| Who Are We? |
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East Bay Church, was established around 8 years ago in June 1990 when Pastor Ian & Annette Dixon and
their four daughters answered the call of God to come to Whakatane to begin an Apostolic Church. Since that time, this lively Church has experienced the incredible blessing of God and tremendous growth has taken place, spiritually, numerically and in every way. We are a soul-winning church, with a special emphasis on building strong and healthy family's through helping people discover "REAL LIFE" through Christ Jesus. One of our aims is to help motivate and inspire young people to discover their real potential and Leadership ability's. After meeting at the Whakatane War Memorial Lounge for 4 years (and shifting often to various other venues because of unavailability), the Church determinedly began to work towards obtaining their own premises. In July 1994 we were "BLOWN AWAY" with the miraculous provision of our very own Church building "Immeasurably more than we could ask or think of" (Ephesians 3:21) Within a month, the Church had taken possession of and moved into the DB Whakatane Motor Lodge (or Tainui Pub as most people have known it by) saw it close down, all the alcohol disposed of, and the building and chattels transformed for the glory of God. Ps Ian & Annette and two of their daughters have since moved on to plant a New Church in Glenfield Auckland (Dec 1998). Ps Dick & Elizabeth Lewis who have been pastoring for 14 years (11 yrs Lower Hutt - 3 yrs Gisborne) have since taken over the Senior Pastorate of East Bay Church. Originally from Whakatane, Pastor Dick Lewis left home about 35 years ago, never realising that one day, he would return to Pastor a local church. Pastor Dick & Elizabeth have two grown sons, Richard who is serving as a Sargeant in the Avondale Police Station, and Nigel who manages an Electrical Warehouse in Lower Hutt. |