World Missions Property and Headquarters in Krugersdorp, South Africa is Given to Pentecostal Holiness Church General Conference of South Africa

- World Missions Ministries Communications Office

Bishop Joel Dibetsoe (left) and Regional Director Joe Delport (right) sign the official paperwork for the transfer of property.

SOUTH AFRICA ­­– Feb. 14, 2023 was a historic day in South Africa as National Overseer Bishop Joel Dibetsoe and Southern Africa Regional Director Joe Delport signed the official paperwork to transfer the ownership of World Missions Ministries’ property in Wentworth Park, Krugersdorp, South Africa to the Pentecostal Holiness Church General Conference of South Africa.

In early January, WMM Executive Director Bishop J. Talmadge Gardner along with Missionary Joe Delport approached the WMM Council to discuss the transfer of the property. There, it was overwhelmingly decided that just as the property had been provided by God to World Missions Ministries in South Africa, it would be passed on to the National Leadership as Bishop Gardner named them “the sons and daughters of our (WMM’s) inheritance.”

​“Everything started from South Africa,” Bishop Gardner told the council; referring to the first IPHC missionary who landed in South Africa following the Azusa Street Revival, and the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that continued to spread North, East, and West for the next century. Now, the IPHC has extended to 28 countries across Africa and is still growing. Those in South Africa who heard the Gospel, responded, and have been discipled; now preach the Gospel and disciple others.

“Donors gave us this money, and this is just a natural progression of leaving a legacy and blessing our sons and daughters. They are our inheritance,” Bishop Gardner said.

Over the course of the last few years, WMM has used Antioch Grants as a strategy to assist countries in obtaining their own headquarters. South Africa will now have their own, and it is believed to be in good hands under the current leadership of Bishop Dibetsoe.

“The year 1913 saw the arrival of the first IPHC missionary on African soil, right here in South Africa,” Bishop Dibetsoe said. “Ever since then, World Missions Ministries has been a forceful agent ensuring the growth of IPHC in Africa. In our country, South Africa, the footprint of WMM through their missionaries is all over; seen through churches built even in most rural areas, Bible schools built and established, and outstanding leaders trained and developed over the years who have become pastors, conference superintendents, and ministry directors. Of late, we have been gifted the compound, which is based in Krugersdorp, which has served as a base for many missionaries for Africa, Southern Africa and South Africa, to be the base for Pentecostal Holiness Church in South Africa. This is, for me, one of the greatest highlights of my ministry. This compound will definitely be the identity and face of the IPHC here in South Africa.”

Joe and Maggie Delport, who have lived on and cared for the property for years and are now preparing to retire in late March 2023, are seeing first-hand the blessing it is to pass the property on.

“Throughout our ministry as missionaries in Africa, the principle of nurturing sown seeds has brought a great harvest. As missionaries have planted seeds in the church of South Africa over the past 110 years, the work has excelled tremendously,” Delport said. “I am convinced that this generous seed will produce a huge harvest.”

The land for the property was originally purchased in 1978 and was developed gradually over time by proceeds from donors who have loved the extension of God’s kingdom outside the United States, according to Delport. The property includes a dorm-style building, two flats that have been used through the years for missionary housing, and an office building with a chapel/boardroom which has been the home of the IPHC Southern Africa Regional Office and has acted as the mission base for the past 45 years.

Bishop Joel Dibetsoe and Rev. Joe Delport shake hands following the official signing of property transfer paperwork.

On Jan. 13, the day following the council’s unanimous decision to transfer the property, Bishop Dibetsoe and the South Africa Council of Bishops (COB) were gathered on the grounds for their council meetings. As Bishop Dibetsoe shared the news, Delport reported the COB erupted in jubilation and praise to God for what He has done and will continue to do.

“I am so happy that we could share the good news with the COB while they were here. Some of them said there will be jubilation in their conferences and churches when they share the news with them,” Delport said.

A Thank You from South Africa National Overseer Bishop Joel Dibetsoe

“On behalf of the General Conference, the Executive Board and the Council of Bishops of the PHCSA. I express our heartfelt gratitude to the Executive Director of WMM Bishop Talmadge Gardner, the WMM Council and the IPHC USA for having given this property to us. We are so thankful and inspired as we will always see it and remember your commitment to the Church in South Africa. God’s richest blessing to WMM! May the good God prosper you and make you reach all your plans for the future. Please receive our thankfulness.”