The following isn't a complete, settled, orderly story—it's just a collection of random, simple 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 were taking 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.
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Quick Facts: - In the 1970s and/or 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 later Bruce and Lynette Edwards
- Enthusiastic believers from Ipswich were often traveling to the wonderful gatherings at CLC (Christian Life Centre) Brisbane, on Sunday afternoons, including: Percy and June Mole, 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 Manton, and Risie Wilkins, and their children; and Trevor Kucks, and others from other churches in Ipswich. For Percy and June CLC Brisbane had become their home church; while others often visited CLC Brisbane's afternoon service in-between their own churches' 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 said.)
- In addition to their Friday night prayer meeting, Percy and June also started a home-meeting, as part of Brisbane CLC's official weekly home meetings program
- Meanwhile Percy began talking in earnest with Trevor Chandler and the leaders about launching a CLC in Ipswich
- Trevor was somewhat reluctant at first, Percy said - he 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 particular vision for Ipswich
- At some point(s) Trevor, and also elder Bill Hawkins of CLC Brisbane visited Ipswich, and gave the 'go-ahead' for the Ipswich folk to start a CLC (church), Percy said
- It was in October 1978, according to a later publication by CLC Ipswich, that at the initiative of Ipswich folk, Sunday morning services began - in East Street, near the UFS Dispensary in
Ipswich. The Word preached and Spirit manifested was profound. Locals Percy Mole and soon afterwards Bruce
Edwards shared the Sunday ministry - and visiting speakers from Brisbane CLC and
elsewhere also visited to minister (including Hank and Laney
Vandersteen, Peter Clyburn, Vince Esterman, Jim Christian, Bill Hawkins and others). A month or so into it, attendance was 17 people, on one particular Sunday - and from the very beginning the Lord was regularly adding to the number
- As soon as 'CLC Ipswich' started, many of the people who had been traveling to Brisbane ceased making the trip to Brisbane quite so often, as they now considered 'CLC Ipswich' their home church. A church newsletter was available on Sundays. The number of adherents rapidly grew to 25+ including children
- In 1979, after the church had been meeting for around a year, and more attendees had joined, they started looking to purchase their own building. A sizeable donation was given by Mr Ron Edwards, Percy said. After Ron Edwards' donation towards the building, Trevor Chandler said, "Looks like Ipswich is a goer", according to Percy. The first building for CLC Ipswich was purchased, which at the time was Titled as 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. By the end of 1979 I can recall in excess of 60 people (including children) who had attended meetings at CLC Ipswich. (Not all of that number joined the church; and not all who did join necessarily attended at the same time; and not all became committed long-term. (In holiday periods such as December/January numbers could be lower than usual.)
- But commitment was strong enough that soon after the church had moved into their own building at Brassall, a 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, strongly connected and always outward-looking was thriving and continuing on its trajectory of steady growth through 1979
- As the church became established, Percy and Bruce both had the opportunity to become the pastor of CLC Ipswich, but neither of them felt it was their calling. (Percy had also previously been invited to a pastoral role at Ipswich Assembly of God in Pring Street, but after sincere prayer, Percy felt God would have another place for him, and his gift was 'teacher'; while Bruce said he was an 'exhorter' during that season [and in later years, a 'teacher', though Bruce also had an 'evangelistic' function at first, and a lifelong calling to the Japanese, and became 'pastor' of a Japanese Church at the Gold Coast for some 24 years].)
- At some point the morning service was changed to an afternoon service, with a fellowship dinner in-between
- Vince and Denise Esterman were therefore accepted by the church as the church's first paid full-time pastors in January 1980, and they moved to Ipswich
- During the Esterman's term, the Haig Street property was raised and built-in underneath. During the renovations the church met for six weeks at the Greyhound racing clubhouse in the Ipswich showgrounds. Those were exciting and beautiful times, as the Lord added to the church continually. A list of church adherents and phone numbers that was printed by the church during those years shows that the number of adherents was up to 200 and even more. The blessing 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 was purchased at Brassall, to serve as a bridging property for the future
- Vince then had the brilliant vision to purchase Sutton's foundry. The bridging land was sold towards this purchase. The purchase took place in April 1986, according to a church publication
- Vince and Denise then left for evangelistic work in France, in around June 1986. Their last Sunday at CLC Ipswich was June 15
- John and Coby Pasterkamp became pastors while the church still met at Haig Street. There was a three-week transition or overlap period when the Pasterkamps were at the church while Vince and Denise had not yet left Ipswich. During those three weeks 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 made the move into Sutton's foundry, in 1986—with a lot of work by the congregation the property was prepared for occupancy and developed extensively. 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 that. The Pasterkamps' time was a season of blessing and multiplication for the church
- When the Pasterkamps left to pastor at Burleigh at the Gold Coast in 1989, Phillip and Mandy Mutzelburg moved from Brisbane and became 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 financed further improvements of the former Suttons facilities
- When Phillip retired as lead pastor, their son Carl, a good man, became pastor
- Carl resigned after about 14 years, 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
- And you are part of the Lord's continuing story!
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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. And likely sometimes Des Mole, Percy and June's son.
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's already been visiting CLC, Percy came to be interested in attending meetings at CLC. 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.)
CLC was pastored by Trevor Chandler. Trevor was a leader in the Charismatic Renewal in New Zealand and Australia, and also visited numerous other countries including the US, Papua New Guinea, and Japan, and more. CLC's Sunday meetings began at 3 in the afternoon in those days so that many 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'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 move of the Holy Spirit. Some of them were also 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, with deputation work for the mission continuing in Australia until 1977), and their children Peter, John and Jill; and 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 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.
Bruce and Lynette made inquiries about attending Percy and June's Friday night prayer meeting at Bundamba - but Lynette reflects that when they did so she got the impression the group was a bit 'closed'. So neither the Edwards's nor the other Silkstone Baptists ever became part of Percy's prayer meeting at Bundamba. (But as we shall see, 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 in the city, and likely also visited CLC Brisbane. 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 has since carried-out in an exemplary way. 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).
Thus various Ipswich-folk were occasionally, if not often or regularly, visiting CLC in Brisbane on Sunday afternoons. Some of them, such as Percy and June, actually made CLC Brisbane their home-church - whilst others, such as the Silkstone Baptists at first, and Trevor Kucks, and Hilton Ireland, and their families remained in their respective churches in Ipswich. (Once CLC started in Ipswich, each of these did eventually make CLC Ipswich their home church, some straightaway, others a little later, and some only after a long time.)
So, over a period of time Percy was talking to the church-leaders at CLC Brisbane about the idea of opening a church-fellowship in Ipswich, Percy said.
The next step towards seeing a 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
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| 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 CLC-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.
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| Percy Mole |
Percy said Trevor and Bill Hawkins eventually visited Ipswich, and gave the 'go-ahead'. (But I'm personally not yet sure whether that detail belongs at this point in the story or later after the Ipswich-church had well-and-truly started and was already considering purchasing a property at Haig Street, Brassall.) Nevertheless a decision was reached: premises were rented, above or near the UFS Dispensary on East Street, Ipswich, and weekly Sunday services began. Christian Life Centre (CLC) Ipswich was launched. This was in 1978, a few weeks at least before Christmas, or perhaps even sooner. October 1978 is the date 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 this may even have been as early as 1977, though they felt unclear about that.) But at the very latest, it was in 1978 that Christian Life Centre Ipswich was started with weekly Sunday-morning services in 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 of CLC Ipswich, 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 wives and children.
Not all who had been attending Percy's meetings joined the new church though. Hilton Ireland, for example, stayed at Pring Street Assemblies of God (although Hilton did join CLC Ipswich years later).
Bruce and Lynette didn't actually start attending straightaway. 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 - 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 it 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 CLC Ipswich.)
The Edwards' home had a particularly large lounge room, and on one extraordinary occasion I remember approximately 50 people attended, including at least one of the Elders or staffpersons from CLC Brisbane, although the meeting was not officially affiliated with CLC Brisbane.
As soon as CLC 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 of CLC Ipswich - even before Bruce and Lynette themselves came to belong to CLC Ipswich. As stated above, some of those folk included Mrs Thelma Atwell; Rissie Wilkins; Joy Manttan; and their families; and others.
As a Baptist the young Mrs Thelma Atwell had a hunger for God. She'd heard about the Edwards's in church missionary news. 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. And 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 also later reached out to Judy Bognar, who got baptized in the Holy Spirit in Bruce and Lyn's lounge room.
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 auditorium above or near the UFS Dispensary in East Street.
It was another week or two or three or possibly a little longer, perhaps five weeks, before Bruce and Lynette Edwards themselves eventually joined the folk who had already gone ahead and begun making CLC Ipswich 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 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 Christian Life Centre Ipswich 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 onwards, Lynette became the church pianist, joining Des Mole (and I think Laury Carson, if I remember correctly) on guitar. Lynette can't remember whether the figure of 17 included children 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.
Once the church started in Ipswich, the folk who had been traveling often to Brisbane stopped doing so, as CLC Ipswich was now their home church. I can recall 25 or more people who had attended in 1978 (including children). And more, through 1979. There was probably a core-group of some 15+ most-active adults, plus numerous more who were less regular, and all their children, totaling 60+ who had attended in varying capacities, including during Trevor Chandler's crusade. And during December/January and other school holiday seasons, numbers could be down.
The song-leading, and the ministry of the Word, were 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.
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| 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 with 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 distinctives 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 they 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. Some time after he'd retired from the Airforce, he, and his wife Judy - quite the soul-winner and facilitator in her own right - became associate Pastors at CLC Ipswich; and then later 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 meetings above or near 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 Laury's daughters Tracy gave her life to the Lord and had to be carried to the car by her father after the meeting, she was 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 baptised. (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, with 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 who were traveling from Ipswich continued to do so. But Percy said a donation of some four-thousand dollars, promised by Ron Edwards and others, 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 or near the UFS Dispensary in Ipswich for approximately a year, it was decided to purchase premises on the corner of Vogel Rd and Haig St, at Brassall. Sunday afternoon and evening services were then held in the purchased-property, from the latter part of
1979.
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 in varying capacities by 1979. And Mrs Pat van Kempen ran a Sunday School for children. And others also visited the church to minister.
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| A later picture of Trevor Chandler | |
There were salvations, on altar calls. Sometimes numerous people in a single meeting. I (John Edwards) was saved in the Haig Street building, on the night that a guest from Victoria 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.
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.
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 offered to Bruce Edwards, but he didn't feel led to take-on that specific role either. The 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; and in later years Bruce said his gift was 'teaching'; and he 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 newlyweds - to fill the role. The Ipswich church and Vince and Denise accepted the appointment. Vince and Denise moved from Brisbane to Ipswich. Vince said Trevor Chandler sent him to Ipswich. He became the church's first fulltime 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, then had its first official Senior Pastor, from very early in 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. For a short time Pastor Vince even held Saturday-night deliverance meetings.
The Elders of CLC Ipswich continued sharing much of the ministry, as before, with Vince. Missionary Beryl Akers was one who also visited to minister on one occasion. She said she felt that the church would be a ministry-gift church. And other visiting ministers also came.
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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 already had two services on a Sunday, plus a Sunday school, in 1979. |
Vince and Denise soon formed a church youth-group. 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.
For a while Pastor Vince used to pick some of us up from school one afternoon a week, and take us to John van Kempen's house for afternoon snacks then minister to us and inspire us.
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 included Rod and Meryl Jones, and their large family. And later Paul Ferris, 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 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.
Peter Edwards was ordained as a deacon, along with other ordinations that took place.
The Sunday school also continued to grow.
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| 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 evangelism.
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| 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 pattern! 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 Judy and Steve Bognar's place. 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 Bennet who was a student at Gatton University, and others. So in 1985, co-operating with those in Gatton, Vince organised an outreach at Gatton, Qld in a hired hall running three Saturday nights in a row. The 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 on the third and last Saturday night, 14 people responded to the altar-call for salvation. Hal Oxley spoke at one of the meetings.
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| 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 Fitzpaayne were foundational in the Gatton church.
Eventually Paul and Doreen Ferris were sent as Pastors of the Gatton church. 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. A large task 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, always a pioneer - like an apostle - after some six years of leading the church, announced that they were leaving Ipswich to live in France as Evangelists. And it was decided that John and Coby Pasterkamp would become the new Senior Pastors.
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 lady ahead at Suttons, 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 rivalled 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.
A number of missionaries were sent out: to Japan (Scott and Kay Beattie), China (Scott Donald, who later married Tracy), and other nations. Bruce Edwards travelled to Japan with John Pasterkamp. (And later returned for nine months, with Lynette, teaching in a Bible College, as we shall see.)
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 we were interrupting some of the flow of what the Spirit might otherwise do in meetings. And the people eagerly yearned for it.
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 is 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 improved. 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.
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 longterm, midterm and short-term, including missions to China and Thailand (led or 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.
Others also went to Japan, and other places, including 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 am also one of those who was sent out by the Elders of the Brassall church and went traveling from that time, throughout surrounding townships, interstate, and overseas including to the Philippines (and later went to Malaysia and Papua New Guinea and other nations. It was while I was away on those travels, that my parents Bruce and Lynette were sent to the Gold Coast. Elders from Ipswich travelled to the Gold Coast to participate in Bruce's installment as an Elder at Sufers Paradise Assembly of God, and pastor of the Gold Coast Japanese Christian Church. So when I returned from overseas, 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.
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. Many churches, including the church at Brassall for at least some period of time, held extended, special Holy Ghost meetings as well as experiencing the move of the Holy Spirit in the regular Sunday services.
This fulfilled a vision which had been in many hearts since Charismatic Renewal days.
Phillip reconciled 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.
When Phillip and Mandy retired as Senior Pastors, their son Carl - always good 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 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.
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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.
