Mount Hope Church is the brain-child of our Father. It started with Him an it continues with Him. The Father saw the conditions and He heard the cries of the people in Heinz Park and the surrounding areas. He needed a man to stand in the gap and to represent Him in the earth. Pastor Alfonso Schilder responded to the call of God. He grew up in similar conditions and could relate to the needs of the people. 

In 1992 after completing his BA in theology he did his internship at Westreach A.O.G. He was responsible for the social relieve programmes in an area called Hyde Park (Happy Valley) where he also preached and taught the word of God. The project was called the “Shiloam Project” where he fed, clothe and preached to the people in the squatter camp. Those people he ministered to was then re-located to an area called Heinz Park, and that was where Heinz Park Assembly was birthed. We held a two week gospel crusade in a tent in Heinz Park and many people gave their lives to Christ. Many of those are still members of our church today. We started with our Sunday Morning services in a garage. 

The Social ills were startling at the time. People gave their lives to Christ and their spiritual needs were met but not their social needs. We needed to develop a wholistic approach to the preaching of the gospel (Body, Soul and Spirit). The unemployment rate was about 70% and the 30% were unskilled labour. We started a feeding scheme, adult literacy classes, educare, etc. In the area. 

The garage became too small, we built a wooden structure in Pastor Alfonso’s backyard. From the wooden structure and then into a bigger hall at the Phillipi Stadium and in 1997 we held our services at the Highlands Primary School. On his journey he met influencial people who assisted him in errecting the much needed building (still under construction). 

We will be celebrating our 15th anniversary this year (2009) and are now called Mount Hope Kingdom Life Christian Church. 

“EBENEZER...till thus far the Lord has carried us...”