The founding Pastor – Andrew Heard – speaks of having something of a vision back in 1988. In hindsight it could be seen as prophetic, but in reality he thinks it can be put down to youthful enthusiasm. While holidaying on the New South Wales Central Coast, he and his wife Cathie, were reading the local paper. It spoke of the staggering growth rate of the Central Coast (around 5% p.a.). it didn\’t take much insight to realise the area would have massive needs for new evangelistic churches in the years to come.

All those years ago Andrew and Cathie even marked out the spot for the church – just near Erina Fair. Today the church is not quite there, but it\’s at least in the same suburb!

The church itself began in Feb 1996.

While Andrew was assistant minister at Gladesville he and Cathie and another couple travelled to the coast and began a Bible study group in a house at Ourimbah. At the first meeting 17 people came – 8 of whom Andrew knew before hand & had encouraged to join up with the aim of being partners in establishing the church. The others were people who one way or another had heard about the venture.

From the beginning the church started with a very clear goal – to establish a Bible teaching ministry that would put a fire in people\’s hearts for gospel work. The group therefore met regularly to look at the Bible. At first they met fortnightly at Ourimbah. They did that for 3 months. Average attendance was around 17. Eventually however there was a need to make the meetings more accessible to strangers and so the group moved to a class room at Erina High school. This was also where Sunday meetings were going to be held.

In August 1996 CCEC had it\’s first Sunday morning church service.

At that first service 45 adults came, 12 of whom probably shouldn\’t be counted since they were young people from Gladesville come to run the children\’s ministry! They helped enormously however and continued with the new church for four months. This enabled the church to not only run a parallel children\’s ministry but meet regularly around the word with those who became the core.

In effect the church started with around 30 Central Coast people. Now, in the year 2007, we average 400 adults on Sunday mornings (with over 200 kids looked after in 8 Sunday school classes). We also have a night service with around 180 adults on any given night. We have a Friday night youth program, seniors group, mid week women\’s ministry, a men\’s ministry, a growing school\’s Scripture ministry, a small group network with around 350 people, provision for caring for the disadvantaged, etc.
We have come a long way! God has been incredibly gracious.

In all the news about growth it needs to be said, the ministry has been no different to any other Bible based work. The church has given itself to proclaiming Christ from the Scriptures, urging people to live in light of that word and praying for God to work. There have been no new techniques used except what God\’s people have always given themselves to – prayer and the word.

We pray God will continue to bless the proclamation of his word – everywhere.