully understood, embraced, and actively driven by the core visionaries of the church—the Senior Pastors. Vision implementation is most successful when it flows from the top down. If the Senior Pastors are passionate, consistent, and intentional about the vision, it will naturally cascade through every layer of the church, embedding itself into the hearts and practices of the congregation. The members will then rise up as vision bearers, championing and advancing the work of the ministry.
Why This Meeting Matters
When the Senior Pastors own the vision, it becomes the anchor of every department and ministry group. Whether it’s a youth event, a women’s fellowship, a men’s gathering, or any other church activity, the vision must be at the center of planning and execution. Each meeting, outreach, and initiative should be aligned with two primary outcomes:
- Soul Winning
- Discipleship
This approach ensures that the church operates with intentionality, unity, and purpose—producing not just members, but committed disciples who carry and multiply the vision.
2. Who Founded Church Portal?
Church Portal was birthed by a group of young South African university graduates who were deeply concerned about the growing crisis of youth unemployment in the country. Driven by a shared burden and vision, they sought to create a solution that not only addresses joblessness among young people but also empowers them through spiritual growth, education, and economic opportunity.
Recognizing the need for practical support, they reached out to black and white born-again South African business leaders and entrepreneurs, inviting them to participate in the initiative by channelling job opportunities through the platform. These business partners were encouraged to prioritize qualified youth from the Church Portal network where possible. In addition to employment, the involvement of the business community was also strategic in providing:
- Mentorship for aspiring young entrepreneurs
- Access to funding for innovative business ideas
Who Makes Up the Church Portal Team?
Church Portal is more than just a job platform—it is a collaborative, multi-dimensional Christian initiative. Its development team includes:
- University students and graduates
- Academics and professors
- Theologically trained individuals
- Christian professionals from diverse industries
This academic and professional diversity was intentionally designed to establish a strong think-tank—a forum of Christian intellectuals and innovators—committed to building a high-quality, forward-thinking digital space for believers.
The team is currently working on a range of key resources and initiatives, including:
- Believers’ training manuals
- Christian business development materials
- University-level skill-building programs with a focus on hi-tech
Neutrality and Spiritual Integrity
To maintain spiritual balance, academic rigor, and neutrality, the Church Portal team has made a conscious decision not to involve church pastors in the platform’s direct development processes in South Africa. Instead, the spiritual and theological content is curated by qualified university lecturers and trained theologians—ensuring that the material is both spirit-filled and theologically sound, without denominational bias.
This approach allows Church Portal to remain a unifying and empowering tool for the broader body of Christ—focused on equipping, connecting, and uplifting believers across.