Early Christian Life Centre Ipswich (now Catalyst Church) - Some Historical Notes

 

The following isn't a complete, settled, orderly story—it's just a collection of random, simple, sketchy recollections—a place where I’ve been jotting-down historical points as I’ve recalled them—for whatever worth the information might have for future reference. 

I still want to catch up with some others too who were involved with some of these events, to hear their additional recollections, reflections and perspectives. More details can be added from time to time. 

Keep in mind I was only 11 years old or younger when some of these events took place. But I was an eyewitness of many of these things. And I've confirmed many of these details with numerous others who were also there. So I'm sure everything noted here is reliable. I can site sources if requested.   

_____

Quick Facts:

• In the 1970s and 1980s, Charismatic home meetings and prayer meetings were held across the city of Ipswich, in homes of the likes of Percy and June Mole; Trevor and Margaret Kucks; and Bruce and Lynette Edwards
   
• Hungry believers from various churches and denominations in Ipswich were often traveling to the wonderful gatherings at Christian Life Centre, in Brisbane (CLC) on Sunday afternoons, including: 
  
  Percy and June Mole; and attendees of their Bundamba prayer group, including John van Kempen (whom Percy Mole said encouraged him to go to CLC Brisbane); 
  
  Bruce and Lynette Edwards, and others from Silkstone Baptist Church, including Mrs Thelma Atwell, Diana Hayes, Joy Manttan, and Risie Wilkins, and their children; and 
  
  Trevor Kucks; and others from other churches in Ipswich. 
  
  For Percy and June and others, CLC Brisbane had become their home church; while others like the Edwards's and others from Silkstone Baptist Church often visited CLC Brisbane's afternoon service in-between their own church's morning and night services in Ipswich  
   
• Percy had the seed thought, "Why not a local fellowship for the Ipswich folk". 
  
  Percy said that when he met Bruce and Lynette Edwards at CLC Brisbane, it confirmed in his heart that a CLC in Ipswich would indeed become a reality
   
• Percy and June's Friday night prayer group at Bundamba therefore began praying in earnest for a CLC to start in Ipswich, Evan Heading said. (The prayer-meeting sometimes also doubled as a bit of a 'Bible Study', Evan also said.)
   
• In addition to their Friday night prayer meeting in their home at Coal Street, Bundamba, Percy and June also started a home-meeting, as part of Brisbane CLC's weekly home meetings program 
   
• Meanwhile Percy began talking in earnest with Trevor Chandler and the leaders in Brisbane about launching a CLC in Ipswich

• Trevor was somewhat reluctant at first, Percy felt - Pastor Chandler didn't want people drawn away from attending the meetings in Brisbane; he was also pragmatically concerned about funding; and he didn't especially have a vision for Ipswich in particular

• Nevertheless, at some point(s) Trevor, and also elder Bill Hawkins of CLC Brisbane (Percy's longtime friend) visited Ipswich, and the 'go ahead' was given for the Ipswich folk to start a CLC (church), Percy said
   
• It was in October 1978 (according to a later publication by CLC Ipswich), at the initiative of Ipswich folk, that Sunday morning services began. The church met weekly in rented premises in East Street, Ipswich, above the UFS Dispensary 
  
  The preached Word and the presence of the Holy Spirit in those earliest days of the church was profound. In one service a young girl seemed to have become so full of the Spirit, her father was afterwards seen carrying her down the stairs to the car 
  
  Locals Percy Mole and Bruce Edwards shared the ministry - and speakers from Brisbane CLC and elsewhere also visited to minister, including Hank and Laney Vandersteen, Bill Hawkins, Peter Clyburn, Jim Christian, Vince Esterman and others 
   
• As soon as the church started, many of the people who had been traveling to Brisbane CLC ceased making the frequent trips to Brisbane, as they now considered the Ipswich church their home church - CLC Ipswich, they thought of it as. A church newsletter was available on Sundays. And within weeks the number of adherents was easily 26+ including children 
  
  
• As numbers were added, when the church had existed for nearly a year, the church began seeking to purchase their own building. To that end, a sizeable donation was given by Mr Ron Edwards - to which Pastor Chandler reportedly responded, "Looks like Ipswich is a goer", according to Percy. So the first building for CLC Ipswich was purchased, in 1979, at the Title 99 Haig Street (corner of Vogel Road and Haig Street), Brassall
  
  Trevor was invited to come and hold a week-long crusade in the newly-purchased building. I can recall in excess of 60 people (including children) who had attended meetings at the church (including the crusade) in one capacity or another, by the end of 1979. (Not all of that number necessarily committed to joining the church long-term however; and among those who did become adherents, there were likely some Sundays when not everyone attended.)
  
  
• Soon after the church moved into their own building at Brassall, a weekly Sunday school started, running concurrently with the first service - and a second Sunday service was also started, at night. 
  
  Thus the church - deeply founded, ably led, with numbers of families strongly connected to one another with relationships lasting generations, and always outward-looking - were thriving, and the church's trajectory of steady growth continued from 1978 and through 1979 
  
  
• As the church became established, Percy and Bruce both had the opportunity to take-on the role of pastor of the church, but neither felt that was his calling, at the time. 
  
  (Percy had earlier associations with Apostolic Church folk. A distinctive of the Apostolic Church of Australia was that they didn't ordained all ministers alike with the generic title of 'pastor', but specifically to either apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher, or elder or deacon. Percy had also previously been invited to a pastoral role at Ipswich Assembly of God in Pring Street, but after sincere prayer at that time, Percy felt God would have another place for him, and his calling was 'teacher'. So in the new church also, Percy was conscientious about staying in his calling. 
  
  As for Bruce, he said that he was an 'exhorter', during that season. In later years Bruce said his function was 'teacher', though Bruce also had an evangelistic function at first, and had been a missionary in Japan for 10-12 years, and a had a lifelong calling to the Japanese, and later became pastor of the Gold Coast Japanese Church, for some 24 years.)
  
  
• At some point the morning service was changed to an afternoon service, with a fellowship dinner in-between (followed by the night service as usual). Attendees sometimes enjoyed playing French Cricket in the churchyard
  
  
• Vince Esterman, and and his wife Denise - at the time youth pastor in CLC Brisbane - were accepted by the Ipswich church as the church's first pastor, in January 1980. Vince and Denise moved to Ipswich from Brisbane. Vince was full-time, and his salary was at first subsidized from Brisbane. Vince straightaway set-up an office in the church. In March, he and Denise inaugurated weekend youth activities with the church's teenagers. More got saved, and baptized in the Holy Spirit, and in water. And reasonably quickly the church attained to full financial independence from Brisbane 

• During the Estermans' term, the Haig Street property was raised and built-in underneath, to accommodate the growing numbers. During the renovations, the church met at the Greyhound racing clubhouse in the Ipswich showgrounds, for six weeks. Those were exciting and nice times, as the Lord added to the church continually. 
  
  A list of church adherents and phone numbers printed by the church during those years shows the number of adherents at up to 200, with even more attendees. The church hit a sweet-spot together. The inspiration of Vince Esterman's contribution to the church during those years cannot be overstated and lives in the memories of all who were part of the church
  
  
• Another vacant property of land was purchased and held, at Brassall, to serve as bridging equity for the future
  
  
• Vince then had the brilliant vision to purchase Sutton's foundry. The bridging land was sold towards this purchase. And church-members began to give sacrificially. According to a later church publication, the purchase took place in April 1986
  
  
• Before the renovations at Sutton's were ready, Vince and Denise left for evangelistic work in France, in around June 1986. Their last Sunday at CLC Ipswich was June 15
  
  
• John and Coby Pasterkamp became the next pastors while the church still met at Haig Street. There was a three-week transition/overlap period when the Pasterkamps were already at the church while Vince and Denise had not yet left Ipswich. On those three Sundays Pastor Vince preached three of his signature messages. Trevor Chandler officiated at the handover of the Pastor-role from Vince to John
  
  
• It was during the Pasterkamp's term, after the Estermans moved overseas, that the church carried-forward the extensive work still needed at the foundry. After a lot of work by the congregation the property was prepared for occupancy and developed extensively, and the church moved-in, in 1986. There was an official event on February 21, 1987 to mark the new location of the church, although the church had already moved-in before then 
  
  The Pasterkamps' time was a season of deepening, broadening, blessing and multiplication for the church. The church began to have a 'large church' feel. Growing attendances meant the elders even began considering running two morning services, as well as the night service, every week. The main sanctuary was said to be able to seat 600 at a stretch, and on one occasion with one special invited speaker there was standing room only
  
  
• When the Pasterkamps left to pastor at Burleigh at the Gold Coast in 1989, Phillip and Mandy Mutzelburg moved from Brisbane and became the pastors in Ipswich. (Allan Vandenberg also moved from a Broadbeach church to pastor in Brisbane) 
  
  During the Mutzelburgs' time, adjoining property was purchased. This property was later developed and sold-off, which likely helped finance substantial further improvements of the church facilities and grounds 
  
  
• When Phillip retired after a solid long period as lead pastor, their son Carl, a good man, became the pastor for some 14 years. Pastor Carl resigned in about April 2024

• Mark Wilson was then chosen as the new pastor in about May 2024, and moved to Ipswich. He was pastor until about July 2025
  
  
• On 2 November 2025 it was announced that Brad Pain would be the next Senior Pastor, with an official induction service taking place on November 16
  
  
• Over the years, missionaries have gone out, as prophesied
  
  As John Wesley once said, "The best of all is, God is with us".
  
  And you are part of the Lord's continuing story! 
  
  

                                               _____

 

Beginnings

In the second half of the1970s, Mr Percy Mole felt a renewing of his personal spiritual life. As a result, Percy, together with his wife June, began a regular Friday night prayer meeting in their home at Coal Street, Bundamba.

The prayer meeting was attended by the likes of Bob Knight, Lawry Carson, and John and Pat van Kempen. John and Pat also invited their friend Evan Heading along. (Evan is a cousin of Philip Ireland, son of the late Hilton Ireland, Trevor Kucks said.) Others who attended gatherings at Percy and June's place included the likes of Greg Siddans who was quite young at the time, and Greg's parents. The meeting also sometimes doubled as a bit of a Bible study, although it was mainly a prayer meeting, Evan said.

Percy's longtime friend Bill Hawkins (a former Apostolic Church minister) had become an Elder at Christian Life Centre (CLC), Brisbane, according to Peter Cotter. So, through Percy's friendship with Bill Hawkins, and also at the recommendation of John van Kempen who'd already been visiting CLC, Percy came to be interested in attending meetings at CLC too. Some of the folk who attended Percy's prayer group also therefore often traveled to CLC Brisbane with Percy, on Sunday afternoons. (This Bill Hawkins passed away Oct 6, 1994, aged nearly 91; and John van Kempen also has since gone to be with his Lord.)

CLC Brisbane was pastored by Trevor Chandler. Trevor was a leader in the Charismatic Renewal in New Zealand and Australia, and he also visited numerous other countries including the US, Papua New Guinea, and Japan and more. CLC's Sunday meetings began at 3 o'clock in the afternoon in those days so that any who belonged to other churches and who were interested in Charismatic Renewal could attend after having attended their own churches in the morning, and then they could attend their own churches again at night.  

Since a number of people were traveling from Ipswich to Brisbane, Percy said he had the seed-thought: "Why not a local fellowship for the Ipswich folk."

Much of the prayer at Percy and June's Friday night prayer meeting therefore became about that: they began praying in earnest for a fellowship to start in Ipswich, Evan Heading said.

Around the same time, several attendees of Silkstone Baptist Church had become increasingly hungry for the Holy Spirit. Some of them were traveling to Brisbane to attend the meetings at CLC, including: Bruce and Lynette Edwards (who had returned from missionary work in Japan, in July 1976, and had continued doing deputation work for the mission until 1977), and their children Peter, John and Jill;  Mrs Thelma Atwell, and her children Julie and Jason; Risie Wilkins, and her daughter Susie; Harold and Joy Manttan, and their children Greg, Michelle, Trevor and Colleen; and Diana Munn (Hayes) and her children Doreen and Les; and others.

It was at CLC Brisbane that Percy first met Bruce and Lynette. Percy later said that he felt that meeting Bruce and Lynette at CLC Brisbane was important, as it was an encouragement to him that a church would indeed be started in Ipswich.

At one point Bruce and Lynette made inquiries about attending a meeting at Percy and June's home at Bundamba - but Lynette reflects that she got the impression the group was a bit 'closed'. So neither the Edwards's nor the other Silkstone Baptists ever became part of any meetings at Bundamba. Only, they frequently visited CLC in Brisbane. CLC was soon to launch in Ipswich anyway.

In those days other charismatic home meetings were also held across Ipswich. For example, Charismatic prayer and praise nights were held in the home of Trevor and Margaret Kucks, at Gilliver Street, Eastern Heights, on Friday nights. Trevor Kucks was also involved with Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International meetings. He'd previously attended Raceview Congregational Church, where he got born again the Sunday before Christmas 1969 by the grace of our Lord under the faithful preaching of Rev. R. T. Edwards. Trevor Kucks subsequently became involved with a number of Charismatic events across the city. 

Trevor had also heard Bruce Edwards minister at the Congregational Church. Trevor said Bruce challenged attendees to come forward and consecrate their lives to the service of the Lord. Trevor went forward. He was willing to become a missionary, if the Lord called him. But it was revealed to him, he said, that his calling was to be in the marketplace - a calling which Trevor since carried-out in an exemplary way. 

Trevor also ministered to children at the Congregational Church, one of whom was a very young Scott Beattie. 

The Bible verse: "He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend", is true of Trevor Kucks. 

Another person of interest with regard to the Charismatic renewal in Ipswich who attended the gatherings at Percy and June's home at Bundamba, was the late Mr Hilton Ireland. Hilton was the founder of  'Ireland Blinds' at Bundamba (now headed by his son Philip). Hilton would later join CLC Ipswich, though not immediately.  

Thus various Ipswich-folk were frequently visiting CLC in Brisbane on Sunday afternoons, or were fostering a true hunger and love for the Spirit. Some of these, such as Percy and June, actually made CLC Brisbane their home-church - whilst others, such as the Edwards's and other Silkstone Baptists, and Trevor Kucks, and Hilton Ireland, and their families, remained in their respective churches in Ipswich at first. (Once CLC started in Ipswich though, each of these mentioned did eventually make CLC Ipswich their home church, some straightaway, others a little later, and some much later.)  

So, over a period of time Percy was talking to Pastor Chandler and the church-leaders at CLC Brisbane about the idea of opening a church-fellowship in Ipswich, Percy said.

The next step towards seeing a CLC fellowship start for the folk in Ipswich was that further to Percy's Friday-night prayer-meeting, he and June also started a midweek home-meeting which from the very start was officially affiliated with CLC Brisbane as part of the Brisbane church's weekly home-meetings program.   

CLC Ipswich Begins Above or Near the UFS Dispensary in East Street, Ipswich

CLC Ipswich launched in East Street, Ipswich

 

I'm not yet sure of all of the details of the discussions which went-on between Percy and the Elders of CLC Brisbane about launching a church in Ipswich, or to what extent Bruce and Lynette Edwards may or may not have been part of those early discussions. But Percy recalled that at first Pastor Trevor Chandler seemed reluctant about starting a church in Ipswich. Percy said Trevor was concerned about the potential financial cost of such a thing, and also Trevor didn't want adherents to be drawn away from attending the meetings in Brisbane. Trevor didn't particularly have a vision for Ipswich, at first, Percy said.

 

Percy Mole

Eventually though, Percy said Trevor and Bill Hawkins (Percy's longtime friend) visited Ipswich, and gave the 'go-ahead'. (I'm personally not yet sure whether that detail belongs at this point in the story right before Sunday morning services began in Ipswich, or whether it only belongs later after the Ipswich-church had well-and-truly started and had been running for nearly a year and were already pledging donations towards purchasing the property at Haig Street, Brassall.) Nevertheless, we know a decision was reached: premises were rented above the UFS Dispensary, on East Street, Ipswich, and weekly Sunday morning services began. This was in 1978, a few weeks at least before Christmas. October 1978 is the date recorded in a brochure officially published by CLC Ipswich some years later as the date the church was founded.  

(Evan Heading and Hank van der Steen have both suggested that the church may have started as early as 1977, though they felt unclear about that. My recollection though is that it was in 1978, and October is about right, that weekly Sunday-morning services began in the rented premises.

Some of the folk who had been attending the meetings at Percy and June's home therefore became some of the earliest attendees the new church, including: Percy and June Mole themselves; their son Des and Heather Mole; Lawry and Brenda Carson; Evan Heading; the Siddons; most-likely also John van Kempen (I would imagine, though Lynette Edwards said John and Pat wouldn't have been married yet then); and others; and their children. 

Not all who had been attending Percy's meetings joined the new church though. Hilton Ireland, for example, stayed at the Pring Street Assembly of God, though Hilton did join CLC Ipswich years later. Trevor Kucks also, who had his own home meeting, did not join until years later.

Bruce and Lynette didn't actually start attending from the first Sunday either. Lyn first wanted to fulfill her obligation to play piano for Silkstone Baptist's choir's Christmas presentation a few weeks later, and then the family would join. A number of the other Silkstone Baptists didn't wait though - hungry for the Lord, they joined straightaway, including Mrs Thelma Atwell, Joy Manttan, Diana Hayes and Risie Wilkins - and all their children. And there were others who also attended and made the new church their home church. 
  
Bruce and Lynette Edwards also eventually held a home meeting in their home at Prunda Parade, Raceview. (I'm not sure whether the Edwards' home meeting began while Bruce and Lyn were still attending Silkstone Baptist Church, or only after they'd left Silkstone and had begun attending and belonging to the new church.)

The Edwards' home had a particularly large lounge room, and on one extraordinary occasion I remember approximately 50 people attended a gathering in their home, including at least one of the Elders or staff-persons from CLC Brisbane, although the gathering was not officially affiliated with CLC Brisbane.

As soon as the new church in Ipswich started, a number of these friends of Bruce and Lynette Edwards from Silkstone Baptist Church who had been traveling to CLC Brisbane on Sunday afternoons became early adherents - even before Bruce and Lynette themselves started attending. As stated above, some of those folk included Mrs Thelma Atwell; Rissie Wilkins; Joy Manttan; and their families; and others. They were so hungry, and were eager to be part of the new church - while the Edwards's still had not joined, until after Silkstone's choir's performance a few weeks later.

Mrs Thelma Atwell had a genuine hunger for God. She'd heard about the Edwards's in church missionary news at Silkstone. When the Edwards's returned to Australia, and Thelma first met them, she straightaway sensed something different about Bruce, something she hungered for. She became friends with Lynette, and Lynette told her that Bruce was baptized in the Holy Spirit. Thelma desired it, and soon got filled with the Holy Spirit in her home and spoke in tongues. 

Thelma used to do door-knocking evangelism. That was how she met Diana Munn, and her children. She invited them to Silkstone Baptist. Diana, and Thelma's daughter Julie, responded to an altar call for salvation given by Barry Potter, at a summer vacation meeting organized by Bruce who had the role at the time of youth leader at Silkstone Baptist. 

Thelma would later also encourage Judy Bognar who also had a Baptist background, whom she knew from RAAF days in Malaysia, and Judy got baptized in the Holy Spirit in Bruce and Lyn's lounge room, in July 1979, but that's jumping ahead nearly a year.
 

Joy Manttan said that her family attended "from the beginning". She recalls that this was a full year or more before the church moved to Haig Street at Brassall. Her husband Harold Manton, and their son Greg - and also my brother Peter - said they remember Greg's drum kit having to be carried up the steps to the area above UFS Dispensary in East Street where the church was renting on Sunday mornings.

It was another few weeks after the church had started, before Bruce and Lynette Edwards and their family themselves eventually joined the folk who had already gone ahead and begun making the new church their home-church. Bruce and Lynette Edwards had wished to remain loyal to Silkstone Baptist Church as long as they could - but some of the church's leaders, due to their anti-Charismatic stance, were making it increasingly untenable for them to stay. Lynette was Silkstone's church-pianist and choir-director though - so she and Bruce had determined to stay at Silkstone until she'd honoured her commitment to play for the church's Christmas production. But then, as soon as that obligation was fulfilled, Bruce and Lynette Edwards, together with their family made the new church their home-church. That was in December 1978, according to Lynette.

Lynette recalls that there were 17 people in attendance that Sunday morning. From their very first Sunday morning at CLC Ipswich and then every Sunday onwards, Lynette became the church pianist, joining Des Mole (and I think Laurie Carson, if I remember correctly) on guitar. Lynette can't remember now whether the figure of 17 included children or not and whether it included the Edwards family themselves or not. Mr and Mrs Siddens were there that first Sunday the Edwards's attended, but never again, according to Lynette. Mrs Siddens was a pianist, but somehow Lynette was asked to play and ended-up playing every Sunday thereafter. (Lynette had been playing piano since age 8, taught by her auntie Myfanwy who led Ipswich and Queensland choirs and eisteddfods. Lyn was the church-organist at Booval Congregational Church from as young as age 14, and later played at Silkstone Baptist Church, and in Japan.)

Once the church started in Ipswich, the folk who had often traveled to Brisbane CLC stopped making the frequent trips to Brisbane, as the Ipswich church was now their home church. Christian Life Centre, Ipswich - they thought of it as. 

I can recall 25 or more people who attended in 1978 (including children). And more people, through 1979. There was probably a core-group of some 15+ of the most-active adults, plus numerous more who perhaps were less regular, plus all their children, totaling 60+ who had attended in varying capacities, including attending Trevor Chandler's later crusade, by the end of '79. Though not all of these joined the church longterm, and some Sundays perhaps not even everyone who had joined the church attended.

The song-leading, and the ministry of the Word was shared by Percy Mole and Bruce Edwards, and others. Elders from CLC Brisbane, and a missionary of theirs, also took turns traveling to Ipswich to minister in the church, including Hank and Lany van der Steen; Jim Christian; Vince Esterman; and missionary Peter Clyburn.

 

 

An earlier picture of Bill Hawkins

 

Mrs Thelma Atwell (who had belonged to Silkston Baptist) had been eagerly reaching-out door-knocking. One lady she met was Diana, and her children Doreen and Les - and they had started attending church at Silkstone. Diane, and Thelma's daughter Julie, responded to an altar call for salvation together, in a meeting where Barry Potter preached, during a Summer Vacation series of meetings organized by Bruce Edwards who was at the time the appointed youth leader of the church. When Barry saw them come forward, he said, "It's always the women", according to Thelma.

Another friend of Thelma's was Judy Bognar. They'd known each other since Airforce days in Malaysia, and had a Baptist background in common. Judy received the baptism in the Holy Spirit in Bruce and Lynette Edwards's home at Raceview one night in June 1979. (I remember it was the eve of the night when Skylab re-entered the earth's atmosphere).

Judy's husband Steve (Eugene) drove his wife Judy to the home-meetings in my parents' home. He wouldn't let her go by herself because he said he couldn't trust her. (But in later years he said he'd learned to give her a long rope.) He wouldn't come inside the meeting, because he was a Baptist, he said. He stayed outside sitting in his car the whole time, sometimes smoking a pipe. 

Eventually one day Steve did venture inside the home-meeting, but I remember on that first occasion he was quite guarded or even somewhat antagonistic, arguing against Charismatic destinctives from a cessationist point of view.

Lynette Edwards said 27 people regularly attended their home meeting. Eventually it was decided that Steve and Judy Bognar begin a home meeting at Amberley as well, with some of the folk. And their home meeting soon also attracted new attendees.

Steve (who later wished to be called by his name Eugene) did end-up getting filled with the Holy Spirit - and later became a song-leader at CLC Ipswich; and he served the church with his technical and electrical skills. When he retired from the Air force, for sometime he worked for himself doing electrical work. Then he was invited to become a pastor, in association with Vince. Before accepting the role, Steve came to Bruce Edwards for counsel. Afterwards Steve said, "I've decided to become a man of the cloth". Judy also was quite the soul-winner and facilitator in her own right. Later they moved to the Gold Coast to become Senior Pastors of Gold Coast Christian Community, a church which by then had become affiliated with Christian Life Churches International [CLCI]; until they retired from pastoring and focused on local and international ministry and mentoring, including to the nation of Hungary.

The presence of God in the early meetings above the UFS Dispensary in Ipswich was intense. The Word of God was taught profoundly; signs and wonders manifested in the meetings, such as tongues, and interpretation, and prophesying - and demons were cast out; often some people were unable to stand in the glory of God; and there was salvation. One of Laurie's daughters Tracy gave her life to the Lord and had to be carried to the car by her father after the meeting, she appeared to be so full of the Spirit. There was great joy in the singing.

Baptismal services were held in Ron and Sylvia Edwards's swimming pool, on Blackstone Road at Silkstone. Jan Lingard and others, including later my grandfather Norman Hart, were baptized there. (Phillip Mützelburg, an associate Pastor at CLC Brisbane, attended one of those baptismal events at Ron and Sylvia Edwards's place.)

Brisbane Elder Bill Hawkins also visited the Ipswich folk, and also Trevor. As mentioned above, Trevor Chandler was somewhat reluctant at first about a fellowship starting in Ipswich, according to Percy: Trevor didn't want anything to drain people away from attending the meetings in Brisbane, and preferred that the folk from Ipswich continued to travel to Brisbane. But Percy said a donation of some four-thousand dollars, promised by Ron Edwards prompted Trevor to concede, "Looks like Ipswich is a go-er". Thus, after existing for approximately a year, the first property was about to be acquired for the Ipswich church, in 1979.

CLC Ipswich Purchases its First Property, 

on the Corner of Vogel Road and Haig Street, Brassall

After meeting above the UFS Dispensary in Ipswich in East Street for approximately a year, it was decided to purchase premises on the corner of Vogel Rd and Haig St, at Brassall. Sunday morning and night services were then held in the purchased-property, from the latter part of 1979 - and at some point the morning service was changed to an afternoon service with fellowship-tea in-between before the night service.

Once at Haig Street, the ministry continued to be shared by Percy Mole and Bruce Edwards. Soon after moving into CLC Ipswich's own building, Trevor Chandler was invited from Brisbane to hold a week-long crusade - a series of special meetings. I have recalled in excess of 60 people (including children) who had attended meetings at CLC Ipswich and at Haig Street including the crusade in varying capacities by the end of 1979. And Mrs Pat van Kempen ran a Sunday School for children. And others also visited the church to minister. 

 

 

A later picture of Trevor Chandler

 

 

There were salvations on altar calls. Sometimes numerous people in a single meeting got saved. I (John Edwards) was saved in the Haig Street building on an altar call the night that a guest preacher ministered, which was Sunday night the 16th of December, 1979, at around 7:37pm, at the age of 121/2. We cannot recall the guest preacher's name that night, but Percy recalled that he was from Victoria.

That Sunday morning, in the Sunday school which was taught in a separate room, Pat van Kempen had challenged us children to make a confession for Christ. Then that night, the guest ministered. The guest-minister was visiting from interstate, likely from Victoria, Percy recalled, but last I asked Percy, he couldn't be certain of his name. But it was actually Percy Mole who led me in the prayer of salvation that night.

One Sunday while Bruce and Lynette Edwards and family drove past the Ipswich swimming pool on their way to church, Bruce's mother Marion Edwards remarked at all the 'Sunday worshipers' at the swimming pool. Bruce Edwards spoke-out by faith that one day there would also be as many people attending CLC Ipswich - and I laid up those words in my heart.

Souls got saved; and the church continued to grow. Despite the growth in attendance, Percy Mole didn't feel led to assert a Senior-Pastor role in the church. The role was also available to Bruce Edwards, but he didn't feel led to take-on that specific role either. Thy both felt they had a different calling: Percy's to teach; and dad said he was an exhorter (he'd previously done the work of an evangelist; and been a missionary for 12 years in Japan; and in later years Bruce said his gift was 'teaching'; and he also pastored the Gold Coast Japanese Church for some 24 years). 

So an opportunity was there for Vince and Denise Esterman who, at the time, were youth pastors at Brisbane CLC, and were newlyweds - to fill the role. The Ipswich church and Vince and Denise accepted the appointment. Vince and Denise moved from Brisbane to Ipswich. Vince became the church's first full-time paid pastor, beginning in January 1980.

Thus CLC Ipswich - after having already seen sustained growth; and after property was already purchased; and after having already existed in two locations for longer than a whole year, now had a full-time, salaried pastor, from January 1980. 

After Vince and Denise arrived, the church continued to grow - quite spectacularly. Souls were saved, demons were cast out, and numerous were filled with the Spirit. Pastor Vince held a Saturday-night deliverance meeting.

The Elders of CLC Ipswich continued sharing much of the ministry with Vince. Missionary Beryl Akers was one who also visited to minister on one occasion. She said she felt that the Ipswich church would be a 'ministry-gift' church. And other visiting ministers also came.

 

 

The first purchase at Brassall. The sign showed two service times each Sunday. And the phone numbers on the church-sign were Bruce and Lynette Edwards’, and Percy and June Mole’s home phone numbers. This was before a church-office was opened (which happened as soon as Vince became pastor in 1980) and the church then got its own phone number connected. The church had two services on a Sunday, plus a Sunday school, and fellowship tea in-between, in 1979.

In March Vince and Denise started weekend youth activities for the teenagers.  The first youth activity was to attend a concert by Charles and Paula Slagle at CLC Brisbane. That night, Bruce and Lynette Edwards's eldest son (my brother Peter); and a friend from Bremer State High School, named Dean - responded to an altar-call, and were saved. Dean responded to the altar-call first, but Peter remained in his seat. Vince lent over to me, in front of the person sitting between he and I, and said to me, "Ask Peter, does he want to go out." So I said to Peter, sitting on the other side of me, "Do you want to go out?"

"Yes," he answered. But he didn't move.

"Ask him again," I think Vince said.

"Do you want to go out?" I asked again.

"I said yes!" Peter said gruffly. 

Vince told me to take him out to the front. As we stepped passed Vince at his seat, Vince said, "Take him by the hand". 

So hand-in-hand, I took my brother to the front. 

Afterwards Peter was sitting talking with Charles Slagle. Charles said to Peter, "The important thing is to grow".

On the same night, I (the second son of Bruce and Lynette) was filled with the Spirit and spoke with tongues, when Pastor Trevor Chandler laid hands on me. 

At the youth activity probably the following weekend - a meal at Vince and Denise's home in Ipswich - Dean was filled with the Spirit and saw a vision, when Pastor Vince laid hands on him. 

John and Pat van Kempen were soon appointed as the first youth-leaders.

Some of we youth who belonged to CLC Ipswich began reaching-out at our high-school, including Peter and John Edwards, Les and Doreen Munn, Dean Biddle, and Ian Taberham, and others. As a result, Scott Beattie was one of those from Bremer High School who started attending CLC at Haig Street, and attending Bruce and Lynette's home-meeting at Raceview.

A couple of times Pastor Vince picked some of us up from high school in the afternoon, and took us to John van Kempen's house for afternoon snacks then ministered to us and inspired us. One of the young men received deliverance also. Graham Powell also dropped in to visit while we were there. 

Peter and John Edwards, and Scott Beattie, were baptised by Vince Esterman and by Bruce Edwards, during a church picnic at Bell's property on ANZAC Day 1980; and on other occasions many others were baptised. Dean was there, but his parents hadn't allowed him to be baptized. When he got home and told his mother that the rest of us had been, she said, "Then why didn't you?!" Dean said.

Other early attendees of the church came to include Rod and Meryl Jones, and their large family. And later Paul Ferris from Brisbane, and others.

Some of the above-mentioned youth started a lunchtime outreach meeting at school. Scott Donald was one of numerous fellow-students who got saved in those lunchtime meetings.

Vince led a regular street-outreach on Thursday nights at the Ipswich Centre, through which Graham Frost was saved, and others. Several church-members participated in the outreach, including we youth, and Evan Heading and sometimes Julie Atwell, and others.

John van Kempen chose Peter Edwards to be on the council of the youth group; and in later years Peter was ordained as a deacon in the church, along with other ordinations that took place. 

The Children's Church also continued to grow.

Children's Church Christmas presentation, in the Haig Street building

 

The Haig Street Building is Extended 

As the church continued to grow, it was decided to raise the existing single-level sanctuary and Sunday school and office building, to build a new, large, ground-level auditorium underneath. During the six-week interim when construction was taking place, the church met at the Greyhound Racing track clubhouse at the Ipswich Showgrounds. It was an exciting time for the church, and one Sunday there was a notable demonstration of the power of God.

Once the building-extension was completed and meetings were resumed at Haig Street, the momentum of the church's growth didn't wane but only continued. Pastor Vince honed his focus on souls getting saved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The renovated Haig Street property. (These photos were taken much later, after the church had sold the property and were in Suttons.)

 

One day when Vince was door-knocking, he met Robert and Judy, who soon came to the Lord, and others. 

Vince honed the church into a soul-winning machine! Vince also ministered the Spirit, in healing, deliverance, prophesying and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. 

Sunday afternoons were believers' meetings with worship, communion, the Word and the Holy Spirit; while Sunday nights were praise, items, salvation and ministry-nights.

Among the many enthusiastic and active members of the church was Darren Bennett, who reached out to students at Gatton University, and who later married Dorothy.

Bruce and Lynette Edwards' home-meeting became so large, it was decided that those who were coming from Amberley would begin meeting at Steve and Judy Bognar's place instead. Other new weekly home-groups began too. Once a month all the home-groups combined for a midweek prayer and praise night with fasting, at the church.

The Holy Spirit moved during the praise and worship on Sundays, and in altar-call ministry. 

Neighbours used to sit on their verandahs enjoying the sound of the music. 

Musicians and song-leaders in the church included Lynette and Bruce Edwards (music-directors, song-leading, piano, and sometimes lap steel), Scott Beattie (organ, guitars), Des Mole (guitar), Scott Donald (drums), Don Johnston (drums), Greg Manttan (drums); Ron Edwards (song-leading), Steve [Eugene] Bognar (song-leading), Vince Esterman (trombone), Peter Edwards (trumpet), later John Edwards (trombone), sometimes Jill Edwards (trumpet), and others, including a flugelhorn; and tambourine-playing ladies; and Lynette formed a choir, with singers such as Denise Strong and numerous others.

"An Exciting Church with a Difference" became the slogan of the church. And it really was!

A vision was perceived in my heart, that CLC Ipswich's influence would spread beyond Ipswich, to towns surrounding Ipswich, and to Papua New Guinea, and north, including to Japan, and wider to the nations. We were soon to see that come to pass.

A number of people were coming to church, from Gatton. Including Darren Bennett who was a student at Gatton University, and others. So in 1985, co-operating with those in Gatton, such as Steve and Glenda Fitzpayne, Vince organized an outreach at Gatton, Qld in a hired hall running three Saturday nights in a row. The whole Ipswich congregation were invited to attend. A number of the Ipswich congregation provided the music. The first two Saturday nights, no-one responded for salvation. Vince sought the Lord and called us to prayer. And on the third and last Saturday night, 14 people responded to the altar-call. Hal Oxley spoke at one of the meetings. 

 

 

Brochure advertising the Gatton crusade

 

Vince followed the crusade up by going to Gatton for fortnightly Tuesday night meetings; and eventually CLC Gatton was launched with Sunday services. Steve and Glenda Fitzpayne were foundational in the Gatton church. A later publication by CLC Ipswich stated that the Gatton church was formed over 1986/87. John Pasterkamp had a vision for raising up and sending leaders. So eventually Paul and Doreen Ferris were sent as Pastors of the Gatton church. 

 

While Paul was pastor at Gatton, demons were cast out; property was purchased and developed; and the church grew significantly, to around 120 people. Paul also organised for one of the demountable 'T-Huts' from Bremer State High School to be dismantled and set-up in Gatton for the church. Numbers of the Ipswich congregation volunteered to help with the dismantling. Paul and Doreen resigned while the church was thriving. In subsequent years Paul contributed in a house-church movement, and in short-term missions, and a community outreach, and other ministries, much of the time supporting himself through construction projects. 

Suttons Foundry 

 

In anticipation of continued growth, CLC Ipswich purchased more vacant, uncleared land in Brassall. It was purchased as bridging equity, not necessarily with intentions to build on it. 

Then as the need for larger premises became all the more obvious, one day Pastor Vince, looking out from his church-office window, saw the buildings of the old Suttons Foundry - and with characteristic bravé, Vince perceived a thought. It was decided to make a bid to purchase the Foundry.

The vacant land which the church had previously bought was sold and used for a bridging-loan to purchase the Suttons property. Church members started giving sacrificially. The site was bought in April 1986 (according to a later publication by the church). A large task still lay ahead in order to prepare the no-longer-used structures for use by the church.

But well before the church ever began services at the Foundry, Vince, and Denise, after some six years and five months leading the church, announced that they were leaving Ipswich to live in France as Evangelists. "I'm called to be an Evangelist," Vince said. And it was decided that John and Coby Pasterkamp would become the new Senior Pastors. Vince said he was happy to see the leadership being assumed by one such as John.

 

 

John and Coby were Dutch missionaries. They had been involved in evangelism and Charismatic Renewal in Australia for some three years, before pioneering a work in Papua New Guinea. Their work in Papua New Guinea had been adopted by the CLC movement. Missionaries and pastors associated with CLC Brisbane had gone out to Papua New Guinea as missionaries and as visiting ministers. The works were supported by CLC Brisbane and Ipswich. John and Coby had later also become missionaries to Japan; and were in demand as speakers internationally.

So John and Coby moved to Ipswich, with their three sons Mark, Stephen and Daniel. Over a three-week period the Senior-leadership was transferred from Vince and Denise to John and Coby. Pastor Trevor Chandler officiated at the ordination of John and Coby to the role, which took place while the church's home was still at Haig Street.

The task of overseeing the preparation of the Sutton's property - carrying-out pastor Vince's vision for the property - and transitioning the church from Haig Street to its new location of the Foundry therefore fell to Pastor John and Coby, as by that stage Vince and Denise had left for France. When John saw the enormity of the task that still lay ahead to get the Suttons property read, he reportedly said, "Oh Vince, what have you done!"

It was no mean task. Over the next couple of months Church-attendees volunteered their skills and labour - notably builders Robert Clark and Bruce Edwards, and many others.

The property was soon ready. The church-property on Haig Street was sold; the transition was carried-out successfully: CLC Ipswich became established in its new (and still-current) location at Suttons Foundry. Services began at Suttons in 1986.

With John and Coby as pastors, the church continued to grow. The Word of God was taught wonderfully; signs and wonders continued to occur, including demons being cast out. The Elders and deacons also continued to share in the ministry.

Many who joined the church said they joined the church because of the music. Congregational singing was audible: the congregation and musicians responded spontaneously to the waves of the Spirit. The music, and the presence of God, drew people of all ages.

City-wide crusades were organised or co-hosted by John Pasterkamp and CLC Ipswich. Large combined-churches early morning prayer meetings were held across the city. Including a citywide crusade with Frank Houston; and a citywide crusade with Bill Newman. 

Derek Prince also visited the church and taught prophetically and cast out demons. Street outreaches continued, organised by groups of young people from a number of different churches, including by Casey, from Pring Street AoG; and later led by Paul Williams. The Paulo family, and others, also joined the outreaches in Ipswich. And people got filled with the Holy Spirit.

The crowd attending CLC at Suttons Foundry was such that the Elders began to consider running multiple services on Sunday mornings. 

The crowd at church easily rivaled the crowd at Ipswich swimming pool - and I remembered the words of faith that my father had spoken several years beforehand, that the church would grow to such an extent.

At a stretch the sanctuary could be made to seat 600 - and when Derek Prince spoke, there was standing room only. 

A number of missionaries were sent out: to Japan (Scott and Kay Beattie), China (Scott Donald, who later married Tracy), and others to other nations. Bruce Edwards traveled to Japan with John Pasterkamp. (And later returned for nine months, with Lynette, teaching in a Bible College.)

 

 

 

 

The Foundry 

 

 

This official brochure correctly shows the church starting-date as October 1978 - but my recollection is that the Estermans pastored in Ipswich for nearly 6.5 years not eight years, from 1980 (approximately a year and two or three months after the church had started) until June 1986 (when they left for France). The brochure introduces the Pasterkamps and details their prior ministry experience. This was a time of continued growth for the church and establishment within the city.

Not only CLC Brassall, but other Charismatic churches across South East Queensland also were on quite a roll, by the mid to late 1980s. It was a tremendous time of growth. Momentum was picking-up citywide, and really all across South East Queensland.

Yet as wonderful as the move of God was during the Charismatic Renewal, there was still a sense of a greater manifestation of the Spirit - a greater glory - coming. There was a sense that something even more spectacularly-supernatural than the Charismatic Renewal should come. There was a sense that even Charismatic meetings could interrupt some of the flow of what the Spirit might otherwise do in meetings, like the announcements, or the service program. And the people eagerly yearned for it. That blessing would later be seen, in the mid-90s.

John and Coby Pasterkamp then moved from Ipswich and took up the pastorate of Gold Coast Christian Community, at Burleigh (and then later moved back to the Netherlands where John continued in Senior ministry roles, and national roles, and international ministry, and he and Coby both are now with the Lord). Phillip and Mandy Mützelburg, who were associate Pastors at CLC Brisbane moved to Ipswich, with their two children Carl and Betsy, to become the next Senior Pastors of CLC Ipswich.

At Pastor Phillip's direction, the name of the church was changed to Heritage City Community Church. The facilities were further developed. The naturally-lit, airy sanctuary was made into a state-of-the-art theatre-type auditorium with improved sound-systems and theatrical lighting. The function building and other facilities were renovated. The grounds were maintained beautifully. 

 

 

 

 

In a brilliant move by Pastor Phillip, the congregation were invited to donate in order to purchase vacant land adjoining the Suttons property. The congregation responded readily, and the land was promptly purchased.The land was later developed, and sold, which likely funded further improvements at the church site and grounds.

Phillip decided to disassociate the church from Christian Life Churches International (CLCI).

The vision of being a missionary-sending church continued to come to pass, with a number more going out on mission, both overseas and locally, both long-term, mid-term and short-term, including missions to China, and Thailand (co-led by Pastor Phillip); Bruce and Lynette Edwards were also sent to Japan for some nine months where they taught as faculty of Christ For the Nations Bible college in Sapporo; then returned to Ipswich (and eventually were sent to become Elders at Surfers Paradise Assembly of God; and Pastors of the Gold Coast Japanese Church, which they pastored for nearly 24 years, until they retired from the Japanese church and picked-up a Bible-Teaching ministry at Reedy Creek Baptist Church called Bible Enrichment Study Time, and then moving to Toowoomba where Bruce wrote around 90 booklets on Biblical themes. Bruce is now with the Lord. 

Others also went to Japan, and other places. Vince and Denise who, after spending years in Europe, and some time in Adelaide, went to the Reunion Islands (and they returned to settle again in Australia in November 2020) and it was a thrill to see them back.  

I began to be away more, traveling from time to time, throughout surrounding townships, interstate, and overseas including to the Philippines (and later Malaysia and Papua New Guinea). It was while I was away on one of those travels, that my parents Bruce and Lynette were sent to the Gold Coast. Elders from Ipswich traveled to the Gold Coast to participate in Bruce's installment as an Elder at Surfers Paradise Assembly of God, and pastor of the Gold Coast Japanese Christian Church. So when I returned from overseas in 1996, since my family had moved to the Coast, the Lord led me to make Surfers Paradise Assembly of God (later named Surfcity Church, then now Presence Church) my home-base, from where I continued for some time to travel, and also spent much time at the Gold Coast. Therefore I'm not a qualified eyewitness of the details of events that transpired at the Brassall church from that moment onwards.

But I am a witness that in the mid-90s the Spirit was poured out upon churches worldwide with fresh joy. Just as participants in the Charismatic Renewal had foreseen and longed for, greater glory was poured out congregation-wide in churches all over the world. And this move also touched the church at Brassall, for a time. 

Across the body of Christ, even children began effortlessly functioning in the Spirit. In many places there was joy, laughter, dancing, visions, prophesying, tongues, interpretation, confession of sin, repentance, reconciliation, forgiveness, deliverance from demons, giving, and people feeling called and released into ministry and missions. Churches in Ipswich also, including the church at Brassall, and Robertson Road Assembly of God (later Ipswich Region Community Church, at Ripley), and Pring Street Assembly of God, for at least some period of time, held extended, special Holy Ghost meetings as well as experienced the move of the Holy Spirit in the regular Sunday services.

This fulfilled the vision which had been in many hearts since Charismatic Renewal days.

Phillip renewed a certain closeness with Trevor Chandler, and Trevor handed the leadership of CLCI to Phillip. And soon afterwards Phillip oversaw the dissolving of Christian Life Churches International (CLCI), and the forming of a new organisation Acts 2 Alliance (A2A) of which he became the inaugural President. Later, when A2A had other leaders, some former CLCI members who had joined A2A, left A2A.

When Phillip and Mandy retired as Senior Pastors, their son Carl - always a good and courteous person since his youth - and his wife Jessica became the Senior Pastors of the Brassall church.

The church's name was changed to Catalyst Church.

The adjoining land which the church had purchased was subdivided into residential blocks for sale. Income from this project likely helped fund a further, modern redevelopment of some of the church-facilities.

With Carl and Jessica as Senior Pastors, the church continued at the Suttons site, as a prominent church in the city of Ipswich. 

Catalyst Church left the A2A organization. 

Pastor Carl announced that he would be resigning as lead pastor; and in April or May 2024 Mark Wilson was inducted as the new lead pastor. Mark continued in that role until about July 2025. 

On November 2, 2025 it was announced that Brad Pain would be the Senior Pastor, with an induction service planned for two weeks afterwards. 

Missionaries have been sent out, each person taking the Spirit's flame.

All that the Holy Spirit showed us in advance, has come to pass: nothing failed of all that He showed us.

And there's more to come! 

And you are part of it.

To God be all the glory.

 

_____

 

Trevor Chandler passed away January 29, 2014, aged 86. The family had a private funeral service first. Then a memorial service was held on Saturday February 15. Brian Houston was there. The people enjoyed singing songs from the Redemption Hymnal, which Trevor had loved to lead. The heartfelt singing almost felt like Charismatic Renewal again. I had visited Trevor in his home beforehand, and we talked about the things of God. 

Percy Mole passed away December 16, 2016, aged 93. The last time I saw him, after I'd said goodbye and started to walk away, he called out again, "Hey John!". I turned to look at him. Face glowing, he said, "If I don't see you down here again, I'll see you in glory!" pointing up to heaven. Next time I came to visit and asked for him, a staff person's eyes became teary. She told me he'd passed away. For some reason she decided to look up the date he'd passed away. It was December 16th, she told me. December 16th (1979) was the date Percy had led me in the prayer of salvation at CLC on Haig Street, Brassall when I was 12.

My beloved dad passed away October 21, 2025, aged 84. Two days before dad went to be with the Lord, through a series of wonderful coincidences he was able to address the Kobe Mission Hall where he had preached for years in Japan, by video. He thanked the congregation, and encouraged them to keep holding forth the Word of life. The congregation were teary. After the service a young Japanese man received Christ. And a believer committed himself to carrying on the work of the ministry. It was the perfect bookend to dad's life and ministry. Then the night before dad passed away, dad held out his hand endearingly for me to draw near and let him take my hand. "See you on the other side, sometime!" he said, face and eyes smiling at me. Next day when I was sitting by his side, the words came to me, "I will give dad back to you." And a few hours later dad breathed his last. We were praying the funeral service would really touch people's lives for the Lord. And from all reports, it did. A representation of Japanese people was also present.