After the beginnings of the Vineyard, in Parkview, August-October 1982, it was led by a team of pastors, namely Dave Owen, Alexander Venter and Costa Mitchell, although Costa’s role was secondary, as he was leading the Christ for Africa Institute (CFAI), a Bible School, at the time.
The Vineyard Christian Fellowship was first planted in South Africa in Johannesburg in 1982, by John Wimber and a team of 82 young people from California. Dave Owen, Costa Mitchell and Alexander Venter pastored the church—called the Parkview Vineyard. By 1986 Alexander had planted “Johweto” in Soweto, and Dave was preparing to plant into Yoeville. So in 1988 Costa relocated the original Parkview congregation to Bryanston, and called it The Bryanston Vineyard.
Lindsay and I joined what was then the Bryanston Vineyard in July 1995 around the time when Costa handed over the team leadership to Alexander. We were pretty beaten up after a previous church experience where I was on the pastoral staff. Our journey in the Vineyard the last 13 years has been one of healing and restoration. From (Oct 95 – Dec 2003) I worked at Vineyard Music SA, the last four years being the GM.
