Our Church History

Werribee AOG sprang from a work planted in Altona by Pastor Arthur Magrath of Richmond AOG in 1967.

Pastor Magrath, a graduate from the Commonwealth Bible College, New Farm, Brisbane, was an experienced pioneer having already pioneered at Leongatha in Victoria.

Altona Beginings

The Altona Full Gospel Church, affiliated with the Assemblies of God in Australia, first met in the Pastor's home with six adults and fifteen children. One of the first families to support this work was that of Vera Parker, followed soon after by Harry Smith’s. Both of these families had significant ministry input over the following decades.

The church at Altona met at the following locations:

  • The homestead (National Trust) building in Queens Street. (The first public meeting was held here.)
  • The 1st Altona Scout Group building - until 1977.
  • A number of functions were also held at 209 Queens Street.
  • A number of functions were also held at the Parker home - 4 Brook Drive.

Pastor Magrath took on Pastor Favorloro as an assistant and the Church purchased four blocks of land in Crown Street on the Altona Meadows estate at Laverton.

Due primarily to the work of Michael Cronin, who moved on to become National Secretary of the C.R.C., the Altona church had a very successful Sunday School and ran a Youth work as well, with the youth assisting both with teaching and providing a pick-up service for the Sunday School pupils. The Youth also ran a very successful work in the streets. Unfortunately Michael was transferred to Warragul by his employer after 18 months. At this time another successful Youth work was started at Laverton in Harry Smith's home.

Relocation to Hoppers Crossing

Pastor Favorloro left the Altona Church, followed soon after by Pastor Magrath who was replaced by Pastor Bailey. After 2 years as Senior Minister, Pastor Bailey was replaced, in 1972, by Pastor Arend Venema senior, who moved the Church from Altona to 6 Sharp Street, Hoppers Crossing. The name of the church was changed to Western Pentecostal Church and the land in Altona Meadows was sold. A 1.25 acre block was purchased on the North East corner of Shaws and Tarneit Roads.

During these years the Parkers saw their son David take up a position with the Commonwealth Bible College, now Southern Cross Bible College at Chester Hill, Sydney, as a Pastor/ Teacher and son Steve became Assistant Pastor at Northside AOG. Pastor Venema, who was assisted at this time by Pastor John Duprie from Holland, left in 1982 after 12 years of service and was replaced by Pastor John McDonald in 1984.

1987 saw the Church move to Centenary Hall, Werribee and then to the Wyndham Centre. In 1987 John McDonald's assistant, Pastor Duprie moved to Queensland and was replaced in this function by Pastor Trevor Schenk.

The relocation of the church saw it's name change once more to Werribee AOG. The previous relocation from Altona to Laverton had seen the Church numbers decline severely but under John McDonald they started to increase. The land in Werribee was sold and a manse purchased during this period, which also saw the Church troubled by John McDonald's illness and Pastor Schenk's fall from office in June 1988.

1988 saw Pastor Bob Smith take over as Senior Minister with a recuperating Pastor McDonald as his assistant. Under Bob Smith the Church again began to stabilize and moved to the Ecacentre at Werribee High School in 1989. Centenary Hall was used as a back-up venue for Sunday services. The Church became an incorporated body and an autonomous AOG Church at this time. Andrew Corbett assisted in general ministry and as the youth leader, staying until the end of 1992.

In November of 1990 Pastor Malcolm MacLeod took over from Pastor Smith as Senior Minister. During this period the Church experienced unprecedented growth in numbers and members being released into ministry. In 1991, the church considered a move to 18 Pike Street due to the increase in numbers, but this move did not eventuate.

In January 1992 the Church had it's first meeting at the Laverton Civic Centre and almost immediately considered the possibility of building due to an increasing congregation, The average attendance for Sunday services in 1991 being 287.

Hogans Road Complex

To this end the Church purchased a 2.4 acre block of land in Hogans Road, Hoppers Crossing. 1992 also saw Werribee AOG plant a church in Bacchus Marsh with Pastor Ken Hill as Senior Minister. On 13 December 1992 Pastor McDonald preached his last message before retiring to Queensland.

In 1993 Andrew Corbett left to plant a church at Williamstown and Mike Magyar came on staff as assistant minister. In October 1993, Ps David McCracken gave a highly significant message to the church in which he prophesied that we should be bold, take new initiatives, refuse to limit God, and become a hub and a light to the community. This prophecy gave a new sense of direction to the church and reaffirmed our desire to plant new churches.

At this time, plans for the new Church building in Hogans Road were submitted to the Council for approval and the Church's office was moved to the building site in anticipation of construction. The Church manse was sold to help pay for the building and ground work for the project began.

During 1994 we commenced our Teen Challenge affiliate Community Challenge (now South West Community Services). The building was completed at the end of 1994, with church services commencing in January 1995. At this time, Mike Magyar left full time pastoral ministry to pursue secular work with missionary opportunities. February 1995 saw the change to a ministry team concept, with various personnel changes occurring over the following years, and an expansion and diversification of roles. Also in 1995 the Cell group concept was introduced and the gradual transition to a Cell church began the following year.

We commenced a mentoring relationship with Kyneton and Melton Assemblies in 1997, with ministry and financial assistance being given. Other church plants opened with our help over the next few years, in fulfilment of the McCracken prophecy (read it here ). A second important prophecy was given by Jason Grieve in July 1999, stating that the church had everything it needed to be twice the size it currently was. Doubt was our enemy and we needed to believe for God to double our church.

Cell groups began to multiply at this time. A new Children’s Church facility was constructed at the rear of the main worship hall, and was ready for use in January 2001. Multiple morning services were commenced in March 2000, immediately increasing the average morning attendance by 49 people. The church continued to grow, the average Sunday attendance in 2001 being 587, more than double the average attendance in 1991. Because of the wider impact and regional influence of the church, the name was changed to South West Christian Church in February 2002.