PHCA Church

  • PHCA Church Service #May 9, 2023
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Our History

Our History

God’s movings with His people go deep and are often unseen for a season.

Our story began in a small company of people in Hurstville (Sydney) who came together in 1959 to see revival and a return of God’s glory in His church, as seen in the Acts of the Apostles.

The Hurstville Baptist Church had grown in the 1930’s in this area. Many outreach meetings were held and preachers from England, Ireland, Scotland and US visited the church, bringing with them a powerful word from God. The Lord used gifted men like Robert Leghorn and Russell Ecob, who having heard from G.D. James of the ministry of Bakht Singh in India, invited him to come to Australia in 1956 for evangelical and revival meetings.

Nothing is done without prayer. Believers gathered and prayed every morning from 6-8am for 2 years for revival. And so it was that Bakht Singh was invited to come again in October 1958. He preached the “unsearchable riches of Christ” and came to “make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery” (Eph 3:8,9). He came with a testimony of God’s working when His Word is fully honoured and obeyed, and led the believers in times of open worship to God as part of their priestly ministry in the house of God.

In Feb 1959, believers began to gather according to the principles set out in Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Their conviction was two-fold:

  • The desire to worship the Lord openly (brothers and sisters together)
  • A desire to see God move and work in the salvation of souls and the building of His church as seen in the Acts of the Apostles.
Seeking only to do all things according to His will as revealed in the Word, they soon saw the New testament Church pattern of plurality of elders (or pastors) over a local church. Accordingly, three brothers, Alan Malcolm, Archie Dawkins and Russell Ecob were set aside as the first Elders in the Church.
The gatherings were held at the Masonic Hall in Hurstville where they met for from 1959-1962, later at the Scouts Hall in Hurstville from 1962-1965, then in the home of the Rice family from 1965. There followed some very good years of building and the Lord ‘added to the church such as should be saved’ (Acts 2:47).
At that time, Ernest and Kath Toussaint who were serving the Lord at Lakemba (who had experience and testimony of building the church for 20 years in Colombo, Sri Lanka) became affiliated with the believers. During this time there was a closer fellowship with the two assemblies. Following some difficulties with the property/ place where they were gathering, the elders and families moved across to fellowship with the gathering at Lakemba, where they felt oneness of spirit. Around 60 people gathered regularly for meetings. Soon the house became too small and extensions were added.
By 1981, a larger meeting place was needed. With much prayer and after several properties were inspected, the Lord opened the way for the property at 121 Villiers Rd, Padstow Heights which previously belonged to the Padstow Baptist Church. The church fasted and prayed and gave generously and the
Lord made a way for the church property to be purchased outright. The first meeting was held in Nov 1981.
The church continued, with many comings and goings to this day. Numerous missionaries have passed through and enjoyed mutual fellowship. Strong links have continued with churches in India, Sri Lanka and other parts of the world and with sister assemblies in Australia.

Responsible Brothers

● Newton Gnanamani

● Ron Jarlett

● John Hawes