ACLF Church History
Abundant Life Christian Fellowship commenced in Bendigo in 1989. The church was established under the auspices of the Full Gospel Churches of Australia initially through Pastor’s Leo and Marlene Bennett. The church was after a short time handed over to the pastoral leadership of Pastor’s Norm and Pat Arthur and Pastor’s Jack and Heather Glenister who laid the foundation for the ministry of the church.
Early meetings were conducted in the RSL hall in Pall Mall and at such places as the YMCA in Mundy Street, Golden Square Elderly Citizens Centre and Long Gully Community Centre. The church was searching for a property that would be a permanent place of worship for some time until 1993 when land in Golden Square was purchased and subsequent construction of a church building was embarked upon being completed in time for Easter 1996 when the first church service was conducted in ”our own” building. The church is now situated on 6 acres of land in MacKenzie Street West, Golden Square.
A new stage in the life of Abundant Life Christian Fellowship commenced in January of 1999 when Pastor’s Norm and Pat and Jack and Heather appointed Pastor’s Trevor and Judy Davis to lead the church as both couples entered retirement.
The church entered a period of numerical growth and a new building program which saw the construction, completed in 2005, of a new sanctuary which holds around 300 people. During this period the church became part of the ministerial group Ministers Fellowship International and also added to its staff Pastor Andy and Shelley Turner who were part of the team from 200 until 2004 when they returned to New Zealand.
The Davis’s moved to New Zealand in 2007 at which time Pastor’s Graeme and Thea Godenzi were appointed as the new Pastor’s of the church. The church has thrived under their leadership with Pastor Gary and Neroli Davey assisting.
