About us
The story, beliefs, and heartbeat of First Baptist Church Southgate — Phoenix, South Africa.
We are not a perfect church, but we labour, by God’s grace, to be a healthy one — loving God’s Word, one another, and the world He sent His Son to save.
This is us
We are a Jesus-centred, Bible-believing family. We believe worship is a lifestyle — the song we sing as we reach out to those in need. We are more than an organisation; we are brothers and sisters in one household, sharing joys and burdens and praying for each other. We are on a mission to build His house, for His fame, in His world.
“To go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” — Mark 16:15
Our story (1976–2019+)
December 1999–December 2019 marked 20 Years of Grace on our present site — a milestone we chronicled in our church newsletter. The fuller account is available as a PDF: 20 Years of Grace — December 2019 (PDF) (editor: Tiffany Jade Naidu).
Roots in Phoenix
The year 1976 was significant for Indian families moving into Phoenix, while nearby areas such as Springfield and Sea Cow Lake faced flooding. Brother M. Joshua of Sea Cow Lake Baptist Church, passing through Phoenix, noticed a wayside Sunday school. That led Sea Cow Lake Baptist Church to start a Sunday school in the home of Mr & Mrs Jugdeo with about 20 children — “but by the grace of God.”
By the leading of the Holy Spirit, a cottage meeting was held in the home of Mrs Peters in Stonebridge — the foundation of the body of Christ now known as First Baptist Church (FBC).
“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” — The Great Shepherd, Matthew 16:15 (as quoted in our church history)
Early moves
The first services began with four families. As the Lord grew the congregation, the church met in a tent near Drawbridge Close (flats of Mr Chetty), then in Bro George’s yard in Stonebridge, a classroom at Clayhaven Primary, stables at Newcottage, and Room 27 at Daleview High School — for many years — before God enabled the next step.
Building in Southgate
“Then I answered them… The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build.” — Nehemiah 2:20
The church was led to purchase the current property in Southgate in 1992 from NBS Devco — by the grace of God. After planning delays, the building project ran from April 1999 to December 1999. The building was opened on 19 December 1999. Joseph Naidu was called as under-shepherd of the flock.
What we believe
We hold with Charles Spurgeon that “it is the whole business of the whole church to preach the whole gospel to the whole world.”
Since our inception we have sought to follow the Holy Spirit in outreach and to disciple God’s people through Scripture:
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” — 2 Timothy 3:16–17
Our mantra, from C. T. Studd: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”
We are Christ-exalting, confessional in spirit, and committed to expository preaching — trusting God’s power in the Bible, not in programmes alone (a concern we share with R. C. Sproul’s warning about looking for power everywhere except God’s Word).
Under-shepherd
Pastor Joseph Naidu serves as under-shepherd of First Baptist Church. His heart, in his own words from our 20-year newsletter, is to love and serve Christ above all, to resist unbiblical models of “growth,” and to see the church marked by love, suffering, sound doctrine, genuineness, evangelism, and humility — the kind of lampstands our Lord addresses in Revelation.
We gather Sundays at 8:30 a.m. trusting Christ to build His church as we hear His Word together.
Worship team
Our musicians are young and seasoned alike — gifts we treat as from the Lord. We keep Jesus at the centre of worship: music expresses worship already in the heart and responds to the splendour of God. We aim to lead others to encounter His greatness in Spirit and in truth, with song choices shaped by Scripture. The team grows through challenge and grace, seeking first to honour God in daily life, then on the platform.
Visit us
We would love to meet you. For times, groups, and directions, see Service times & location and our Ministries pages.