Well where do we start, I suppose let’s start in the fall of 1966 when a Rob & Merle Elliott gave birth to their 4th child of 5 Larry Elliott. Larry grew up in Roodepoort and was known for being mischievous. As with all good families he was always in trouble with his siblings. As Larry grew up he experienced the destructive force of rejection and found that he needed to fill this empty feeling inside. As any teenager would, he found ways of attracting people to him, through ways of manipulation or bullying. A fun story he always tells in our church is how he always used to make friends with older stronger scholars in school so that he could get away with his fun and sometimes not so funny antics. But soon he realised his genius plan would eventually fail. He grew up being mister popular' and always had friends, but meanwhile back at the ranch he faced immense insecurity and rejection issues.

He eventually met a beautiful Lebanese lady at a local video shop. He didn’t realize that this lovely lady would soon be his wife and would have and instant son of 4 years named Dale, they would go on to live a happy life serving the Lord and His people. This lovely lady’s name was Debra Bernice Elliott and she at first didn’t think anything of Larry. Eventually after hopeless attempts of trying to get a date they finally announced their undying love for each other and hooked up. This beautiful couple came to know the Lord and received salvation at Rhema South Family Church in Johannesburg which now has a congregation of 12 000 member’s. Larry’s parents didn’t agree with this relationship at first as Debz was older than Larry. Anyway there love was true and they got married and enjoyed an awesome relationship with both sets of in laws. Sensing the call of God they went and studied at Rhema Bible training centre and both graduated in 1988, they served faithfully as fulltime associate pastors in Rhema South Family Church.

As any marriage has its trying and testing times these two imperfect human beings were woven together like that of a fine tapestry. They would do things together; look out for each other through difficult and awesome times. Larry and Debbie conceived a baby and 9 months later on the 18 October 1988 gave birth to a still born and so family and friends gathered and began to pray and seek God and ten minutes later Claude Michael Elliott was screaming, kicking and shouting.

Both Larry and Debz had many obstacles and strongholds to deal with, but with the love of JESUS working in their lives victory was imminent. There were difficult days ahead as this family struggled to prosper and at times could barely afford to buy shoes for their kids, However God is faithful and through these trials God moulded a man and women that would be a huge testimony to the power and love of God. After been involved for 20 years and faithfully serving in Rhema South Family Church on a full time capacity for 15 years God prompted this lovely couple to pack their well established life and move on down to the South Coast of KZN to start a new church. In the spring of 2005 Rhema South Coast Family Church was born and established.

In 2006 Larry, Debz, Dale, Bronwyn, Claude and the rest of the family received some devastating news that Debz had been diagnosed with primary liver cancer and her chances for survival were slim. The Doctors gave her three months to live, after a fight of faith and all we could do physically and medically Debz graduated to be with the Lord. She was a brilliant wife and faithful mom and an ordained minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This was an extremely stressful time and God would once again show Himself strong. Since the death of Debz it has been a journey of pain and comfort.

Just over a year after Debra had passed away, Larry and Mandy started seeing each other, they are now happily married and Mandy is awesome and supports the dream of the local church. She supports Larry and assists in running the ministry, she spearheads GLOW (God’s Ladies Of Worth). Larry’s international ministry has just started and he is in the process of writing a book. He is a trustee to various other community projects and committees that strive to make a difference in the South Coast and in South Africa. He loves God and loves people and wants to see them reach their full potential in God, in Life and in their Relationships. He knows that JESUS rescued his life and is still able to heal the broken-hearted. He has a passion for the Local church and believes it is the HOPE of the WORLD.

Ps Larry Michael Elliott is happily married with two children (Dale and Claude) and a daughter in law (Bronwyn) and resides on the South Coast.

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Autumn 1967 March 25 a Lebanese hairdresser at the time Laurel Cassell, gave birth to a beautiful girl named Amanda. Little did they know that this bundle of joy would hold one of the most stunning testimonies yet to be told? Mandy, the oldest of four children was brought up in church life and church culture, her parents Ps  Tony and Laurel Cassell would never let her miss a Sunday or any church event. At the age of 13yrs Mandy committed her heart to the Lord. A man of God Kim Clement had a word from God for Mandy’s life around the age of 15yrs old, but a life of strict upbringing caused Mandy’s heart to turn to rebellion and as the prophesy was pushed aside once she had matriculated and qualified in the same trade as her mom, at a reputable Salon and training Centre Dave &Johan, leaders in the field at that time. Mandy made her way to the USA as an au Pair for a year to a wealthy family “the Pecon”s………on the run!

As the year sailed by and Mandy was expected home, her career awaited her on this side of the Atlantic ocean, where she excelled in her talented field, it was not long before love knocked on the door and wedding plans were made and a life filled with hope and expectation to a young man filled with potential, however their plans were thwarted by the enemy and the marriage failed dismally, which resulted in a devastating split in 2004…….dreams shattered.

Her divorce left her bereft and the only console she had, was the success of her professional career that she had developed over the years. It was at this point that Mandy reviewed her life and realized that this whirlwind had brought her to a place where she was ready to allow God to speak to heart again and allow Him to work in her life and before you could blink her life was on the mend and God was ushering her into the destiny once spoken, without her realizing it…….dare to hope!

As time worked its gentle weave God’s plan as we see it now, was knitting together, while Mandy thought Love was out of the picture The ever gallant Ps Larry appeared in Mandy’s life after he and his two sons has suffered the terrible loss of  His of wife and their mom, Ps Debbie Elliott stoically went to be with the Lord after her battle with Liver cancer, without doubt God turned our sorrows into to joy in finding happiness here while the preparation for the kingdom is set in motion. Now with Gods approval and the permission of Larry’s  two sons, Dale and his new wife Bronwyn, and Claude and parents from both sides Ps Larry Elliott and Mandy were married on the 30 May 2008 by the honorable Ps Tony Cassell………a second chance.

Having learnt a lot from life, the valuable lessons it has taught, family counts and pull you through when there is no one else in tough times, so now, being happily married, Mandy embraces her new family with open arms, as she has no children of her own, loving the ones God has now placed in her life and thanks Him for his blessing…………a time to love.

Mandy is now at the point where she realizes that God is the author of her life and as she looks forward to the unfolding of the story as this journey continues, while she spearheads the woman’s ministry G.L.O.W  with the  guidance of the Father, aglow with the zeal of the Spirit as serving the Lord. Mandy loves Gods people and above all she is so in love with God.

Who would have thought this lady would have married a Senior Pastor? I know a mother like hers knew!!!..............A sovereign God